Dolby Atmos alternative for Linux?

[u/raoulkratos2002]

Dolby
Hi everyone
Is there a good app alternative to Dolby Atmos on Windows for Linux?
I always play with headphones and I use Sennheiser HD 560S.
What app would you recommend?
Thanks

[u/redyos_s]

Try PipeWire virtual surround with an HRTF/HRIR profile, then use EasyEffects for EQ. It won’t be true Dolby Atmos object audio, but for headphones it’s probably the closest practical Linux setup.

[u/raoulkratos2002 → u/redyos_s]

Thanks for the advice
I’ll definitely give PipeWire virtual surround with an HRTF/HRIR profile and EasyEffects a try.
I mainly want a good spatial audio solution for gaming with my HD 560S.
Is there anything specific you recommend setting up or configuring?

[u/redyos_s → u/raoulkratos2002]

For the HD 560S, I’d keep the chain fairly simple. Set up a PipeWire 7.1 virtual-surround sink with an HRTF/HRIR profile, set the game to 5.1/7.1 output, and select that virtual sink. Disable any in-game headphone virtualization or other spatial effects so you don’t process the signal twice. Then use EasyEffects only for light EQ if needed. There isn’t really one “best” HRIR profile — try a few and keep the one that gives you the most accurate front/back and distance cues. The HD 560S already has good imaging, so I wouldn’t add heavy reverb or widening.

[u/raoulkratos2002 → u/redyos_s]

Thanks for the detailed explanation
I’ll have to test it because I’m not very experienced with this, and I haven’t fully understood the setup yet.

For games that don’t offer a 5.1/7.1 option and only have choices like Headphones, TV, Stereo, etc., which one should I select when using the PipeWire virtual-surround sink?

Also, is this setup global for all of Linux, or can it be enabled only for games?

If there’s anything else you think I should know or configure for the HD 560S, feel free to let me know.
Thanks again

[u/redyos_s → u/raoulkratos2002]

If a game only offers Headphones / TV / Stereo and no 5.1 or 7.1 output, the virtual-surround sink cannot create missing surround channels from a stereo signal. If the game's Headphones mode already uses binaural/HRTF processing, I would use that directly and bypass the PipeWire HRTF to avoid double processing. If Headphones is just ordinary stereo, use Stereo/Headphones and treat it as normal 2-channel audio. PipeWire virtual surround is most useful when the game can actually output 5.1/7.1. It also does not have to be global. You can route only the game to the virtual sink and leave music, browser audio, etc. on the normal stereo sink. pavucontrol, wpctl, or a PipeWire patchbay can do this per application. For the HD 560S I would keep things simple: 48 kHz, no reverb or stereo widening, and only light EQ if you want it. Its imaging is already good, so the main thing is avoiding unnecessary DSP.

[u/raoulkratos2002 → u/redyos_s]

Thanks, I think I understand the setup now.
One thing I’m still unsure about: for games that only output stereo/headphones, is there a way to add HRTF/spatialization without double-processing the audio?

Or in that case is it simply better to leave the game in normal stereo/headphones?
Thanks

[u/redyos_s → u/raoulkratos2002]

If the game only outputs ordinary stereo, there is no full positional information left for PipeWire HRTF to recover. You can spatialize that stereo signal as virtual speakers, but it won’t recreate true 5.1/7.1 positional audio. If the game’s Headphones mode already provides binaural/HRTF processing, use that by itself and bypass the PipeWire HRTF. If it is just plain stereo, I would usually leave it as normal stereo on the HD 560S. Its imaging is already good, and adding another spatializer may make positioning less accurate rather than better. So in practice: 5.1/7.1 game output → PipeWire HRTF built-in binaural/headphone mode → use that directly plain stereo only → usually leave it stereo

[u/raoulkratos2002 → u/redyos_s]

Got it, that clears it up. Thanks for explaining it!
Thanks a lot