By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow on X.
TV Answer Man, I used to get Dolby Atmos with Prime Video but it doesn’t seem to work any more. Any guesses to what I am doing wrong? — Clark, Atlanta, Georgia.
Clark, you’re not the only one who’s been asking that question. Amazon’s Prime Video offers numerous titles in both Dolby Vision 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos sound, both of which can dramatically enhance the viewing and listening experience respectively. But neither seems to be working for some Prime Video users.
And there’s a good reason for that.
Amazon has removed the two Dolby features from its ads-included Prime Video offering. In case you forgot, Amazon on January 29 began showing ads with its Prime Video service unless you agree to pay an extra $2.99 a month for an ads-free version. The $2.99 a month is in addition to the cost of the $14.99 a month Amazon Prime membership, which includes Prime Video. (The Amazon Prime membership is available annually for $139.)
You can still watch Prime Video titles in 4K HDR 10+, which is better than 1080p HD. But many video enthusiasts say HDR10+ doesn’t offer the pop that Dolby Vision does. And there’s nothing to compare to Dolby Atmos which creates an immersive effect that can make you swear that a helicopter is flying right over your head.
Amazon has confirmed to Forbes that the Dolby technologies are no longer part of the ads-included Prime Video. However, the company did not publicize this when the change was made, which is unfortunate. How can subscribers make a smart decision on whether to upgrade to the ads-free Prime Video without having all pertinent information?
Clark, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!
Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.
