In the new issue (April/May 2009) of "Sound and Vision" magazine, a new audio format is described in the "Tech Trends '09 section on page 48.

It is described as "PLllz" and adds 2 channels to the front, above (above the screen or video display) the main left and right channels.

"Peter Triberman, president of both speaker maker Atlantic Technology and electronics company Outlaw Audio, likes the idea of repurposing surround speakers for height channels. "In my opinion, the benefits of conventional 7.1 are marginal", he said. "Applying those channels to height speakers in the front has a profound effect. All of a sudden, it goes from the three front speakers to a total re-creation of the stage".

Triberman also said he liked it so much he has created an Atlantic Technology speaker specifically for height-channel use. However, Dolby says any standard surround speaker will work.

Test subjects at Dolby Labs claim this new speaker configuration was the best in the samplings they listened too. The author of the article claims that listening to the begining of Ratatouille blew him away.

So, we have a new 997 that someday will be available, and now it looks like another audio format has already been designed. Onkyo will be releasing a new receiver this spring (the first of six) that will have Dolbys new Pro Logic llz.

The president of Outlaw is aware of this and likes it. I am curious what his plans are for this new format and its implementation into Outlaw Audio products.