Apple Music: Atmos Stereo Downmix?

[ClearHearing]

I just have a regular stereo system. In Apple Music, is there a consensus about whether to play the lossless, often high-res stereo mixes or the stereo downmixes of the Dolby Atmos mixes? I realize I could look up the DRs for some albums, but I just want advice on what I should listen to by default.

 

[staticV3]

The Atmos releases often come with higher DR.

 

[ClearHearing]

This new blog post discusses my question at some length.

MUSINGS: Multichannel mixes are more dynamic than 2-channel, stereo releases. (Going beyond 2-channel stereo legacy.)

A blog for audiophiles about more objective topics. Measurements of audio gear. Reasonable, realistic, no snakeoil assessment of sound, and equipment.

archimago.blogspot.com

 

[IPunchCholla]

This new blog post discusses my question at some length.

MUSINGS: Multichannel mixes are more dynamic than 2-channel, stereo releases. (Going beyond 2-channel stereo legacy.)

A blog for audiophiles about more objective topics. Measurements of audio gear. Reasonable, realistic, no snakeoil assessment of sound, and equipment.

archimago.blogspot.com

Nice to see some data (though I am not a fan of crest factor DR). It does match with my subjective experience. One thing I have noticed on my AirPod Pros is that the opposite-ish conversion often sounds better. Many songs recorded in stereo sound better upmixed to spatial. Often they sound better than than Atmos versions in spatial. I have no idea how to measure to see if there is something behind this or if it is in my head.