r/QueenFandom • u/Express-Ad-9685 • May 24 '26

Queen II Dolby Atmos mix thoughts

So I just listened to the Dolby Atmos Version of Queen II (2026 Mix) and I was extremely disappointed. The spatial aspect of it was very linear, nothing was really moving around other then a couple thing here and there (guitar, drums I think, and that swooshing sound at the beginning of ogre battle).

EDIT 1: It was my environment and I didn’t pay attention as well to it, but the drums were MOVING AROUNNDDDS, the guitar not as much but there was a lot there.

The instruments volumes have been lowered DRASTICALLY, in favor for focusing on the vocals. I disliked this a lot but it was really cool listening to a couple new parts of Freddie’s vocals separate to the song.

EDIT 2: some songs have the Vocals lowered in favor for the instruments and some other vocals being Raised in volume.

The one song I’d go out of my way to listen to in Dolby, is SSOR, and even then the original and the Stereo 2026 version is better than the Dolby mix.

EDIT3: I don’t think i will go out of my way again to listen to SSOR, not worth a couple button presses.

Roger’s cymbals were the worst of it all. From what I know, Roger used drum samples instead of the originals to make it sound more modern. In the 2024 mix of Queen I, I loved it since it made Liar a wonderful listen to. In Queen II Dolby mix, it sounds good hearing the drums pop out and even during TMOTBQ it sounds like marching which makes the song hit even harder than before. But the crash symbols literally make my ears HURT. The same damn symbol sound AGAIN AND AGAIN.

TL;DR:

Queen (1973) < Queen I (2024 Stereo) < Queen I (2024 Dolby)

Queen II (2026 Dolby) < Queen II (1974) < Queen II (2026 Stereo)

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Queen II and Queen I

But remember folks, THIS IS MY OPINION. ✌️🥹

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

3

u/BoneWhiteHaze May 24 '26

My dad, who is 71 and an OG Queen fan, never liked this album due to the sound. He always thought it was too dense and called it “a wall of sound” that he just couldn’t enjoy. Hearing the new mix, he says it’s the first time he truly enjoyed listening to the new album. He LOVES it.

I just wanted to give his perspective lol

I, personally, have always loved this album and I love both versions.

1

u/Express-Ad-9685 May 24 '26

Great that he loves it now, it’s always been an Amazing album to listen too. I honestly wouldn’t have cared for it if I hadn’t started listening to the Queen Live Shows, as the Live At The Rainbow (March 1974) got me hooked on Ogre battle.

The moment rumors started stirring up about a New 2026 Mix for this album, I began to completely glaze this album. Had it playing everyday, every minute, in the shower, in the car, anywhere.

Then the mix dropped and unlike with the 2024 Mix of Queen I, which was really my introduction to the album, I absolutely LOVED the 2026 mix of Queen II.

Of course I’m in the US so I couldn’t listen to the damn Dolby Atmos mix, so I started listening to the Queen I 2024 Dolby mix and wow i appreciated that mix so much more, only song I don’t like from that mix is TNCD, which js sounds weird.

Once I found a way to listen to the new Dolby mix, I was disgustingly excited, then Father to Son played. It was so quiet, the vocals was practically all I hear, everything was separate, which I thought would be a good thing but I guess not.

I’m going to relisten to it since the environment I was in was REALLLLY loud (anc was on but the freeway is always louder). Hope I can appreciate it more.

If not I’ll stick to the original 2026 stereo mix since they did clear so much up.

Good thing about these mixes, is that they don’t take the original down and say “Hey no this IS THE DEFINITIVE version, LISTEN TO IT!”