Did Anyone Call the 2022 Dark Side Atmos Mix Gimmicky?

The immersive Atmos mix of Dark Side of the Moon for its 50th anniversary was widely praised, but it wasn’t universally loved. A number of audiophile critics and purists called it gimmicky, arguing that the 5.1.4 surround version too often prioritized flashy panning effects (helicopters spinning overhead, cash registers circling the room) over the original album’s cohesive, analog warmth. Some said it felt like a demo reel for Dolby Atmos rather than a respectful reinterpretation.

The 2022 mix recalls the controversy around the 2003 SACD 5.1 surround mix, which was also done by James Guthrie. That earlier mix drew similar complaints: that it was too clean, too separate, and lost the gritty, glued-together feel of the 1973 stereo master. Both versions offer something the stereo mix can’t—space and clarity—but both also sacrifice the original’s intentional murkiness and dynamic compression. The difference is that the Atmos mix goes even further with vertical height channels and object-based placement, making it feel more like a theme park ride than the 2003 SACD’s more conventional, if still divisive, surround soundstage.