Dolby Atmos: does it do anything for two-channel reproduction?

How are you getting the Apple Music into your 2 channel system?

From what I can tell, Apple Spatial Audio is intended to be used with headphones or ear buds.  There are some competing technologies that can be used with Atmos soundbars.  If anyone knows different, please share

Atmos is compatible with two speakers or headphones if you have a decoder. Object based audio is different than channels based, it is backward compatible with whatever setup you are using. My system can playback atmos up to 9.2.8 channels and yes, I have played it back in two speakers. I like it and yes, I recommend getting a receiver or processor with an atmos deoder. If you are using headphones get the ones from apple made for atmos.

I currently use a USB cable from Wireworld to feed a re-clocker from Acousence which then feeds my MSB Platinum Signature DAC through AES/EBU. The MSB does not have a Atmos decoder. So, if I understand you correctly, I would have to purchase a dedicated decoder, and no longer use my MSB DAC? Which decoder do you use? Does it go directly into your preamp? Thanks.

You would use your current DAC for content that isn't atmos. For atmos content you would need a source (like apple tv, amazon fire tv/stick, x-box for streaming or a BRD player for discs). Then you would need either a HT processor or receiver.
I would only go through the above if you want an atmos immersive audio setup with at least a 5.1.2 speaker layout.

If you only want to listen to atmos in two channel use a headphone setup that is enabled with dolby atmos, much easier and also very nice:

https://www.dolby.com/experience/headphones/

For Atmos enjoyment you need an Atmos decoder.
When it comes to Apple Music, then there is a lot of confusion around it.
For one, using iPad or iPhone and Apple EarPods, you can listen to Atmos through Apple Spatial renderer - this will attempt to recreate spatial effect via 2 speakers only.

To really hear Atmos music from Apple Music as Atmos immersive audio (without Apple Spatial Renderer), you need to use appleTV and connect it to Atmos capable  processor/AVR/soundbar,

For detailed explanation see this article and especially section titled "5 - Apple's "Spatial Audio" Mess"

https://www.pro-tools-expert.com/production-expert-1/why-your-atmos-mix-will-sound-different-on-apple-music

Hi OP - I have a HT set up and that shares the space and some equipment with my 2 channel space.  Atmos via Apple or another streaming service isn’t designed to provide a benefit into a 2 channel set up.  As a previous poster mentions, it does make sense via headphone potentially but not in a 2 channel set up.  

I would only look into Atmos for music if you wanted a HT set up with a speaker configuration and equipment that supports Atmos.

For music listening I prefer my 2 channel set up vs Atmos via my Anthem MRX-1140 HT receiver driving my Atmos speakers.  I find Atmos via my HT set up to be a novelty, some songs can be really immersive but from a sound quality standpoint, 2 channel is far better, your mileage may vary.

Again, to recap - unless you want a HT Atmos set up, receiver / speakers there isn’t a benefit, point to adding a HT Receiver to decode Atmos.  Without the extra speakers, you won’t hear the intended differences from stereo recordings.   

Thank you all for the clarification about Atmos. I will stick with 2-channel, I guess.

From what I have read over the years, Dolby Atmos is the Successor of Q Sound and Sensura.

Q Sound succeeded Sensura, I am not aware of Albums being produced with the Sensura embedded, but the Q Sound has been used on both readily available CD and Vinyl on a limited number of Albums. The expansive Soundstage in all dimensions and the capability to conjure a sound/image anywhere within the soundstage is the strength of Q Sound.

I believe Atmos has the same capability, but do not know if it has been embedded into any commercially available Albums. 

I believe Atmos has the same capability, but do not know if it has been embedded into any commercially available Albums. 

Atmos has been embedded in albums now, but they are all released on bluray media. 
Take the Dark Side of the Moon 50th anniversary box-set as an example.
It contains a separate disc mastered in Atmos.