DTS or Dolby, which is better?

The DTS:X and Dolby Atmos battle continues to intrigue many. If you’ve been to the movies recently, you’ll have a sense of immersion that puts you at the center of the action. This is possible thanks to the speaker system in the field and also thanks to the technologies we mentioned at the beginning. Would you like to get to know them better?

We wrote this article with the idea of ​​pitting two currently fundamental surround sound technologies: Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. We tell you exactly what each of them is and what its main features are. Next, we’ll try to put the advantages and disadvantages on the table so you can determine which option is the best.

DTS:X vs. Dolby Atmos

Before emphasizing the virtues of each system, it is pertinent to review its essential features. Read on to find out what DTS:X and Dolby Atmos are and what their real purpose is.

What is Dolby Atmos?

Dolby Atmos is a surround sound system developed by Dolby Laboratories. It was released in April 2012, and Pixar’s Brave was the first movie to use this technology.

Focusing on the technical aspects of Dolby Atmos, you should know that it can handle up to 128 audio tracks in addition to the relevant metadata. Among the information associated with each track is the location of the audio and other data that facilitates the automation of surround broadcasting. It is interesting that each track can be specifically assigned to a particular channel; this is something that allows you to set the viewer’s sense of immersion to the maximum.

The optimal setup for Dolby Atmos is the 10-channel 7.1.2 bed used for surround sound or dialogue. In this way, 118 channels remain, which are used with objects moving in the scene. However, it is also possible to use this surround system in 5.1 and 7.1 ensembles.

What is DTS:X?

DTS:X is an object-based audio codec designed for the audience to enjoy immersive sound. It rivals Dolby Atmos and its operation is similar. However, it has some fundamental differences from Dolby technology.

DTS:X is available in some theaters, home theater systems, and headphones. It doesn’t require a specific speaker combination to work and uses the Multidimensional Audio platform, also known as MDA. Since it is a free technology, DTS:X can be implemented without paying a license.

Similarly, DTS:X lets you choose the position or orientation of the listener on objects. Or a specific speaker or channel assignment can be made. Next, the sound processor is responsible for dynamically presenting the sound output, taking into account two variables (position and the number of speakers available).

DTS:X is also available on headphones. Specifically, metadata called DTS Headphone:X is used, which makes it easy to encode a DTS bitstream into two channels. The result is 12-channel audio that delivers immersive binaural sound.

DTS:X and Dolby Atmos differences

After analyzing some of the most notable technical features of both technologies, it’s time to talk about their advantages and disadvantages.

Movie halls

Dolby Atmos is older technology than DTS:X. Dolby Atmos is getting more and more in movie theaters. It is important to note that all these systems with Dolby Digital can be quickly upgraded thanks to the installation of superior speakers. All this means that Dolby technology is more accepted compared to DTS.

File compression

Another detail we need to consider is that Dolby Atmos has more efficient compression. In this sense, it is superior to the DTS:X codec and makes the life of industry professionals much easier. By significantly reducing the size of the files, the impact on the storage of the editing equipment is minimized.

Technical precision

If we focus only on the technical aspect, we can say that DTS:X is a more accurate surround sound system. Additionally, it is capable of encoding with a higher maximum bitrate than Dolby Atmos. So, with the specs at hand, there is no doubt that DTS:X is better than Dolby Atmos. However, it is very difficult for users to understand the differences between one and the other.

Compatibility

Finally, we need to look at the compatibility offered by both codecs on popular services that many users use daily. Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple Music, and most Blu-Ray versions support Double Atmos. There’s no doubt that DTS:X has fallen to second place here.

In the battle between DTS:X and Dolby Atmos, you’ve probably already determined who the winner is. From our point of view, we can only say that the quality differences between one codec and the other are minimal. Despite DTS:X’s technical superiority over Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos has greater compatibility, superior compression, and better acceptance in theaters.