Dolby Atmos, DTS:X: What Are They?

When looking at high-end televisions and audio equipment in 2019, there are a few recurring themes which might be foreign to the uninitiated. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are two competing technologies in the audio market which are commonly seen features on new televisions and audio receivers. For those not in the know, these names might come across as arcane. Today we will cover what Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are and what makes them different.

Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos is an audio codec which seeks to create a unique, 3D-Audio experience. Traditionally, audio is mastered for movies and music to be 2 Dimensional. Two speaker setups are the most common, and are what most televisions natively have equipped. Dolby Atmos requires use of an A/V receiver to connect your television to two pairs of speakers, mounted on the ceiling. These speakers, mounted in front of and behind the viewers, creates the sensation of three dimensional audio. Speakers created specifically to work with Dolby Atmos also exist, which remove the requirement of mounting speakers to the ceiling.

DTS:X

DTS:X is a slightly different take on three-dimensional audio. The key difference between DTS:X and Atmos setups are that DTS:X speakers need not be placed in specific locations. DTS:X speakers can supposedly be placed more freely, allowing for less restrictions. To add to this, there are no official requirements for the number of speakers one needs to use DTS:X.

To accomplish this feat, DTS:X speakers run a calibration during setup which assists the software in knowing where speakers are located. Through this, DTS completely avoids the most significant issue with Atmos setups. DTS:X also features a higher bitrate than that of Atmos, theoretically allowing for higher quality audio. Despite this, many listeners are unable to determine the difference in quality by ear alone. As a result, this is not necessarily something which should make up ones mind when purchasing a new device.

Which is Better?

While there are some clear advantages to using DTS:X, Atmos has its own winning features. DTS:X's flexibility is obviously fantastic for those who are setting up their system piecemeal or with little wriggle-room regarding placement. Its potential higher audio quality is also a boon, although it is questionable whether or not it will actually make a difference. Atmos has one particularly ideal feature which DTS:X lacks: compatibility. Dolby Atmos is compatible with Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, the majority of Blu-rays, and more. DTS:X lacks this, only being supported by certain Blu-rays and 4K Blu-rays. As a result, Dolby Atmos is the way to go if you want a broad range of compatible services; DTS:X is worth going for if you primarily use your setup with Blu-rays and desire versatile speaker orientation.

In reality, the best option is to purchase a television and receiver which supports both options. On top of that, some soundbars now come equipped ready-to-go with Dolby Atmos support, featuring up-firing speakers. It is also worth noting that both are backwards compatible, with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio depending on which brand you purchase. If you are interested in purchasing a new high-end audio setup, be sure to look at 220-Electronics.com for a great deal and quality support.