Draft:DTS:X

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DTS:X
TypeSurround sound technology
InceptionApril 2015
ManufacturerDTS Inc.
AvailableYes
Websitedts.com/dts-x/

DTS:X is an object-based, multi-dimensional immersive audio technology by Xperi. Immersive audio technology creates a three-dimensional audio field that places and moves sounds in specific locations in this three-dimensional audio space by closely matching the movement and action of the visuals on screen in movies, games and TV.[1]

Used in both home and commercial cinema sound systems, DTS:X is an alternative format to Dolby Atmos.

History

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Digital Theater Systems (DTS) was founded in 1993 by Terry Beard. The first big commercial project for DTS came when Steven Spielberg chose to use DTS audio for Jurassic Park.[2] As a result, Universal, the distributor of Jurassic Park signed up 1,000 theaters for DTS audio.[3]

DTS started appearing in consumer devices in 1996, delivering 5.1 surround systems. This later led to advanced surround sound formats including DTS-HD High Resolution with support for up to 7.1 channels, and DTS-HD Master lossless audio.

In April 2015, DTS revealed its object-based audio standard, DTS:X, designed for immersive audio.[4] theatrical release featuring DTS:X was Monk Comes Down The Mountain, a 3D martial arts film by director Chen Kaige. It premiered July 3, 2015 across selected theatres in China.

The first company to enable DTS:X technology in a consumer product was Trinnov Audio, and the collaboration between Trinnov and the engineering team of DTS resulted in the first public demonstration of DTS:X, using the Altitude32 Processor at CES 2015. Five years after the release of DTS:X, DTS announced DTS:X Pro.[5]

Technology

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DTS:X is not limited to any one specific speaker layout, in the cinema or at home. DTS:X adapts to produce the audio based on the available speaker configuration, while also offering immersive audio capability. Audio device manufacturers can create a DTS:X compatible system by licensing the technology from DTS.[6] Instead of only assigning sounds to fixed speaker channels like left, right, center, left surround and right surround as in a typical 5.1 surround sound system, by including height channels DTS:X allows sound designers to position any audio element as an individual object within a three-dimensional space.[7]

Instead of only assigning sounds to fixed speaker channels like left, right, center, left surround and right surround as in a typical 5.1 surround sound system, by including height information in audio objects DTS:X allows sound designers to position audio elements in three-dimensional space.

DTS:X uses channel beds that can be augmented by objects.[8] DTS:X supports a maximum of twelve simultaneous discrete channels and four objects in its consumer version.[5]

The aim of DTS:X is to provide immersive audio. However, with DTS:X there are some differences in execution relative to the competition. DTS:X can still provide immersive audio with standard 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound systems, without the need for extra speakers. This is achieved by the Virtual:X technology included within DTS:X, which uses psychoacoustic processing to provide virtualized height channels.[9]

Commercial Implementations

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DTS:X is the sound format used in the IMAX Enhanced certification program, designed for non-professional use. This uses a variant of the DTS:X codec to produce an IMAX sound experience at home.[10]

DTS:X is used in movie cinemas worldwide. GDC Technology Limited announced that their SX-4000 immersive sound media server with built in DTS:X decoder and XSP-1000 cinema processor passed the 1,000-screen mark worldwide in December, 2018.[11] A 3D LED cinema in Beijing, China, premiered Aquaman with a DTS:X soundtrack on December 7th, 2018.

Imagica Entertainment Media Services opened the first Japanese DTS:X quality control screening room in July, 2021. Producers and distributors can create DTS:X versions of Digital Cinema Packages and perform quality checks at this facility.[12]

Cinema Cannes multiplex in France installed DTS:X audio in 2021, in the Aurore Premium Large Format screen, ScreenX 720º experience, VIP private theater and four standard screens.[13]

DTS:X Pro is a commercial implementation of DTS:X, supporting up to 32 channels of audio. There is no difference from standard DTS:X other than the added support for more channels. While typically not aimed at consumers, the ability to route audio to these expanded speaker layouts is for larger cinemas with the capacity to do so[10]

Consumer Implementations

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Around 90 per cent of the home AV industry supports DTS:X.[10]AV receiver manufacturers including Anthem, Arcam, Denon, Krell, Marantz, McIntosh, Onkyo, Pioneer, Sony, Trinnov and Yamaha now support DTS:X as standard. Various flat panel television brands also support DTS:X, including Sony, TCL, Versuni, LG, Hisense and Vizio.[14]

Many Blu-Ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray movies feature DTS:X audio.[15]

A DTS:X streaming version is also now featured in Disney+ IMAX Enhanced content.

Gaming consoles like the X-Box Series X and Series S and Sony PlayStation 5 also support DTS:X audio during playback of Blu-Ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray discs.

Compatibility

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DTS:X does not require any special speaker setup to use. It will adapt to existing speaker setups in any range of configurations. While a system using DTS:X will still benefit from upward-firing height speakers or ceiling mounted height speakers, they are not necessary. DTS:X analyses the available speakers and then routes the object-based audio accordingly. DTS:X will even provide a more immersive audio experience through compatible television speakers, using DTS Virtual:X speaker virtualization technology. Soundbars, 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound systems and two channel AV receivers can all benefit from DTS Virtual:X and object-based immersive audio without the need for extra speakers.[16][17]

A DTS immersive audio solution for headphones called DTS Headphone:X is available in the DTS Sound Unbound application for PCs running Windows 10 or later, or Xbox Series X and Series S gaming consoles. This paid software upgrade enables DTS Headphone:X post-processing to provide immersive audio through any brand of headphones and is tuned to over 500 specific headphone models.[10][18]

Competing Immersive Audio Standards

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DTS:X is a competing format to Dolby Atmos. Both are immersive audio formats that use height data and audio objects to create a three-dimensional sound field enabling sounds to appear to move around in a more natural way than regular surround sound.

Dolby Atmos has been widely adopted by most streaming platform, such as Netflix, Disney+, Vudu, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max.[13] It is also used for concert films and other live entertainment streaming services, such as On Air.[19]

Eclipsa Audio is another three-dimensional audio format, announced in 2023. It is a collaborative project from Google and Samsung and will be supported on the entire Samsung 2025 TV lineup as revealed at CES 2025. Auro-3D is an immersive audio format that uses a slightly different approach to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Auro-3D adds front height, surround height, center height and top surround to a conventional 5.1 surround system to achieve a three-dimensional sound field.[20][21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Svetlik, Joe (2020-08-01). "DTS:X vs Dolby Atmos vs DTS Play-Fi: surround sound and multi-room explained". TechRadar. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  2. ^ "Dolby Digital vs DTS: what you need to know about the two big surround sound technologies". What Hi-Fi. 2024-07-02. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  3. ^ Rothman, Matt (1993-05-25). "Sound future arrives aboard a dinosaur". Variety. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  4. ^ Pendlebury, Ty (2016-09-26). "DTS:X: The immersive audio alternative to Dolby Atmos, explained". CNET. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  5. ^ a b Design (2021-05-21). "What is the difference between DTS:X and DTS:X Pro?". Trinnov. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  6. ^ Svetlik, Joe (2020-08-01). "DTS:X vs Dolby Atmos vs DTS Play-Fi: surround sound and multi-room explained". TechRadar. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  7. ^ Pendlenury, Ty (2016-09-26). "DTS:X: The immersive audio standard, explained". CNet. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  8. ^ Inglis, Sam (2022-01-01). "An Introduction To Immersive Audio". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  9. ^ Silva, Robert (2023-05-11). "What Is DTS Virtual:X?". Lifewire. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  10. ^ a b c d Joe Cox (2021-07-15). "DTS:X: what is it? How can you get it?". What Hi-Fi?. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  11. ^ "GDC Immersive Sound Solution Featuring DTS:X Breaks the 1,000 Mark". Celluloid Junkie. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  12. ^ "First DTS:X Quality Control Screening Room in Japan Opens at Imagica Entertainment Media Services". Celluloid Junkie. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  13. ^ a b "DTS Brings Premium Immersive Audio to the new Cineum Cannes Theater". Celluloid Junkie. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  14. ^ Larsen, Rasmus (2024-08-05). "List: TV models with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X & IMAX Enhanced". FlatPanelsHD. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  15. ^ "DTS:X Blu-ray Movies | Next Generation Home Theater". 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  16. ^ "What Is DTS Virtual:X?". Lifewire. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  17. ^ "Understanding Dolby and DTS surround sound formats". Crutchfield. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  18. ^ Schiffer, Alex (2023-01-02). "What Is DTS Headphones X And How Do I Use It?". Major HiFi. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  19. ^ "On Air Inks Licensing Deal With Mercury Studios for Concert Video Content — Here's a Closer Look at the Platform". Digital Music News. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  20. ^ "Difference between Auro3D, Atmos and DTS:X". support.marantz.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  21. ^ "Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro 3D, IMAX. What are the differences?". Trinnov. 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to DTS:X.


Category:Xperi Category:Audio codecs