Introducing Dolby Atmos and DTS-X

Two new 3D audio formats arrive, this time aiming to conquer… the ceiling!

A quick look at Dolby Atmos and DTS-X.

Overview

Until now reserved for a few hundred cutting-edge cinemas worldwide, this young multidimensional audio technology is setting its sights on home cinema. Dolby Atmos and DTS-X are to audio what Ultra HD is to video: they enhance precision, not of the sound itself, but of its spatialization.

In practical terms, these setups include speakers above our heads, with 2 to 4 speakers enabling installations in 5.1.2 or 5.1.4 and in 7.1.2 or 7.1.4 depending on the amplifiers used. The first two numbers correspond to the existing 5.1 and 7.1 configurations, while the last number indicates the number of speakers positioned overhead.

Dolby Atmos

To reproduce this “3D sound,” Dolby was the first to introduce Dolby Atmos, which relies on speakers placed above the viewer to create its vertical effect.

DTS-X

DTS’s response to Atmos is called DTS:X. It is also capable of projecting sound to any point in the room.

With DTS:X, the number of sound sources is virtually unlimited in theaters and also in home cinema. However, since the number of speakers is not infinite, DTS:X home cinema amplifiers operate on a 7.1.4 base like Atmos or even 7.2.4 (with a second subwoofer), but with the ability to adapt to any existing configuration (from 2.0 to 7.1, including 5.1 or even a soundbar) by distributing sound throughout the room using its renowned algorithms.