Comparison Dolby Atmos vs DTS: X, Which is Better?

As with video, there are sound systems of all kinds. Audio files can have different resolutions, bit rates, and codecs, and for high-end surround sound setups this becomes very important. Today we are going to compare the Dolby Atmos vs DTS: X sound systems to see which of the two is better and which one you should invest in if you want a high-end surround sound system for your PC or entertainment site.

Dolby Atmos and DTS: X sound codecs have different surround sound capabilities and support different types of hardware, so before comparing them to see which one is better, let’s start by defining what each is.

dolby atmos

What is Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos is a surround sound standard that seeks to provide a three-dimensional stage of audio . Therefore, the sounds come not only from the front, back and side areas -with respect to the user who listens to them- but also from above, thus adding a third dimension to the listening stage. In Dolby Atmos recordings, sound engineers can set a “height” at the apparent origin of the sound in the space around the viewer.

Thus, a helicopter arriving to land, a gunshot buzzing close to the ear, or the cataclysm causing an explosion … any effect will greatly benefit from the addition of this additional upper channel .

Atmos requires that the source sound be compatible, played through a compatible player, and with a set of compatible speakers. As with two-dimensional surround sound, the speakers must be in specific physical positions (you have the sketch in the image above) for the sound channel with which they are associated. For this reason, there are Dolby Atmos speakers specifically designed to trigger sound directly upwards, so that it bounces off the ceiling of the room.

If we use a standard nomenclature, a system with seven satellite speakers and a subwoofer would be called a 7.1 system. When Dolby Atmos speakers are added, they would be added “at the end”. In other words, if we have a 7.1 system to which we add four Atmos speakers, we would have a 7.1.4 system , which is in fact the reference configuration according to the Dolby standard, although there are other configurations such as 5.1.2.

Finally, it should be noted that in addition to identifying the compatible speakers and players, Dolby Atmos also describes the audio tracks that are compatible with the system. So, the compatible codec is also called, exactly, Dolby Atmos. Netflix , by the way, has recently incorporated it into some of its movies.

What is DTS: X?

DTS: X, like Dolby Atmos, is a category of audio codecs used to store and handle the audio data to be output. DTS: X doesn’t have a specific audio system like Atmos, which means it can work on almost any sound system combination you have. It uses the multi-dimensional audio platform (MDA) which is “free” (no royalties) , while Atmos uses a proprietary system.

This makes DTS: X a marginally more open system than Atmos, although it hasn’t really had much of an impact on the consumer market, even though it allows more versatility than Dolby. 7.2.4 or 5.1.2 systems can be configured the same as in Dolby Atmos, and at the same time many other configurations that are not limited.

So if DTS: X doesn’t have a reference speaker setup, how do engineers go about mixing audio in this format? Because DTS: X receivers have a calibration system that automatically detects the audio settings and relative positions of the connected speakers , including whether you have any mounted on the ceiling (something new in DTS codecs). With this “auto report”, you can translate the audio input with the outputs that are connected at all times.

DTS: X translates the desired point of origin into three-dimensional space into the specific set of signals for your speakers. Thus, the codec is able to place the sound very, very close to its intended location with almost any speaker configuration. This greater flexibility is the great advantage of this audio system, since it provides the user with greater freedom.

Dolby Atmos vs DTS: X, which audio system is better?

Many movie theaters already use Dolby Atmos, but have not adopted DTS: X at the same rate, in part because it entered the market quite a bit later. Similarly, the adoption of Atmos has also been due to the fact that the existing connections for Dolby Digital sound are valid for Atmos, since they only have to add the upper speakers.

DTS: X can be encoded with a higher bit rate than Dolby Atmos, but that doesn’t necessarily make it better. In the audio tests, few or no listeners have noticed the difference between the two, and it is that technically the quality difference between the two is minimal (but DTS: X is technically superior ). In fact, DTS: X is capable of encoding audio that is mathematically more accurate than Dolby Atmos, yet the listener would be unable to tell the difference.

Dolby Atmos produces smaller files with its codec since its compression method is more efficient than that of DTS: X, which means that Dolby Atmos is easier for producers to implement since it takes less disk space.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that Dolby Atmos has an advantage over DTS: X that can be decisive when choosing one or the other system, and that is the much broader compatibility. Atmos users can get compatible audio from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, iTunes and the vast majority of movies and series in Blu-Ray format, while DTS: X is currently only offered in specific versions.

So DTS: X is technically better and more powerful than Dolby Atmos, but if you have to choose, you will have to choose Atmos because its implementation will be much easier .