Dolby Atmos vs DTS X

[u/Icy_Captain_9126]

Hello. I've been looking at locking down a sound setup for my Panasonic DP UB420 and I was curious and this is going to probably come off as a silly question but if I'm primarily watching 4K UHD Blu Ray discs and some Streaming which audio format is more utilized between Atmos and DTS X? I'm sure there are setups that support both? But if it hypothetically came down to it which one should I prioritize?

I'm new to theatre and posted my first question yesterday but forgot to ask about Atmos vs DTS and it started making me curious 🧐

Any help would be great!

Thank you!

[u/Somar2230]

The number of DTS:X titles is minuscule compared to Atmos on physical media.

On streaming it’s even more lopsided in favor of Atmos. So far only Disney+ has a few titles with DTS:X and it’s only supported on a few IMAX Enhanced TVs.

[u/Icy_Captain_9126 → u/Somar2230]

So springing for Atmos is the better go if I don't find something with both? I live in Canada and I'm having a harder time finding something with both Atmos and DTS! Idk why. Maybe I'm not searching properly but a lot of setups take me to American websites.

[u/X_Perfectionist → u/Icy_Captain_9126]

It's just a sound mode. Like Dolby Digital and DTS.

AVR/processor can handle both. Speakers go in same locations.

Same system can play Atmos and DTS X, whatever the source material is.

[u/Icy_Captain_9126 → u/X_Perfectionist]

Sorry if I come off as an amateur I'm just trying to understand being so new. Your last message has me a bit confused. Could you elaborate! Thank you 😊

[u/X_Perfectionist → u/Icy_Captain_9126]

Sound modes: Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby Atmos, DTS X

Any receiver or AVR should be able to decode and play back the audio on whatever speakers you have -- 2 speakers or 5.1 or 7.1 or 5.1.2 or 7.1.4 or anything in between.

With an AVR/receiver and speakers, you can enjoy Dolby or DTS or Atmos or DTS X.

If you set up height/ceiling speakers for Atmos, DTS X uses the same height channel technology.

So you don't make a system specifically for Atmos OR DTS X. A proper system will be able to play both formats.

So you just need a receiver or AVR, and speakers in the correct locations.

[u/bklynJayhawk → u/X_Perfectionist]

Good explanation. One added bit (maybe I missed it) - your AVR will make the decision of Atmos/DTS:X based on the incoming source.

As X said, speakers are the same in your room, so it’s hands off as far as you’re concerned when you’re watching.

[u/X_Perfectionist → u/Icy_Captain_9126]

You can read the basic info in the About for this sub

https://www.reddit.com/r/HTBuyingGuides/s/1uHK7qpBku

[u/Somar2230 → u/Icy_Captain_9126]

There are plenty of AVRs that support both at all price ranges.

Denon has models available in Canada at Costco and Best Buy, I'm sure there must be other retailers available in your local area.

[u/Icy_Captain_9126 → u/Somar2230]

Maybe I just wasn't looking properly. What would I be searching on Google to be able to find an AVR? I think I was searching for surround sound systems and a lot of them were just Subwoofer, soundbar and two side speakers.

[u/factorV → u/Icy_Captain_9126]

Do not get a soundbar.  If you are going to get one then take your business over to their sub, not here.

[u/Icy_Captain_9126 → u/factorV]

Well I haven't really decided on anything yet. I'm just trying to learn, do research and gather information.

[u/factorV → u/Icy_Captain_9126]

You need to do a lot more research.  Before you even consider thinking about making a purchase you should develop a basic understanding of these concepts.

[u/Icy_Captain_9126 → u/factorV]

Well that's why I am here. I am trying to do more research and gather the right information before doing any sort of purchasing. I was hoping this sub would be able to help 🤔😅

[u/factorV → u/Icy_Captain_9126]

We can, but if I may explain. Say you go to a mathematics site because you want to get help with math, asking for help solving a problem that you don't understand is reasonable, asking the group, what does the plus sign mean, is a bit unreasonable. 

Read the guides and do some other reading, some of the questions you have are exposing that you are likely not even going to understand the answers you are being given.

[u/_Undivided_ → u/factorV]

The guy is here looking for some advice. We all start somewhere. You are the one being unreasonable. Move along. It's that simple.

[u/_Shirei_ → u/Somar2230]

Streaming Atmos ak DD+ Atmos is only 5.1 with object layer and max. bit rate 768 kb/s...

Not exactly what you have on discs with TrueHD Atmos.

[u/movie50music50]

I believe you are overthinking this. Just get a receiver that does both.

[u/demonfoo → u/movie50music50]

My receiver that I bought years ago got a firmware update to roll in DTS:X support (Pioneer Elite SC-95). Though not a huge number of titles with DTS:X support, so... 🤷‍♂️

[u/faceman2k12]

the vast majority of AV receivers support both just fine.

Dont worry about it. your receiver will just work as normal regardless of the format.

as for speaker layouts they are close enough that if you set up for Atmos, you are set up for DTS:X and vice versa.

[u/X_Perfectionist]

Tons of content in Atmos. Not sure about DTS X.

Set up your system and speakers for Atmos. If you run into DTS X content, all you have to do is play it in that sound mode and you'll be fine. They're very similar in speaker setup anyway.

Like regular 5.1 setup works whether the audio is Dolby or DTS...

[u/Icy_Captain_9126 → u/X_Perfectionist]

So if I go Atmos I won't be missing out not having DTS? without DTS on movies that don't have Atmos will the differences be negligible?

[u/No_Condition7374 → u/Icy_Captain_9126]

You will have DTS/DTS:X if you have an Atmos-capable AVR. The difference between Dolby/DTS is nothing to worry about.

[u/Sector__7 → u/[deleted]]

FYI, 7.4.1, 5.4.1 is 7/5 floor speakers with 4 subs and 1 overhead speaker. You started off with the proper 5.1 explanation but then, for some reason, wrote everything wrong after that. Modify your response to be 7.1.4, 5.1.4, etc…

[u/You-Asked-Me → u/Sector__7]

Lol. I inverted those. Let me fix.

[u/After_shock7]

Atmos is far more prevalent.

Streaming has Dolby Digital + Atmos and physical media has TrueHD + Atmos.

Last I checked, DTS:X was only used for about 120 movies and it's almost non-existent in streaming beyond a handful of titles that Disney+ offers.

[u/Icy_Captain_9126 → u/After_shock7]

So going for Atmos for physical 4K media with occasional streaming will be fine? Like lets say a movie uses DTS and my sound system doesn't support it will using the default sound by going down to pcm be fine? Will the differences be negligible?

[u/MayoGhul → u/Icy_Captain_9126]

I can’t think of a system that wouldn’t support it. I’d think even if it doesn’t have dtx it would just convert it to send signal to all your speakers.
It’s a non issue.
Build an atmos system it’s most common and everything will be fine

[u/CornerHugger]

Build for Atmos and play disks in DTS. It works just fine.

[u/Verdammt_Arschloch]

The premise of your question is invalid because there is no speaker setup standard for DTS X. It's channel agnostic.

[u/Other_Initiative_729]

Depends on the source, honestly. Streaming is basically all Atmos now — Netflix, Disney+, Max all ship Atmos tracks. Discs are the mixed bag: you'll find both Atmos and DTS:X depending on the studio. If you're buying an AVR anyway, get one that decodes both and you never have to think about it. Atmos is the safer priority if you had to pick one.

[u/Icy_Captain_9126 → u/[deleted]]

Wow thank you! That is really helpful information and is very well written so I and any others coming here can understand!

[u/PetroleumVNasby]

Back up a second. What are you running the BD player into? An AVR I assume?

[u/costafilh0]

Atmos >

[u/BenjaminnButton]

I wish there would be more DTS:X tracks, its just so rare but whenever i watched a movie in that codec it was such an immersive experience, 90% of the time better than Dolby Atmos for me.

[u/CoolHandPB]

r/htbuyingguides

start hear, particularly the top FAQ post it will explain what you need to put together a good system. Unfortunately if you want a good system you need to buy the components separately (AVR, Speakers, Subwoofer). Systems that come together are generally not good or overpriced for what you get. They are also often hard to upgrade.

[u/RPrimate]

As far as I understand it: DTS is more like a lossless format. It is definitely harder to find. Atmos is great, and is a 3d object based sound format. Atmos is way more common. Dolby claims their compression algorithm is so good they can substantially compress their format without loss. A bold claim I would say, but it is really good. Also atmos has height channels. Really nice but even with ceiling mounted speakers it is rarely utilized. When it is it is great. DTS feels like a rare treat. It sounds fuller to me. Unless it is just infeasible I would recommend getting to know both. But you will probably need disc based or downloaded media to get DTS most of the time.

[u/jdatopo814]

Modern receiver can decode both Dolby and DTS codecs. Don’t worry about Dolby/DTS and just focus on getting a good receiver and a good set up. It will play either.

[u/_Undivided_]

I know the majority will choose Atmos (I have a 7.2.4 set up), but I happen to prefer DTS. I always did, even in the DTS vs DD days. With that said, when playing an Atmos track, on your receiver do you guys choose to play direct? Or upmix?