Dolby Digital vs DTS: what's the difference between the two leading surround sound formats?

Dolby vs DTS
(Image credit: Future)

As home cinema has improved, the number of surround sound formats supported by TVs, soundbars and AV receivers has multiplied, providing even more options for immersive audio in your living room. But let's go back to basics and look at the two most popular surround sound formats: DTS and Dolby Digital. 

Both DTS and Dolby Digital are audio compression technologies, allowing moviemakers to record surround sound that can be reproduced in cinemas as well as homes. Both deliver spine-tingling multi-channel sound, so what's the difference? And which is better?

The devil is in the detail. Or, more accurately, the way that the two technologies encode audio. 

DTS is encoded at a higher bit rate and therefore is considered by some experts to be better quality. Others argue that Dolby Digital's technology is more advanced and produces better sound quality at a lower bit rate.

Confused? The good news is that both are widely supported, and chances are you won't have to play favourites. 

In their most basic form, both DTS and Dolby Digital support 5.1-channel audio (i.e. a typical home cinema system with five speakers and one subwoofer). And more advanced versions of the formats support 7.1-channels, HD surround sound and overhead speakers, in the form of DTS:X and Dolby Atmos

You'll find DTS and Dolby Digital supported by Blu-ray players, home cinema systems, games consoles, computers, set-top boxes and even smartphones. Read on to find out how DTS and Dolby Digital differ – and why it matters.

AV receiver: Arcam AVR5 Home Cinema Amplifier

(Image credit: Future)

What is Dolby Digital?

Dolby Digital is a multi-channel audio codec from Dolby Labs. It delivers a cinematic surround sound experience and is commonly referred to as the 'industry standard' (primarily because Dolby Labs has been around longer than DTS). 

The first film to use Dolby Digital was Batman Returns in 1992. Since then, Dolby has released a slew of increasingly advanced codecs, including Dolby Digital Plus, which supports HD surround sound and up to 7.1 speaker channels. 

Want the best? Dolby TrueHD is a lossless format that promises to be identical to the movie studio's master recording. Then there's the object-based audio system you'll no doubt have heard of – Dolby Atmos.

What is DTS?

DTS (originally Digital Theater Systems) was founded in 1993 to compete with Dolby Labs for surround sound supremacy. The company got its big break when Steven Spielberg chose DTS for his dino-romp, Jurassic Park

In 1996, DTS began cropping up in consumer hardware. The company might not be as well known as its main rival, but many purists believe that DTS offers better sound quality because it encodes audio at higher bit-rates.

Like Dolby Digital, DTS has since released a plethora of more advanced surround sound formats including DTS-HD High Resolution, which supports up to 7.1 speaker channels. DTS has also brought out a lossless format, DTS-HD Master Audio. There is also DTS:X, which competes with Dolby's Atmos.

What is the difference between DTS and Dolby Digital?

Dolby Digital and DTS can both deliver fantastic surround sound experiences – but there are some key differences in the way that they achieve that end result.

The major differences are the compression levels and bit-rates. Dolby Digital compresses 5.1 digital audio down to a bit-rate of 640 kbits/s (kilobits per second) for Blu-ray discs. For DVD discs, it supports a slightly lower bit-rate: up to 448 kbits/s. 

DTS, on the other hand, is less compressed and supports higher bit-rates of up to 1.5Mb/s (megabits per second). Some DVD discs also have 1.5Mb/s bit-rate, though most have a soundtrack encoded at 754kbps.

The compression gap widens when you step up to the competing HD formats. Dolby Digital Plus supports up to 1.7Mbps, while DTS-HD High Resolution supports up to 6Mb/s. In theory, less compression during encoding equals more detailed audio that delivers a soundtrack closer to what was originally intended.

Case closed, then? Not so fast. Dolby argues that its codecs are more efficient than DTS codecs and thus can sound every bit as good or better, even at a lower bit-rate.

Ultimately, you can expect a fine home cinema experience from both, and often your choice of soundtrack will come down to whichever is supported by your source material.

DTS vs Dolby Digital: which is better?

(Image credit: Dolby)

DTS:X vs Dolby Atmos

These top-of-the-line, cutting-edge home cinema audio technologies from Dolby and DTS are a step up from traditional surround sound. They recreate object-based effects, such as a plane flying overhead or bullets zinging around the room, thanks to multiple audio signals aimed at set-ups with a greater number of speakers than the standard 5.1.

Again, both should create an immersive experience, but there are some crucial differences between the two. 

Dolby Atmos uses speakers placed in the ceiling to create a 'bubble' of sound. Not keen to cut holes in your ceiling? There's a range of simpler options, such as Dolby Atmos soundbars with vertical drivers that bounce the sound off the ceiling to similar effect or – better yet – up-firing modules that can sit on top of your traditional speakers.

Many premium TVs now support Dolby Atmos, including all of LG's OLEDs from the past few years and a number of Sony models. The 2022 Panasonic LZ2000 4K OLED TV (and some of the company's older flagship TVs) even has its own upward-firing Dolby Atmos speakers built into the rear of the set. 

You can find Dolby Atmos products from an increasing number of hardware manufacturers, as well as across Blu-ray discs and streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Disney+. TV broadcasters such as Sky and BT are increasingly supporting Atmos, too.

DTS:X is a bit more flexible. It works with standard surround sound set-ups and doesn't require extra overhead speakers. You can also manually adjust sound objects, meaning you can crank up the volume of voices on a soundtrack making it easier to hear dialogue over loud effects. 

Around 90 per cent of the home AV industry supports DTS:X, with many manufacturers either releasing firmware updates for existing receivers or launching new models. The downside? It is less common and you won't find it on any streaming services – even on Disney+ where Marvel movies are available in ‘IMAX Enhanced’, a presentation format from the same company as DTS (Xperi) and which typically uses DTS audio.

Which is better: DTS or Dolby Digital?

Based on the specs alone, DTS beats its rival with higher bit-rates that promise a more realistic movie experience. That said, other factors such as signal-to-noise ratio and speaker calibration mean that plenty of audiophiles would rate Dolby above DTS. 

With standards constantly evolving, the best way to upgrade your movie night is to ensure you have good-quality components, set up properly and fed the highest possible source material. That way, whether it's DTS:X or Dolby Atmos, you'll be treated to thrilling home cinema entertainment.

MORE:

The 22 best Dolby Atmos movie scenes to test your speakers

The best AV receivers, best speaker packages and best soundbars you can buy

Is the DTS vs Dolby war effectively over?

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


Read more about how we test