Select Denon and Marantz AV receivers first to support DTS Virtual:X technology

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DTS’ collaboration with Sound United (owner of Denon and Marantz) sees its virtual surround sound technology integrated into home cinema amplifiers for the first time.

As elaborated upon in our ‘DTS:X - what is it? How can you get it?’ explainer, DTS Virtual:X is a way of getting three-dimensional surround sound without extra speakers.

Instead of being encoded into the Blu-ray disc (like DTS:X), Virtual:X is a post-processing technology that aims to create the effect of a 7.1.4 surround set up (that's 11.1 channels, including four height channels) through a 5.1 or even a stereo configuration.

Denon's US-only AVR-S730H and AVR-S930H models are also supported.

Next spring, Denon's AVR-X4400 and AVR-X6400H, and the Marantz SR6012, will also get the update.

DTS’ argument for Virtual:X technology in an AV receiver lies in its research which finds that fewer than 30 per cent of consumers who purchase multichannel AV receivers connect the height speakers, and fewer than 48 per cent connect the rear surround speakers.

Becky Roberts
Becky Roberts
Freelance contributor

Becky is a hi-fi, AV and technology journalist, formerly the Managing Editor at What Hi-Fi? and Editor of Australian Hi-Fi and Audio Esoterica magazines. With over twelve years of journalism experience in the hi-fi industry, she has reviewed all manner of audio gear, from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers, and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices.

In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.