Welcome to another edition of the SH Digital Media blog. As specialists in crafting high-performance audio-visual experiences, our goal is to shed light on the fast-evolving world of home theater technology. Today, we’re diving deep into the story of a surround sound format that once stood tall in the home cinema realm DTS :X and why it’s steadily losing ground in the face of fierce competition and changing consumer habits. We’ll also explore how Dolby Atmos has become the dominant immersive audio format and what that means for your home theater setup.
Introduction
As experts in delivering high-performance audio-visual experiences, we aim to keep you informed about the latest trends and technologies shaping home theaters. In today’s rapidly evolving world of home entertainment, immersive sound formats have become a major focus for both consumers and AV professionals. Among the two major players DTS:X and Dolby Atmos the industry trend is now impossible to ignore. While DTS:X once showed enormous potential with its advanced object-based audio and flexible setup options, it is now steadily fading from mainstream use.
This blog will break down why DTS:X is falling behind, where it still has value, and why Dolby Atmos is becoming the smarter, future-proof choice for home theater systems in 2025 and beyond.
A Technological Innovation That Fell Short
When DTS:X was first introduced, it represented a leap forward in surround sound technology. Unlike traditional channel-based systems, DTS:X offered object-based audio, where individual sound elements like a helicopter or a voice could move freely in three-dimensional space. It supported lossless audio quality, allowing for studio-level sound, and offered flexible speaker layouts, adapting to any room configuration.
It also featured backward compatibility with earlier DTS formats, making it attractive to users with large Blu-ray libraries. However, despite its technical brilliance, DTS:X never achieved the industry traction it needed. Lacking support from major streaming platforms, TV brands, and content producers, DTS:X slowly lost ground.
What is Dolby Atmos?
More and more TV brands and streaming services use Dolby Atmos to give you better, more realistic sound at home. But what exactly is Dolby Atmos, and how can you get the most out of it?!
Dolby Atmos has emerged as the industry standard, enjoying robust support across content platforms, devices, and media formats. Well, it is a sound technology that creates a more realistic and immersive listening experience. Unlike traditional surround sound systems that send audio to fixed speaker positions like front left, right, or behind you. Dolby Atmos adds a new dimension by allowing sounds to move around you in 3D space. This means you can hear sounds not just from the front or sides, but also from above and all around, making everything feel more lifelike.
For example, if you're watching a movie with a scene where a helicopter flies overhead, Dolby Atmos doesn’t just play that sound through the back speakers. Instead, it makes the helicopter sound like it’s actually flying above your head, following its motion across the screen. Or if you’re playing a video game, you might hear footsteps sneaking up from behind or gunfire that feels like it’s passing right beside you.
What makes Dolby Atmos special is that it treats each sound like dialogue, background music, or sound effects—as a separate “audio object.” These objects can be placed and moved anywhere in 3D space, depending on what’s happening in the content. This gives creators more freedom and gives you a more exciting, theater-like experience at home.
Another great thing about Dolby Atmos is that it's widely supported. You don’t need a full theater setup to enjoy it. It works on modern TVs, soundbars, smartphones, tablets, and even wireless earbuds. Many streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video, already offer movies and shows in Dolby Atmos, so you can experience this advanced sound format right from your living room.
In simply we can say that Dolby Atmos brings sound to life. It makes you feel like you’re inside the scene, not just watching it. Whether you're watching a movie, listening to music, or playing a game, Dolby Atmos helps create a deeper and more engaging experience.
Blu-ray Decline and the Shrinking DTS:X Library
DTS:X gained its initial popularity through physical media, particularly Blu-ray discs, which were once the go-to format for high-quality home theater experiences. Many blockbuster films were released with DTS:X audio, allowing viewers to enjoy immersive, cinema like sound in their living rooms. However, as the market shifted away from physical formats and toward streaming, the relevance of Blu-ray and by extension, DTS:X began to decline.
By mid-2025, the change is unmistakable. For instance, in major markets like Germany, no new Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, or UHD Blu-ray titles with DTS:X have been released since December 2024. Globally, the situation isn’t much better, with only about 113 UHD Blu-ray titles featuring DTS:X audio and the majority of these were released before 2020. Meanwhile, Dolby Atmos has surged ahead, now available on over 600 UHD Blu-ray titles, and its presence continues to grow. This stark difference in content availability highlights the growing gap between the two formats and signals a clear industry preference for Dolby Atmos as physical media gradually phases out.
Hardware Compatibility
Another major factor behind Dolby Atmos’s dominance is its widespread hardware compatibility. From smart TVs like those from LG, Sony, and Samsung) to streaming devices that is; Apple TV 4K, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, to soundbars, AV receivers, smartphones, earbuds, and even car audio systems, Dolby Atmos is supported across nearly every device category. In comparison, DTS:X support is inconsistent and rapidly shrinking. For example, LG’s 2025 OLED TVs no longer support DTS audio, Samsung dropped DTS support years ago, and popular streaming devices like Apple TV 4K and Chromecast with Google TV don’t support DTS:X at all. Some TVs from TCL and Philips offer only partial or no support. This lack of support makes it difficult for consumers to access DTS:X content even if it’s available. Dolby Atmos has gone from being a premium feature to an expected standard, while DTS:X is now being sidelined.
Where DTS:X Still Matters
Despite its declining presence in mainstream entertainment, DTS:X still has merit in specific, enthusiast-driven scenarios. For Blu-ray collectors, DTS:X remains one of the best ways to experience lossless, high-fidelity audio. Its flexible speaker configuration options also make it ideal for custom home theater setups in rooms with non-standard layouts. Audiophiles appreciate the format’s fine-tuned dialogue control and dynamic range, and some gamers prefer DTS:X for its low-latency performance and customizable sound fields. So while DTS:X may no longer be the best choice for everyday consumers, it continues to hold value for those seeking maximum control and performance in specific use cases.
Dolby Atmos: The Future of Immersive Audio
Dolby Atmos has not only caught up with DTS:X has surpassed it on nearly every front. It now represents the future of immersive home audio, with broad support across content, hardware, and use cases. Dolby Atmos is deeply integrated into the entire entertainment ecosystem cinema, music, gaming, mobile devices, and smart homes. What makes Atmos especially future-proof is its constant innovation, such as Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, which optimizes sound for any room layout, and head tracking for spatial audio on earbuds. These developments keep Atmos ahead of the curve.
Advantages of Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos offers several key advantages that have helped it become the leading immersive audio format. It enjoys widespread streaming support, being available on major platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, and HBO Max. In terms of hardware, Dolby Atmos is compatible with a broad range of devices including TVs, soundbars, AV receivers, earbuds, smartphones, and even car audio systems. Its content library is extensive, boasting over 600 UHD Blu-ray titles, which is significantly larger than competing formats. Beyond movies, Dolby Atmos supports a diverse ecosystem spanning cinema, music, gaming, mobile devices, and home theaters. Additionally, consumer awareness of Dolby Atmos is high, as the Dolby brand is well-known and trusted worldwide. With such robust support and a clear commitment to ongoing development, Dolby Atmos has become the default choice for anyone serious about high-quality home audio.
From Old Surround Sound to Object-Based Sound
In the past, movie sound was made using fixed channels like front left, front right, center, and back speakers. This is called channel-based audio. Sound designers had to mix audio for those specific speakers.
Dolby Atmos is different. Instead of fixed channels, it uses audio objects. Each sound like a bird or a helicopter is treated as a separate object that can be placed anywhere around you in 3D space. This means sounds can move above your head and all around you, making the experience more realistic.
Understanding DTS:X Innovation That Fell Short
For many years, DTS was synonymous with high-quality surround sound, especially on physical media like Blu-rays. Classics such as The Bourne Identity and The Last Witch Hunter showcased DTS’s ability to deliver rich, immersive audio experiences. The launch of DTS:X promised to push that envelope further by offering an object-based audio system that brought cinematic realism directly into living rooms with flexible speaker layouts and lossless audio quality.
DTS:X was introduced as a competitor to Dolby Atmos. The object-based audio is different from traditional surround sound. Instead of sending sounds to fixed speakers, it treats each sound like a separate “object” that can move freely in three-dimensional space around you. This makes the listening experience much more immersive and realistic.
But by mid-2025, things have changed a lot. Dolby Atmos has become the clear favorite. It’s now used not just in home theaters, but also in smartphones, wireless earbuds, streaming apps, and video games. Although DTS:X still works well technically, it’s not as popular anymore and is rarely found on new Blu-rays or streaming platforms.
The Decline of DTS:X: Content and Compatibility Challenges
DTS:X introduced several impressive features that made it stand out technically. One of its main advantages was flexible speaker layouts. Unlike traditional surround sound systems that require specific speaker placements, DTS:X allowed users to customize their setups based on the size and shape of their rooms. This flexibility gave home theater owners the freedom to create a personalised and optimised listening environment.
Another important feature was its lossless audio quality. DTS:X delivered high-fidelity sound without compression artefacts, which meant listeners could enjoy every detail and nuance exactly as the creators intended. This level of sound quality appealed to audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts who wanted the best possible audio experience. Additionally, DTS:X supported backward compatibility with older DTS formats. This meant users could still play their existing collection of DTS audio content without any issues, making the transition to DTS:X smoother and more attractive for those with legacy media.
However, despite these technical strengths, DTS:X struggled to build the broad ecosystem needed for widespread adoption. The format never gained strong support from content producers, streaming platforms, and device manufacturers. By mid-2025, the spotlight had clearly shifted to Dolby Atmos, which expanded well beyond home theaters into smartphones, wireless earbuds, gaming, and streaming services. In contrast, DTS:X has largely faded from prominence in both physical media and streaming platforms, marking a steady decline in its relevance within the home audio market.
Limited Content and Shrinking Device Support
Several factors have led to DTS:X’s decline, making it harder to find and enjoy its content. New Blu-ray releases featuring DTS:X have stopped in key markets like Germany since late 2024, and globally there are only about 113 UHD Blu-ray titles with DTS:X, mostly released before 2020. Streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+ mainly support Dolby Atmos, with DTS:X appearing only on niche services like Sony Pictures Core and some IMAX Enhanced content. Device support is shrinking too. LG’s 2025 OLED TVs dropped DTS, Samsung hasn’t supported it for years, and popular streaming devices like Apple TV 4K and Chromecast don’t support DTS:X at all.
Why DTS:X Is Losing the Battle to Dolby Atmos
Globally, the outlook for DTS:X looks bleak. Across the entire UHD Blu-ray catalog, there are only about 113 titles featuring DTS:X audio, and most of these were released before 2020. This small and aging collection of content makes it hard for DTS:X to attract new users or encourage consumers to invest in compatible devices. In stark contrast, Dolby Atmos can be found on over 600 UHD Blu-ray titles worldwide, showing a clear preference from both the industry and consumers for Atmos as the leading immersive audio format.
This lack of new DTS:X content is a major problem. Most consumers avoid investing in audio formats that don’t have fresh and ongoing support, because without new releases, the technology quickly loses its appeal and value. This decline isn’t just limited to physical media; DTS:X is also losing ground when it comes to streaming services and device compatibility. As a result, DTS:X is steadily fading out of the home theater market, while Dolby Atmos continues to grow and dominate.
Losing Ground on Streaming and Devices
The way we watch movies and listen to music has changed a lot because of streaming services. Now, whether a sound format becomes popular depends mostly on if streaming platforms and devices support it. If a format isn’t available on popular apps or doesn’t work on many devices, it’s hard for people to use it, no matter how good it sounds.
Dolby Atmos is the clear winner in streaming. Big services like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and Vudu offer lots of shows and movies with Dolby Atmos sound. Even music apps like Apple Music and Tidal have special Atmos versions of songs, giving listeners a more immersive experience.
On the other hand, DTS:X is barely available on streaming services. You can mostly find it on a few niche places like Sony Pictures Core and some IMAX Enhanced content on Disney+. That means not many people get to hear it. Another problem for DTS:X is that it only works on certain devices.
For example, some Philips Google TVs support it, but others like TCL Google TVs do not. Also, some major TV makers have stopped supporting DTS altogether LG’s 2025 OLED TVs don’t have it anymore, and Samsung hasn’t supported DTS for years. This makes it harder for people to use DTS:X at home.
Even popular streaming boxes like Apple TV 4K and Chromecast with Google TV don’t play DTS:X sound. So even if you find DTS:X content, your device might not let you listen to it properly. Because of all these issues limited streaming availability and device support DTS:X is becoming less useful and less popular. Meanwhile, Dolby Atmos keeps growing and is available almost everywhere.
IMAX Enhanced: A Missed Chance to Help DTS:X
DTS worked together with IMAX to create IMAX Enhanced, a special certification meant to combine IMAX’s famous high-quality pictures with DTS:X’s immersive sound. The idea was to give people a top quality home theater experience.
But this didn’t really work well. Although Disney+ offers IMAX Enhanced movies, most of them use Dolby Atmos sound instead of DTS:X. Also, many devices don’t fully support the true IMAX Enhanced DTS:X sound. Most people don’t even know about IMAX Enhanced DTS:X, so it hasn’t helped DTS:X become popular again. Because of the lack of device support and poor marketing, IMAX Enhanced didn’t succeed in bringing DTS:X back.
Why is Object-Based Audio Better?!
Because Atmos treats sounds as objects, it can do more than old surround sound; t’s flexible. Sound creators don’t have to mix audio for one fixed speaker setup. It’s adaptable. Your sound system uses special technology (called Object Audio Renderer) to send each sound to the right speaker based on what speakers you have whether it’s a simple soundbar or a full surround system.
Final Thoughts from Us
At SH Digital Media, we’ve tested both DTS:X and Dolby Atmos systems in real home theaters. While DTS:X delivers good sound, it has fewer movies available and is supported by fewer devices. This makes it a riskier choice today.
A great home theater system should be easy to set up and use. This means you shouldn’t have to struggle with complicated installations or confusing instructions. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, the system should be straightforward to connect and operate, so you can spend less time setting it up and more time enjoying your favorite movies and shows.
It should also be ready for new content and devices. Technology keeps changing, and new movies or apps often require the latest formats and connections. A good home theater system works well with the newest devices like streaming players, gaming consoles, and smart TVs, so you won’t need to replace or upgrade your setup frequently.
Finally, a great system is supported by lots of new movies and shows. You want to have access to a wide variety of fresh content, including the latest releases with immersive sound like Dolby Atmos. This ensures your system stays exciting and enjoyable over time, giving you plenty of reasons to use it regularly.
"Dolby Atmos clearly leads in all these areas. It’s supported by major streaming platforms, many devices, and has a growing library of content. We respect DTS:X for its contributions, but if you’re upgrading your system in 2025 or later, Dolby Atmos is the safer and better choice for immersive, reliable sound."
Let’s Build Your Dream System
If you’re ready to upgrade your entertainment space with an immersive, future-proof audio setup, SH Digital Media is here to help. We specialise in designing and installing systems that deliver world class performance with Dolby Atmos at the core.
DTS:X, once a promising immersive audio format, is rapidly fading due to declining new content, minimal streaming presence, and decreasing device support. Dolby Atmos, by contrast, offers broader compatibility, a growing content library, and extensive industry backing.
We recommend Dolby Atmos as the best choice for immersive home audio in 2025 and beyond. Whether you’re a seasoned audiophile or a casual viewer, Atmos provides a reliable, future ready solution for rich, three-dimensional sound.
Thank you for reading.
