Dolby vs DTS: Which Do You Prefer?

[Jurchen King]

This is an age old debate. Different pairs of ears listen differently.

Personally, I prefer DTS since the old DVD 5.1 days.

DTS surround sounds more punchy, powerful and louder at equivalent volume versus Dolby surround. Again, this is my subjective listening experience.

Generally blu-rays rarely provide both competing sound formats on the same disc. Film studios select their preferred sound format for blu-ray.

I don't have an Atmos overhead speaker setup so I can't comment on Dolby Atmos vs DTS:X. But on standard surround sound, I prefer DTS HD-MA over Dolby TrueHD any time.

 

[Apparatus]

Look at movies and the answer is there.

There are definitely more movies in Dolby than DTS especially nowadays in Dolby Atmos than DTS:X for 4K UHD movies

 

[petetherock]

This may be moot as DD and it's related formats like Atmos dominate..
Most TVs will decode and send out DD or something like that, but most don't handle DTS and it's related formats.

 

[benedium]

DTS is brighter so some may like as it may sound more detailed at first. But can also sound too bright and harsh. I used dts neural x for a few months for my smart tv app content like netflix and YouTube but now realise I prefer dolby surround as it sounds more balanced.

 

[Kazzi]

Dolby surround in the day when I can turn up the volume for surround effect. DTS neural X at night when I need louder centre for dialog only.

 

[Apparatus]

Dolby surround in the day when I can turn up the volume for surround effect. DTS neural X at night when I need louder centre for dialog only.

Nowadays many soundbars come with a Dialogue Enhancement feature

 

[RyanJ]

Dun prefer one over the other. Rather the audio formats, it is more the way it is mixed by the studio sound engineers.

Unfortunately for stream medias, it is quite imbal. Dolby has much taken the lead.

 

[Kazzi]

Soundbar dialog mode is like equalizer preset -10dB bass and +10dB treble . I sold mine long ago liao and using separates. Nowadays amp have so many modes and settings, can probably tweak Dolby to sound like DTS. Usually not the other way, because DTS strategy is always front/center louder than others.

 

[Audio]

These days, Dolby Atmos seems to sound more impressive because of the sound steering ability. Many times, I find sound objects rotate around me and giving a more immersive atmosphere to the movies on Dolby Atmos. Unlike the old days when DTS Master Audio give the best fidelity, Dolby Atmos and caught up and sound just as good to me now. DTS-X sounds impressive too but too few movies as compared with those with Dolby Atmos.

(Audio)

 

[Windowlover]

I think ATMOS have advantage for listener experience,,, have sound movement clearly depend on room size.

 

[Kitaro9202]

Dts seem louder lo

 

[petetherock]

Dts seem louder lo

Then it will not be accurate.. after you do a level adjust and you can still perceive a differences, then and only then can you say one is better or the other.