Guides · 24 February 2026

Dolby Atmos vs DTS:X on soundbars

Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are the two immersive audio formats you will find in the Audio Support column of the comparison table. Both add sound from above to the usual surround channels. This guide compares what Dolby and DTS (Xperi) say about each format and what that means when you compare soundbars.

What the two formats are

Dolby describes Dolby Atmos as a format that allows creators to place each sound exactly where they want it to go. Dolby also says that Dolby Atmos adapts automatically to your device and room.

DTS describes DTS:X as immersive audio that places sound where it would occur naturally in space. DTS calls it a next-generation audio codec, with a decoder for TVs, soundbars, game consoles and AV receivers.

So both formats describe sound by its position in the room, not only by a fixed channel. The soundbar's decoder then plays it on the speakers it has.

Speaker layouts

Dolby publishes speaker setup guides for many layouts, from 2.1 up to 11.1.8. There are three kinds:

• Virtual setups (for example 2.1 or 5.1 virtual) without height speakers.
• Dolby Atmos-enabled speaker setups, with speakers that sit at the normal position and fire sound upward.
• Overhead speaker setups, with speakers in or on the ceiling.

DTS says that DTS:X does not require a specific speaker layout and adapts to practically any symmetrical speaker layout.

A soundbar has no ceiling speakers, so its height channels are built into the bar. For example, Sonos says the Sonos Arc has two dedicated height channels and that its upward-firing drivers work with Dolby Atmos. For what the numbers in a speaker setup such as 5.1.2 mean, see Soundbar channel numbers explained.

Decoding limits and upmixing

DTS publishes decoding limits for DTS:X: up to 5.1.4 when the content is streamed and up to 7.1.4 from optical disc. The DTS:X decoder includes the DTS Neural:X upmixer, which DTS says adds support for up to 32 speakers (30.2).

In the table, some soundbars list DTS Neural:X as a separate format, for example the Nakamichi Shockwafe Wireless 11.2.6.

DTS also lists DTS:X support for the IMAX Enhanced program. Some soundbars in the table list IMAX Enhanced, such as the LG S95QR.

Virtualizers: DTS Virtual:X

DTS Virtual:X is a separate DTS technology. DTS describes it as a virtualized immersive experience with height and surround effects from as few as two speakers, for soundbars, TV speakers and AV receivers without a multi-speaker setup. On its DTS:X page, DTS calls Virtual:X a companion audio processing technology.

In the table, "DTS Virtual X" is listed separately from "DTS:X". A soundbar can list one without the other. The VIZIO 2.1 Soundbar SV210M-0808 lists Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and DTS Virtual X on a 2.1 setup, with no dedicated height channels. See all soundbars with DTS Virtual X.

Getting the format to the soundbar: HDMI

Both formats travel from the TV to the soundbar over HDMI. HDMI.org lists DTS:X, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Atmos among the formats that eARC supports.

Dolby Atmos can come in more than one carrier format. Sonos lists both "Dolby Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus" and "Dolby Atmos via Dolby TrueHD" for the Sonos Arc, and marks the Dolby TrueHD version as requiring an HDMI eARC connection. For the difference between ARC and eARC, see HDMI ARC vs eARC: what passes through.

If you want both formats over eARC, filter the table for HDMI eARC with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Support on soundbars in the table

A soundbar can support one format, both, or neither. Some examples from the table:

• Both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X: the Samsung Q990B and the LG SN7Y. See all soundbars with both.
• Dolby Atmos without DTS:X: the Sonos Arc and the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar. For DTS, Sonos lists only DTS Digital Surround on Arc, with the note that this is not an indication of a licensed decoder. See all soundbars with Dolby Atmos.
• DTS:X: see all soundbars with DTS:X.

The Audio Support filter shows only soundbars that list every selected format. Select both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X if you need both.

Summary

Which format matters depends on your content and your TV. Check the Audio Support column for each soundbar you compare.

Sources

• https://www.dolby.com/technologies/dolby-atmos/
• https://www.dolby.com/about/support/guide/speaker-setup-guides/
• https://dts.com/dts-x/
• https://dts.com/virtualx/
• https://www.hdmi.org/spec21sub/enhancedaudioreturnchannel
• https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/arc