DTS vs. Dolby: What is The Difference?

One of the biggest conflicts between the audiophiles is whether DTS is better or Dolby digital. Even this year, we are not successful in putting DTS vs. Dolby to rest. Time and time there are proves emerging to make the other one better but both of them fail. To the non-technical person, they both sound the same.

In fact, this is one of the biggest problems. The sound quality sounds the same per se which causes more confusion. This article is to help you understand DTS and Dolby in a better light. You will be able to look closely through both systems and find the one that you find the best.

We have broken down the article to further help the readers with the best information. You will find the similarities and differences too. By the end of the article, hopefully, you will be able to make an opinion about both of them. Stick to the end to see which one is the winner for us.

What are Dolby and DTS?

To get make a decision, it is important to go deeper into everything about Dolby Digital and DTS. Let us first take a look at what is Dolby.

Dolby

Dolby audio is an audio compressing technology. This technology uses fewer data to produce better and higher quality sound. The production of this technology is in the Dolby Labs. You may also here the name AC-3 for it.

Dolby works its technology depending on the human ear and the frequency that is hearable. Our ear can listen up to a certain frequency. The coding gets so high that an audio signal produces the sound gets better. The signal helps in hiding the frequency so that the human ear only hears the audio signal.

This form helps in bringing the highest sound quality. The coding noise is at a very high data. When the sound of that frequency is masked, the data reduces to a huge amount. One of the best things about Dolby is that it has the potential of providing five full-bandwidth channels.

These include the front left, front right, center, and surround sound in all directions. Dolby surrounds sound may be something that you have heard before.  Dolby also has a low-frequency effect channel feature. This feature allows the low frequency sounds to also be present for action and special effects.

It is also known as the subwoofer channel because it has the bandwidth of about one-tenth of other channels. This eventually becomes a multichannel system called 5.1 channels.

DTS

On the contrast of Dolby, we have DTS. These sound systems go neck to neck which is why they are the most common contrasting systems. To take the article further, we must know what DTS is. 

The first question is what does DTS mean? DTS is the digital theatre systems. The DTS audio sound system works almost like the Dolby system of sound. It uses the ration between the room and the ability of the human ear to make up a frequency which makes the sound quality better. However, DTS has one big advantage.

It is more adaptable to change and works in many different ways. It needs its personal software so that there are better results. The DTS system can help the response of the bass to optimize accordingly. The system is able to do this by analyzing if the driver is able to handle the frequency.

If the driver is unable to do that, the system will turn the frequency softer to the one that the driver can handle. One of the biggest advantages of the DTS system is with this feature. This feature allows even cheap products to have this system as the sound balances with the DTS system. 

With the DTS system, you can also get a consistent tuning feature. This feature allows the different applications to deliver the best of the sound quality. One of the biggest misconceptions is that the DTS system is an advanced equalizer. While it may seem to be, it is not. It has qualities of an equalizer but it is much more than that only.

Dolby Digital vs. DTS: The Similarities

DTS digital surround vs Dolby digital is a very long fight. The systems are two of the most leading audio surround systems in the world. Before we move on to differentiate between them, it is important to see what they have in common. The following are the similarities between the two systems.

#1- Surround Sound Codec

One of the most evident similarities between DTS sound Dolby is that they both have the ability to provide surround sound codec. Both have the potential to provide to the small surround speakers with a separate channel for the subwoofers. For example, 5.1, 6.1, and even 7.1 are considerable to both. 

#2- Data Deletion

Another one of the most common features that you may find in both of them is their ability to delete data. Do not worry; it is not bad kind of removing. They both have the ability to remove the useless data so the better sound is producible with fewer data in hand.

#3- CD/DVD Burning

Their sounds can burn on DVD and CDs in a better way as there is not much data while the quality is high. This feature also makes them suitable for different applications or websites like YouTube or Netflix. This feature also allows the 3D system of videos to have better sound effects with either of both the systems,

#4- Dynamic Range

One of the best features of both these sound systems is the surround sound feature. The surround sound feature allows both of the systems to have a better and more dynamic range of sound. No matter what quality the surround speakers are, if they have either of the systems they will rock. This feature allows both of the systems to have a multi-dimensional sound system as well. It is almost like the 3D sound system.

#5- No Difference in Output

One of the biggest foundations of the argument of Dolby vs. DTS digital is the next similarity. They both do not seem to have any difference in their sound quality when hearing. Perhaps the difference is determinable to the people with a strong hearing sense. However, up till this date, the difference is not physically found in both the sound qualities when not looking at the technicalities of the systems.

Dolby Digital vs. DTS: The Differences

Now that we know the similarities between the two, it is time to look at the differences. While you may notice that they are quite alike, they are different too. Surprisingly, they have plenty of noticeable differences. While one of the major similarities of both is that they can compress audio data, the difference is in this feature too.

#1- Compression

The compression of Dolby’s data is about three times more than DTS. This feature allows the Dolby sound system to fit on DVDs and CDs much better than the other sound system. However, DTS eventually has the potential to find better sound quality because of lesser compressing features. Both of these systems use different coding schemes and syntaxes to achieve their required results.

#2- Compatibility with varying quality drivers

Another one of the main differences that you can find in the Dolby and DTS is that DTS can work on cheap products and slower drivers as well. DTS has the ability to equalize the quality of the bass and match according to the driver. This feature makes it suitable to work on drivers that are low end. Eventually, DTS takes advantage of this feature by being everywhere.

Dolby is more ‘sophisticated’ in this sense. It needs a special highly durable and high-quality driver for it to work. Even though it may produce great sound quality, Dolby digital has its needs. This feature directly or indirectly means that Dolby is more expensive than DTS. However, it is also very popular in cinematic experiences.

#3- The “Live” feature

One of the best things about Dolby that you will not find in DTS is the ‘live’ feature. Live videos and applications need ample sound quality for the best results. Dolby Digital Live has the feature of producing sound quality on live videos and movies as well. This feature allows the live videos to have a better sound quality.

A comparison table of pros and cons of Dolby Digital and DTS

The following table is to understand the comparison and to determine which one you find the best better. This table will ultimately tell you the winner of this argument according to you.

Conclusion

The last and final question is; which is better DTS vs Dolby digital? This question is very ambiguous. After reading our article, you might see that the similarities and differences are very close and they are hard to separate.

Hence, the answer to these questions becomes very conditional. One of the biggest problems in answering this question is that sound quality upon hearing seems the same. Not much difference shows. Which one do you think is better for you or overall?