While Dolby's audio formats are widely supported in TVs from all brands, the same cannot be said for DTS. Here is an always-updated list of TV models with both Atmos and DTS:X support.
No built-in TV speakers can fully reproduce the "immersive" audio experience of Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, but they do not have to. There are other advantages to Dolby Atmos, which we cover in our extensive guide here.
The main benefit of having Dolby Atmos or DTS:X supported in your TV is to ensure that you get the better audio quality in the first place. While it is technically possible for a TV to just pass on the Atmos or DTS:X bitstream to an external device for decoding, most of the time with streaming services (or even HDMI pass-through), it will only happen if the TV model has the official stamp of approval from Dolby or DTS – meaning the TV maker has paid royalties.
Disney+ is the first streaming service to offer both DTS:X (IMAX Enhanced) and Dolby Atmos, but you will only get it if your TV supports the formats. Photo: FlatpanelsHD
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X in TVs
All TV models today feature decoding support for some flavor of Dolby audio. An increasing number of TVs also feature decoding of Dolby Atmos, which is Dolby's latest audio format, although typically only Atmos in e-AC-3 (Dolby Digital Plus) – not the lossless Dolby TrueHD kind of Atmos found on Blu-rays.
Even Samsung, which still shuns Dolby's video format, Dolby Vision, finally added support for Dolby Atmos in 2022.
Far fewer TV brands support DTS audio, even basic DTS, as DTS is almost non-existent in the world of broadcast and streaming TV. It is a chicken-and-egg situation, but DTS:X appears to have finally made a breakthrough in streaming with the partnership to add DTS:X sound to Marvel movies on Disney+, in addition to Dolby Atmos, allowing the viewer to pick between the two.
Unlike DTS:X in lossless DTS-HD MA, used on Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray, DTS:X for streaming is a new lossy variant referred to as DTS:X profile 2 – a 5.1.4 channel mix based on the 12-channel IMAX theatrical mix, streaming at a 448 Kbps audio bitrate. To make matters even more confusing, it is not enough for a TV to simply support DTS:X. It must support profile 2, which is part of the 'IMAX Enhanced' certification.
TVs with Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced
Considering the many limitations of using a pre-HDMI 2.1 receiver or soundbar with a modern 4K TV, you will want a new TV to support Dolby Atmos and/or DTS:X (and HDMI eARC) if you own a big speaker setup.
The list below pulls data from FlatpanelsHD's TV Database to show you all the models that support Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX Enhanced (with DTS:X profile 2). The list will automatically expand as the TV Database gets updated.
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