Converting DTS to Dolby

[EbonDragon]

This might sound like a weird question, but is there any player out now that’s capable of converting DTS:X to Atmos? Or a close approximation of it.

[solarrdadd]

no, but why?

[EbonDragon]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

no, but why?

For various reasons, I can’t have a full Atmos setup so I’ve settled on a Samsung K950, reviews are good on it, it’s a 5.1.4 setup and it’s perfect for my limited space and room shape. Thing is, it doesn’t support DTS:X and only JUST got DTS 5.1 support. I’m sure eventually it’s going to get DTS:X but I’m impatient and I’m willing to go for a compromise until then. I guess it’ll just be upmixing until then though.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by EbonDragon

This might sound like a weird question, but is there any player out now that’s capable of converting DTS:X to Atmos? Or a close approximation of it.

DTS and Dolby are two different codecs, and one codec cannot be converted into the other. DTS:X will downconvert to a core DTS-HD 7.1, and Dolby Atmos will downconvert to Dolby TrueHD 7.1. on a incompatible Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X A/V receiver.

[EbonDragon]

Originally Posted by slimdude

DTS and Dolby are two different codecs, and one codec cannot be converted into the other. DTS:X will downconvert to a core DTS-HD 7.1, and Dolby Atmos will downconvert to Dolby TrueHD 7.1. on a incompatible Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X A/V receiver.

Yeah, I’m aware they’re different codecs. Codec converting is possible on PCs though and I saw someone elsewhere mention something about it being possible with Xbox so I figured I’d ask if it was possible elsewhere. Guess that guy didn’t know what he was talking about though.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by EbonDragon

This might sound like a weird question, but is there any player out now that’s capable of converting DTS:X to Atmos? Or a close approximation of it.

Closest you'd get is Dolby Pro Logic IIz or DTS: Neural: X or DTS: Neo: X. But they're all pseudo surround.

The other thing that's worth a go is checking your player settings, some players (I think my Sony and Samsung players do it) have an option to convert DTS into Dolby, then you'd have to see what your sound system does to that information.

You could try outputting PCM as well, but I don't think I've heard of receivers converting DTS: X into Atmos.

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by slimdude

DTS and Dolby are two different codecs, and one codec cannot be converted into the other. DTS:X will downconvert to a core DTS-HD 7.1, and Dolby Atmos will downconvert to Dolby TrueHD 7.1. on a incompatible Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X A/V receiver.

There is transcoding which is what all UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and PS4 & XBox One do:

The player decodes the audio then reencodes & outputs a signal that is compatible with audio equipment.

LGs and Sonys transcode audio to DTS 5.1 over coaxial/HDMI.

The XBox One transcodes audio to either PCM 5.1/7.1, Dolby Digital, or DTS. With the Dolby Atmos $15 add-on, it has the option for Atmos output. You can always do direct bitstream for audio on discs but apps and games get transcoded to the audio selected in audio output.

[Canada]

Originally Posted by chip75

Closest you'd get is Dolby Pro Logic IIz or DTS: Neural: X or DTS: Neo: X. But they're all pseudo surround.

The other thing that's worth a go is checking your player settings, some players (I think my Sony and Samsung players do it) have an option to convert DTS into Dolby, then you'd have to see what your sound system does to that information.

You could try outputting PCM as well, but I don't think I've heard of receivers converting DTS: X into Atmos.

I don't think you can only output DTS X as a PCM because if you output Atmos in PCM the max channels you can get is 7.1. In less you change how you output the signal Dolby Atmos and DTS-X you will be throwing 3 channels away.

[eddievanhalen]

Originally Posted by Canada

I don't think you can only output DTS X as a PCM because if you output Atmos in PCM the max channels you can get is 7.1. In less you change how you output the signal Dolby Atmos and DTS-X you will be throwing 3 channels away.

Yes, as Dolby Atmos or DTS X metadata are lost when convertimg to PCM.

[EbonDragon]

Thank you all for your help! I’m going to play around with the settings when it arrives and hopefully it works out to better sound.

[idlebrain]

Originally Posted by EbonDragon

Thank you all for your help! I’m going to play around with the settings when it arrives and hopefully it works out to better sound.

I read in 950 SB threads in avsforums that XBOX One S does pretty good job outputting the DTS or any audio codec into ATMOS.
I too have 950, its pretty great for Atmos but have to settle for lossy DTS 5.1 . It breaks my heart every time I see 4K release with DTS X.

[Killer Meteor]

Related question: if my blu-ray player is connected to a tv, that is connected to a basic soundbar (so no seperate decoder or multiple speaker system), should I have Dolby D Compatible Output turned On or Off?

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by Killer Meteor

Related question: if my blu-ray player is connected to a tv, that is connected to a basic soundbar (so no seperate decoder or multiple speaker system), should I have Dolby D Compatible Output turned On or Off?

If your soundbar is capable of outputting 5.1 or more then yes turn it on, but if not turn it off. Actually it doesn't matter because, a soundbar is not going to output no more channels than the maximum that the speaker is capable of regardless of the soundtrack that's playing. For instance: if your watching a movie with a 5.1 or a 7.1 soundtrack, a 2-channel soundbar will automatically down convert the soundtrack to 2-channel stereo.

[kniknax]

I've just got an LG C1, and a Philips Soundbar.

It then turns out neither supports DTS. So all my 4k movies that have DTS only will only output in really really quiet 2.0 PCM - unless I want to listen in French. Which for some reason is DD5.1 on all the DTS only discs... I guess the French really hate DTS.


Does anyone know of a 4K disc player that will convert DTS to a format that will be playable on a DD system?

[stonesfan129]

I know Xbox One S can do this. It can convert the sound output, on-the-fly, to PCM, Dolby Digital or DTS. I had to do it with my 4K Blu-ray of Apocalypse Now: The Final Cut where the audio just kind of drops out part of the way through the movie. I read it's a disc authoring problem. Converting it allowed the sound to work.

Back before I bought my Sony receiver, I was just on a Roku Streambar Pro setup (Streambar Pro, 10-inch subwoofer, a couple of satellite speakers) and setting the output to Dolby Digital allowed me to get discrete surround sound.

The problem is that with most people using streaming where Dolby pretty much cornered the market, TV and soundbar manufacturers want to just support Dolby and so anything with DTS or non-Dolby audio would just come across as PCM and then the soundbar has "virtual surround" where it is basically like DPLII upscaling stereo to surround.

I'm pretty sure PS5 has the same ability. Most standalone 4K/BD players I've seen will allow you to convert to multichannel PCM but that doesn't solve the original issue which is that most of these TVs and soundbar systems only want to support multichannel when it's Dolby.