DTS: X announced today -Don't see Emotiva in the list (yet)

[melm]

CALABASAS, Calif. (December 30, 2014) – DTS, Inc. (Nasdaq: DTSI), a leader in high-definition audio solutions, is excited to reveal that DTS:X will be its next-generation object-based codec technology. This release is the successor to DTS-HD Master Audio and marks another milestone in DTS’ long line of industry-leading sound innovations. DTS:X delivers the ultimate in flexibility, immersion and interactivity to listeners of all forms of entertainment.

Manufacturers representing nearly 90 percent of the home AV receiver and surround processor market, including Anthem, Denon, Integra, Krell, Marantz, McIntosh, Onkyo, Outlaw Audio, Pioneer, Steinway Lyngdorf, Theta Digital, Trinnov Audio, and Yamaha, have agreed to launch products supporting DTS:X in 2015. Additional manufacturer partners will be announced in the coming months. DTS:X solutions are also available for leading 2015 AV receiver silicon platforms representing the majority of the DSP platform market share, including Cirrus Logic, Analog Devices and Texas Instruments.

The official launch of DTS:X is planned for March 2015, at which time additional information will be shared.

“DTS was founded with the goal of making the world sound better through constant innovation. DTS:X is a result of years of cutting-edge development in the area of object-based audio and reflects our continued commitment to provide listeners with incredible immersive audio experiences,” said Jon Kirchner, Chairman and CEO of DTS, Inc. “Through incorporating DTS:X technology into a wide range of home AVR products, our partners will take the listening experience to another level. I look forward to sharing further details at the official DTS:X launch in March."

For more information about DTS, please visit www.dts.com, or connect with DTS on Facebook and Twitter (@dts_Inc).

[bootman]

In addition those with Atmos setups should be able to use their current speaker layouts.

Industry personnel have been told that home theater speaker configurations designed for Dolby Atmos playback could be used to play back DTS:X soundtracks.
A DTS spokesman confirmed that. “DTS:X is based on arbitrary rendering,” he said, “so any speaker layout can be supported.” DTS has “worked with manufacturers to make sure the first implementations include pre-selected [speaker] layouts which overlap with familiar layouts,” he added.

Source:

www.twice.com/news/components/dts-lines-audio-suppliers-support-dtsx-surround/55429#sthash.vjItA6Kf.dpuf

[chaosrv]

All the article/press release states is those manufacturers will be launching products in 2015 that support DTS:X.
We're still waiting to see if the XMC-1 can be updated to support some form of Atmos (and now hopefully DTS:X)
That technically wouldn't be a "launch" but rather a feature upgrade.

While I think these new sound formats are great, I can't get too excited about them. They are next to impossible to implement in my home. I know some out there love Atmos already, DTS should be just as good, if not better. (assuming from previous sound formats)

Even if I can't implement them, I do hope Emotiva is able to integrate the tech into the XMC-1

[Bonzo]

Dec 30, 2014 12:41:43 GMT -5 bootman said:

DTS has “worked with manufacturers to make sure the first implementations include pre-selected [speaker] layouts which overlap with familiar layouts,” he added

I wonder how we are to take this? It sort of sounds like the first go around of DTS:X will work best using current 7.1 layouts and add from there. But it also sort of implies that the first go around won't necessarily be "complete". As if there will be DTS:X.2 or something that will come later and provide for more options. Yes? No? Am I interpreting this wrong? I don't want to speculate about something I'm totally unfamiliar with here. I have usually preferred the sound of DTS to Dolby in the past (my system my speaker arrangement my room etc) so I'm interested in this for sure.

[brubacca]

Another reason to sell you all new stuff. Good luck.

[chaosrv]

Dec 30, 2014 12:58:09 GMT -5 Bonzo said:

Dec 30, 2014 12:41:43 GMT -5 bootman said:

DTS has “worked with manufacturers to make sure the first implementations include pre-selected [speaker] layouts which overlap with familiar layouts,” he added

I wonder how we are to take this? It sort of sounds like the first go around of DTS:X will work best using current 7.1 layouts and add from there. But it also sort of implies that the first go around won't necessarily be "complete". As if there will be DTS:X.2 or something that will come later and provide for more options. Yes? No? Am I interpreting this wrong? I don't want to speculate about something I'm totally unfamiliar with here. I have usually preferred the sound of DTS to Dolby in the past (my system my speaker arrangement my room etc) so I'm interested in this for sure.

I read this to mean that DTS:X can work with different speaker layouts but the first products released will also include presents for existing common layouts (like 5.1, 7.x, Atmos configs etc..) I don't think it is DTS:X that will be changing. For example, someone has a 5.1 setup, they select the 5.1 preset, they add additional speakers and then select a new preset or configure it manually.

Sort of like picture presets on displays. No self respecting videophile would pick "movie" or some other mode but rather adjust it to their tastes/needs. However, many people welcome the presets so they don't have to think.

[Bonzo]

Dec 30, 2014 13:02:29 GMT -5 brubacca said:

Another reason to sell you all new stuff. Good luck.

In this day and age it's amazing it's taken this long. Dolby True and DTS Master have been around with no changes for what almost seems like forever now, even though it's been just a matter of years.

If this were the stupid computer industry we'd be on Dolby True 3.6 by now and it still wouldn't work consistently right.

It was only a matter of time before they would push for more than 7.1 channels. They couldn't do it with channels alone, so instead they reinvented the entire wheel which means even more sales because everything has to change (except supposedly the Blu-ray soundtrack, for now at least).

[Bonzo]

Dec 30, 2014 13:12:46 GMT -5 chaosrv said:

Dec 30, 2014 12:58:09 GMT -5 Bonzo said:

I wonder how we are to take this? It sort of sounds like the first go around of DTS:X will work best using current 7.1 layouts and add from there. But it also sort of implies that the first go around won't necessarily be "complete". As if there will be DTS:X.2 or something that will come later and provide for more options. Yes? No? Am I interpreting this wrong? I don't want to speculate about something I'm totally unfamiliar with here. I have usually preferred the sound of DTS to Dolby in the past (my system my speaker arrangement my room etc) so I'm interested in this for sure.

I read this to mean that DTS:X can work with different speaker layouts but the first products released will also include presents for existing common layouts (like 5.1, 7.x, Atmos configs etc..) I don't think it is DTS:X that will be changing. For example, someone has a 5.1 setup, they select the 5.1 preset, they add additional speakers and then select a new preset or configure it manually.

Sort of like picture presets on displays. No self respecting videophile would pick "movie" or some other mode but rather adjust it to their tastes/needs. However, many people welcome the presets so they don't have to think.

Ah, okay, got it. That would make sense. Thanks.

[bootman]

Dec 30, 2014 13:02:29 GMT -5 brubacca said:

Another reason to sell you all new stuff. Good luck.

OEMs have to eat. lol
I see this as some good deals are coming our way with "older" models going up at heavy discount pricing.

[ansat]

Dec 30, 2014 13:35:46 GMT -5 bootman said:

Dec 30, 2014 13:02:29 GMT -5 brubacca said:

Another reason to sell you all new stuff. Good luck.

OEMs have to eat. lol
I see this as some good deals are coming our way with "older" models going up at heavy discount pricing.

even newer stuff.. That new Marantz that I keep seeing popping up in conversations didn't say anything about supporting it.

Tony

[Porscheguy]

I'm still hooked on Dolby AC-3

[Bonzo]

Good time to buy a new processor/receiver if you don't care about Atmos or DTS:X.

Bad time if you do. Patience is required here. A bit like TV's at the moment. Too much flux going on this year.

[wiskers]

Glad I don't have room for all new stuff, besides I'm happy with my 2.1 setup.

[chaosrv]

I wouldn't be surprised if DTS:X will be made available as a software/firmware update for those products with the hardware robust enough to support it (channels, memory, processing power etc..)
Even manufacturers have to be *somewhat* afraid of alienating customers that just dropped $2k on a piece of equipment that supports Atmos only to be told they'll need to spend another $2k (or more) to get a new one that supports DTS:X. Back in the non-HD but discrete surround days DTS sounded better but Dolby had the greater market penetration by far. However, DTS rebounded and took the crown in the HD era surround format era.

It will be interesting to see who wins out this time around.

[LCSeminole]

I don't see this as a "which object based format" will win out thing, as there are only two major players here that continue to co-exist and have for quite a while. Having said that, this still doesn't change anything for a majority of households(including myself), only those that are audiophile die-hards that will be installing the extra amount of speakers to properly use these formats. Niche market at best, but I do hope that this means there will be more 7.1 soundtracks because of Dolby Atmos & DTS:X.

[Porscheguy]

Dec 30, 2014 14:14:38 GMT -5 Bonzo said:

Good time to buy a new processor/receiver if you don't care about Atmos or DTS:X.

Bad time if you do. Patience is required here. A bit like TV's at the moment. Too much flux going on this year.

Problem is it never ends. You get the latest greatest codec and then they come out with a new one. As long as your prepro is software upgradable you can move along with the times (to a point)..

[pedrocols]

Two channel rules!!

[Deleted]

Dec 30, 2014 14:43:57 GMT -5 LCSeminole said:

I don't see this as a "which object based format" will win out thing, as there are only two major players here that continue to co-exist and have for quite a while. Having said that, this still doesn't change anything for a majority of households(including myself), only those that are audiophile die-hards that will be installing the extra amount of speakers to properly use these formats. Niche market at best, but I do hope that this means there will be more 7.1 soundtracks because of Dolby Atmos & DTS:X.

Correct. The only one that would be in this war description would be auro 3d since you need a different speaker layout.

Looks like Dts and Dolby WANT to coexist

[Bonzo]

I'll be curious to see how it works out in the receivers and pre-amps in terms of speaker outputs. 11 channels is a lot of channels to cram into a receiver. There is a thread here on the lounge that talks about options on this, like just having outputs for external amplification, or even having some sort of exterior module that will do the upgrade from say, 5.1.4 to 9.4.8 (just an example). That way your processor could stay valid longer with firmware and you would only need to upgrade the channel spitting box for the physical part. It's going to be interesting.

Back on thread track, we have gotten to read a bit about the differences between Atmos and that other system from Europe (forget the name right now). I wonder what the true differences will be between Atmos and DTS:X? I certainly hope it will just be a co-existence thing like we have now. That way everyone wins.

[Bonzo]

Dec 30, 2014 14:59:41 GMT -5 @bmoney said:

Correct. The only one that would be in this war description would be auro 3d since you need a different speaker layout.

Yeah but originally with the digital formats a long time ago, Dolby recommended side firing di-pole while DTS recommended rear firing direct or bi-pole. So it's possible things could be different. Although both systems will probably allow you to really "adjust" things electronically to fit your set up more than ever before. I say probably because we don't know for sure yet with DTS:X.

Atmos has changed Dolby's tune now saying wall speakers are better down lower. That's just a no brainer from a physical standpoint as it provides more separation between the wall speakers and the ceiling ones they want to sell everyone now. You don't have to lower your old ones if you don't want, but you will get more separation due to physics, not Atmos.

Looks like Dts and Dolby WANT to coexist

I think that's what DTS wants. Dolby won on DVD's, but DTS came out on top with Blu-rays and DTS-Master. You can't tell me Dolby expected that outcome. Overall, wouldn't it take a lot to bump Dolby totally off it's corporate perch anyway?