Best DTS:X Movies

DTS:X is DTS's object-based audio format and the main alternative to Dolby Atmos. Like Atmos, it represents sounds as objects in 3D space rather than locking them to fixed channels. Unlike Atmos, DTS:X is layout-agnostic — it doesn't require a specific speaker count or position. Your AVR maps the objects to whatever speakers you actually have, which makes DTS:X friendly to unconventional or upgrade-in-progress setups. DTS:X soundtracks tend to lean into wide dynamic range, deep bass, and naturalistic spatial cues. You'll find DTS:X on Blu-ray, UHD Blu-ray, and a few streaming platforms.

Both formats are object-based and add a height layer, so the listener experience is broadly similar. The biggest practical differences: DTS:X is layout-flexible (no required speaker grid), while Atmos is more prescriptive. DTS:X is almost always backed by a lossless codec on disc; Atmos exists in both lossless (TrueHD) and lossy (DD+) variants. Bit rates on DTS:X tracks are often higher than Atmos's TrueHD on the same disc. Studios pick one based on contracts and engineering preference, not artistic intent — most movies sound great in either.

No — DTS:X works with any Atmos-capable speaker layout (so any height-channel-equipped 5.1.2 / 7.1.4 / 9.2.4 setup) and with most modern AV receivers. DTS:X also tolerates non-standard layouts better than Atmos, so if you've got 4 height speakers but no rear surrounds, DTS:X will route the objects sensibly. Your AVR has to be DTS:X-licensed; check the back panel or spec sheet. Unlike Atmos, no upfiring soundbars officially support DTS:X — for DTS:X you'll need height speakers (in-ceiling, on-ceiling, or upfiring modules connected to height channels).

DTS:X is most common on UHD Blu-ray, often as the primary track on action films from studios that use DTS for theatrical mixes (Sony, Lionsgate, and many catalog titles). Some discs include both an Atmos and a DTS:X track — typically you'll pick one and the other goes unused. The disc back panel lists every audio track. Streaming DTS:X support is limited; the format is mainly a physical-media offering for now. HDIS ratings tag the format used by the rater, so you can see which version each enthusiast scored.

Same scoring rubric as every other format on HDIS. Raters score on six dimensions (bass impact, surround envelopment, height activity, dialogue clarity, dynamic range, sound design) on a 1–10 scale. The overall score is the average across whichever dimensions they filled in. Each rating is locked to the specific audio format and speaker configuration the rater used, so two ratings of the same movie on different formats stay separate. Movie-level rankings on this page are computed only from DTS:X ratings — not blended with Atmos or other format scores.