AdminLG has announced that its new 2023 TVs will offer native support for DTS audio codecs, including Dolby Atmos rival DTS:X, for the first time.
Xperi, the company behind DTS:X, revealed in a press release that LG’s latest OLED and premium LCD TVs will include an audio codec. This was later reportedly confirmed by LG Korea Flat HD panels (opens in a new tab) that all 2023 OLED TVs (including LG C3 and LG G3) and “QNED85 and later” will be able to decode DTS, DTS:X and IMAX Enhanced audio codecs.
Xperi’s DTS and DTS:X codecs are used on many Blu-ray discs and Marvel movies with IMAX enhancements on Disney Plus, so with support for this codec, LG’s 2023 OLED TVs just got a nice audio upgrade over their predecessors ( and many rivals) ) if you have a disc library (as many avid home theater fans do). Sure, you might need one of the best soundbars or an AV receiver to actually hear the difference, but that limitation isn’t unexpected – the vast majority of TVs don’t have speaker setups that can properly utilize immersive audio codecs like DTS:X and Dolby Atmos.
What is DTS:X?
DTS:X shares many similarities with an alternative audio codec: Dolby Atmos. Like Atmos, DTS:X aims to create a realistic, multi-dimensional soundstage where sound moves around you to make what you’re watching more realistic. For example, if a helicopter is flying overhead in a movie you’re watching, DTS:X and the right speaker system should make it sound like it’s really flying overhead.
Like Dolby Atmos, it is based on objects in 3D space rather than channels. Which means you don’t need a specific setup for it to work – it should be able to use soundbars with three speaker channels or 15.
However, there are a few differences, such as the fact that DTS:X supports higher bitrates – read: on paper, it has better audio quality – although Dolby says Atmos is more efficient by using bitrates, resulting in comparable audio quality from both.
But the bottom line is that not all content will support both DTS:X and Dolby Atmos. Many Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray prefer DTS:X, while many top streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video only use Dolby Atmos. Disney Plus is one of the few streamers to buck this trend by announcing that the IMAX Enhanced versions of its Marvel movies will use DTS audio.
With 2023 LG TVs supporting DTS:X AND while retaining support for Dolby Atmos, these screens will offer users the versatility to enjoy content from a variety of sources – whether streamed or disc – in the highest possible quality.
Just remember that a TV that says it supports DTS:X and Dolby Atmos doesn’t mean its built-in speakers will necessarily be capable of playing audio using those codecs. LG said its screen can decode these codecs, although a statement released said it “makes no promises that the TV’s speakers will play sound”, instead you’ll need a sound system or soundbar that can put them to use – our guide to the best Dolby Atmos soundbars are a great place to start as long as you check out the ones that also support DTS. (LG, Samsung and Sony usually include it; Sonos not so much.)
