Add one more to the DTS:X list. The fifth title to be released with the format will be The Big Short coming from Paramount on March 15th. As the movie did not receive a object based mix in theater (it was only 5.1), it will be a new mix built for Blu-ray.
Please note I updated the list of movies with DTS:X on the site.
You can now count Lions Gate in the list of studios supporting Ultra HD titles. The studio just announced that their first 4 titles will be available starting March 1st and that all will include immersive audio. The launch titles are :
This means we have a first DTS:X title on UHD Blu-ray now and that Atmos is continuing to be omnipresent on the format.
I updated at the same time the list of UltraHD titles, the list of Dolby Atmos Blu-rays and the list of DTS:X Blu-rays.
Finally, it seems we have a date for DTS:X, at least for Denon owners.
Denon confirmed this week that the DTS:X update to their flagship receiver (AVR-X7200W/AVR-X7200WA) will be available on January 28th. The AVR-X6200W and AVR-X4200W will get the firmware a couple of weeks later on February 18th.
The other compatible receivers from Denon will receive the firmware later in 2016.
Let’s see how the other manufacturers will react to this and when they will announce availability for their DTS:X compatible devices.
We finally have a second studio joining Lionsgate for DTS:X audio tracks on Blu-ray. The Guillermo Del Toro movie Crimson Peak will be released on February 9th with a DTS:X soundtrack.
The list of Blu-ray movies with DTS:X on the site have been updated.
Lionsgate stills support strongly DTS:X with a third release announced, this time it’s The Last Witch Hunter starring Vin Diesel. The movie will be released on February 2nd.
The list of DTS:X movies on the site have been updated.
Lionsgate announced last week that the release of American Ultra on Blu-ray will feature a DTS:X soundtrack. The movie will be available from home theaters on November 24th and will become the second Blu-ray disc with DTS:X
Having said that, we must note that the latest news about DTS:X are saying that the format will not be released on AVRs before the beginning of next year or later. So it will not be possible to hear the movie at home in DTS:X for a while.
Note that as usual, I update the list of DTS:X movies on Blu-ray.
Lionsgate announced through a press release that the science-fiction movie Ex Machina will be released on July 14th with a DTS:X soundtrack, thus becoming the first movie announced what will feature the format.
The movie will also have a DTS Headphone:X soundtrack, joining the latest Hunger Games movie in this format.
Please note I create a page with the list of announced DTS:X movies.
Onkyo just announced this morning their first two 2015 receivers to support the new upcoming DTS:X format (through a firmware upgrade to come later this year). The TX-NR646 and TX-NR747 will offer both 7 channels of amplification for a maximum setup of 5.1.2 speakers.
The other important information is that both will support HDMI 2.0a and HDCP 2.2 at the required bandwidth of 18 Gbps.
Continue reading Onkyo announces its first DTS:X compatible receivers
Last Thursday was the official announcement of DTS:X at the DTS headquarters in California. I was pretty eager to learn a couple of things at the event, including if my current Onkyo receiver would be updatable to support the format and which movies were going to be announced by DTS on Blu-ray.
Surprisingly, the most important part of the announcement is that DTS is going back in the commercial theater business through a licensing program that will allow them to install their technologies in cinemas around the world. We were awaiting an home-theater only announcement, and finally it seems that the strategy is pretty different, thus delaying the home theater implementation a little bit more that I had in mind.
In the home, DTS:x confirmed what we already knew regarding the format, which is extremely similar to Dolby Atmos with the differences depending mostly on the way the receiver companies will implement the format. Dialogue volume management, which is a great feature in itself, will depend on the studio implementing it or not in their movie mixing, hopefully they will.
DTS did not announce any partnership with studios and no title on Blu-ray, we are looking more at an end of the year timing, like it’s been the case roughly with Atmos.
On the receiver side, if you don’t have the high-end Denon X7200 or Marantz AV8802, you’re out of luck for a firmware upgrade it seems. According to the press release, they are the only two that will receive an update this fall, while the different companies will release new receivers supporting DTS:X at the same period. Onkyo confirmed to me on social media that they will not be any upgrade path for any of their receiver, including the 1030 or 3030. It’s a letdown, but not a surprise as it just confirmed the rumours.
So it looks like the next real updates on the format will be only this fall, time to go back to Atmos and listen to the available movies. Of course, I’m already on board with updating this fall to DTS:X, as soon as receivers and titles are available. I will keep you updated with any news in the meantime.
A quick update, after weeks without any next generation home theater news, to let you know than in an invitation sent to media outlets yesterday, DTS announced that details regarding their new 3D object-based audio format DTS:X will be given at an event hold in their headquarter on April 9th in Calabasas, California.
More details to come in a mere 10 days, which should ramp up again interest in new home theater titles with object based audio.
