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Surround Sound Decoding Chart

Tara W.
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Surround format Number of channels Types of channels Type of media with which the format may be used
Dolby® Pro Logic® 4
  • 2 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right)
  • 1 matrixed, full-bandwidth channel (center)
  • 1 matrixed, limited-bandwidth channel (surround left and right)
  • stereo and Dolby Surround-encoded VHS movies and broadcast TV programs
  • can be downconverted from any Dolby Digital source
Dolby Pro Logic II 5.1
  • 2 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right)
  • 3 matrixed, full-bandwidth channels (center, surround left and right)
  • 1 subwoofer channel via Pro Logic II's bass management
  • stereo and Dolby Surround-encoded VHS movies and broadcast TV programs
  • stereo music
  • some video games
Dolby Digital up to 5.1
  • 5 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right, center, surround left and right)
  • 1 discrete LFE channel (subwoofer)
  • all DVDs
  • some broadcast HDTV
  • some satellite and cable TV
  • some video games
DTS® 5.1
  • 5 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right, center, surround left and right)
  • 1 discrete LFE channel (subwoofer)
  • some DVDs are DTS-encoded
  • some CDs are DTS-encoded
DTS Neo:6 up to 6.1
  • 2 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right)
  • 3 or 4 matrixed, full-bandwidth channels (center, surround left and right, and back surround)
  • 1 subwoofer channel via DTS Neo:6's bass management
  • most audio sources connected to a Neo:6-capable receiver
Dolby Pro Logic IIx up to 7.1
  • 2 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right)
  • 5 matrixed, full-bandwidth channels (center, surround left and right, and back right and left surrounds)
  • 1 subwoofer channel via Pro Logic IIx's bass management
  • most audio sources connected to a Pro Logic IIx-capable receiver
Dolby Pro Logic IIz up to 9.1
  • 2-7 discrete, full-bandwidth channels, depending on audio source (front left and right, center, surround left and right, and back right and left surrounds)
  • 2-7 matrixed, full-bandwidth channels, depending on audio source (front right height, front left height, center, surround left and right, and back right and left surrounds)
  • 1 subwoofer channel (discrete, or via Pro Logic IIx's bass management, depending on audio source)
  • most audio sources connected to a Pro Logic IIz-capable receiver
Dolby Digital EX 6.1
  • 5 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right, center, surround left and right)
  • 1 matrixed, full-bandwidth channel (back surround)
  • 1 discrete LFE channel (subwoofer)
  • some DVDs are Dolby Digital EX-encoded
  • regular Dolby Digital 5.1 DVDs can also be used with a Dolby Digital EX decoder
THX Surround EX™ 6.1
  • 5 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right, center, surround left and right)
  • 1 matrixed, full-bandwidth channel (back surround)
  • 1 discrete LFE channel (subwoofer)
  • can decode any Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital EX source
  • can be used to enhance Pro Logic, Pro Logic II, DTS, or DTS-ES decoding
DTS-ES™ 6.1
  • 6 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right, center, surround left and right, and back surround)
  • 1 discrete LFE channel (subwoofer)
  • some DVDs are DTS-ES-encoded
  • regular DTS 5.1 DVDs can also be used with a DTS-ES decoder
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
  • 7 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right, center, surround left and right, and back left and right surround)
  • 1 discrete LFE channel (subwoofer)
  • some Blu-ray discs are encoded with Dolby Digital Plus
  • can be downconverted for playback on a 5.1-channel system
Dolby TrueHD (lossless) 7.1
  • 7 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right, center, surround left and right, and back left and right surround)
  • 1 discrete LFE channel (subwoofer)
  • some Blu-ray discs are encoded with Dolby TrueHD
  • can be downconverted for playback on a 5.1-channel system
  • as a lossless format, offers sound that's "bit-for-bit" identical to the original recording for more detailed, accurate surround sound
DTS-HD™ 7.1
  • 7 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right, center, surround left and right, and back left and right surround)
  • 1 discrete LFE channel (subwoofer)
  • some Blu-ray discs are encoded with DTS-HD
  • can be downconverted for playback on a 5.1-channel system
DTS-HD Master Audio (lossless) 7.1
  • 7 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right, center, surround left and right, and back left and right surround)
  • 1 discrete LFE channel (subwoofer)
  • some Blu-ray discs are encoded with DTS-HD Master Audio
  • can be downconverted for playback on a 5.1-channel system
  • as a lossless format, offers sound that's "bit-for-bit" identical to the original recording for more detailed, accurate surround sound

Learn more about surround sound formats

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