| 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
|
- stereo VHS movies and broadcast TV programs
- stereo music
- some video games
|
| Dolby Pro Logic IIx |
6.1 |
- 2 discrete, full-bandwidth channels (front left and right)
- 4 matrixed, full-bandwidth channels (center, surround left and right, and back surround)
- 1 subwoofer channel via Pro Logic IIx's bass management
|
- stereo and Dolby Surround-encoded VHS movies and broadcast TV programs
- stereo music
- some video games
|
| 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
|
