As we’ve seen, the surround sound industry has been growing since the 1960s. Right now, we are seeing bigger leaps in surround sound technology than ever before, as more companies are vying for a market share of this growing industry and home entertainment continues to flourish in the digital age.
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are currently the top two surround sound systems. However, emerging alternatives include IMAX Enhanced for object-based surround sound and MPEG-H, a highly dynamic codec that allows for personalization and interactivity within the soundstage. Meanwhile, Auro-3D remains popular in Europe and other territories as an audio codec that is effective not just in the home, but also in cars and mobile devices.
Additionally, new technologies like Audyssey DSX and DSX 2 are making waves, with extra channels for width and height for a cocoon-like audio-visual experience. At the same time, Dolby Pro Logic has made a return with its latest II, IIx, and IIz systems, which intelligently identify audio cues, such as ambient sounds, and channel them to create a more detailed sound reproduction.
Evidently, there is much more to come from the ever-changing, constantly developing surround sound industry. As surround sound solutions that are affordable, compact, and practical become more prevalent, they could well become as ubiquitous as television itself. However, how far they will go to improve on the existing highly immersive options remains to be seen in a world that is already pushing the boundaries of home entertainment well beyond what was thought possible just a few decades earlier.
