DTS shows surround sound at CES 2014

January 2014, at CES 2014 DTS was able to setup a full surround sound theater with an 11.1 speaker array configuration and a headphone connection. The demonstration was based on technology that was shown in 2013 at GDC, E3, and Siggraph, but this was the first time there was a full 11.1 spatial layout for the surround speaker array.

The 11.1 sound includes the front (3), mid (2), rear (2) and subwoofer (1) speakers all in a single plane, with the addition of 4 elevated speakers in the front (2) and rear (2) to help create the full spatial sound. They ran a short feature that demonstrated the “no sonic training required” sound placement.

The remained of the demo showed how the same sonic performance and experience, was possible in a set of two speaker headphones. The DTS Headphone X technology was shown on standard headphones in the theater. In the booth, they were showing mobile devices (phones) that were incorporating the technology, and how it is now incorporated in the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor ICs. The hardware and function are available in the chip, and require an OEM license agreement with DTS for the firmware to allow the processing engine to be used.

The booth was also showing several headphones – such as the new gaming headsets from Turtle Beach, incorporate the processor core for the Headphone X technology. The goal is to enhance the small screen experience with immersive sound.

Images of the DTS booth at CES 2014 can be found at https://mandetech.com/gallery/index.php/DTS-CES-2014