Want footsteps and other game sounds to seem positioned around you? DTS Sound Unbound adds DTS spatial audio rendering options to Windows, including DTS Headphone:X for headphones and DTS:X for DTS-encoded media.
Select a DTS renderer in Spatial Sound
After opening DTS Sound Unbound, choose the audio technology you want to use. To route headphone audio through DTS Headphone:X, right-click the taskbar speaker icon, open Spatial Sound, and select DTS Headphone:X. DTS:X Ultra is the speaker option for devices that support it. The selected renderer processes audio through Microsoft Spatial Sound.
Use Headphone:X with games
DTS Headphone:X places sound cues around the listener in three-dimensional space, including sounds perceived above or below. In games, this spatial positioning can make moving sounds such as footsteps easier to locate. The renderer works with headphones, and DTS offers model-specific tunings for supported headsets.
The app’s DTS Headphone:X page includes a spatial sound demonstration. Its Explore Spatial Sound control lets you drag a dot and hear how the effect changes with its position. The app’s home screen also shows whether Headphone:X and DTS:X are licensed.
Decode DTS:X media
DTS:X decodes object-based audio in DTS-encoded content, whether the content is stored locally or streamed. Once DTS:X is activated in the app, a compatible media player can use the Windows decoder when playing supported material.
On PC, DTS’s stated focus is headphone playback and multichannel speakers connected directly to the sound card. HDMI home-theater playback is not included in that focus.
Pros
- DTS Headphone:X renders spatial audio through headphones
- Taskbar Spatial Sound settings provide a direct way to select DTS rendering
- Headphone-specific tunings are available for supported headphone models
Cons
- On PCs, DTS:X playback targets headphones and speakers on the sound card, not HDMI home-theater setups
System requirements: Windows 10, Windows 11
Where do I switch on DTS Headphone:X?
Select DTS Headphone:X from the taskbar speaker icon’s Spatial Sound menu. The app’s home screen shows whether the feature is licensed.
How can I tell whether DTS Headphone:X is working?
Check the DTS Sound Unbound home screen for a licensed status, or open the Headphone:X page and try its spatial audio demonstration.
What does DTS:X do in the app?
It decodes DTS-encoded, object-based audio for compatible media playback.