DTS Inc. licenses several surround codecs and standards that overlap with Dolby's. For instance, DTS Core serves roughly the same purpose as Dolby Digital. Similarly, DTS-ES Matrix roughly corresponds to Dolby Digital EX, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio to Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio to Dolby TrueHD, and DTS Neo:6 to Dolby Pro Logic IIx. However, the technical fine print does vary. Naturally each side claims superiority for its technologies. While this primer cannot vouch for the claims of either side, the ongoing Dolby vs. DTS debate has resulted in some lively exchanges in online forums, and among audio/videophiles. We invite you to try them for yourself and reach your own conclusions.

DTS Core: Used in Blu-ray and DVD, this is a 5.1-channel lossy codec, and is sometimes referred to as DTS 5.1 or just DTS. It records 5.1 discrete (wholly separate) channels: front left/center/right, surround left/right, and subwoofer. DTS now uses the name DTS Core to indicate backward compatibility of some Blu-ray hardware/software combinations with older DTS surround processors.

DTS-ES Matrix: Used in Blu-ray and DVD, this is a 6.1-channel codec that adds a single back-surround channel to the standard 5.1-channel array. It uses a matrixing process, deriving the back-surround channel from the side-surround channels. Though mono, the back-surround channel is typically played by a pair of speakers.

DTS-ES Discrete: Used in Blu-ray and DVD, this is a 7.1-channel codec that adds two back-surround channels, and speakers, to the standard 5.1-channel array. Unlike DTS-ES Matrix and comparable codecs, this one provides two wholly separate back-surround channels, not just a single mono channel.

DTS-HD High Resolution Audio: Used in Blu-ray, this is a lossy codec that improves over DTS Core. By using a higher data rate and smarter compression, it provides a finer-grained sound than old-school DTS. The signal can be decoded by a Blu-ray player or by an HDMI-connected surround receiver. Look for HDMI version 1.3 (and up) on spec sheets.

DTS-HD Master Audio: Used in Blu-ray, this is DTS's state-of-the-art lossless codec. By omitting no data, it provides a bit-for-bit replica of the studio master soundtrack. The signal can be decoded by a Blu-ray player or by an HDMI-connected surround receiver. Look for HDMI version 1.3 (and up) on spec sheets.

DTS-HD Master Audio Essential: Used in Blu-ray players, this version of DTS-HD Master Audio provides the same quality. As a less expensive licensing option for Blu-ray and DVD player manufacturers, it does not support older DTS standards such as ES and Neo:6. However, Essential players can pass these signals as bitstreams for decoding in a surround receiver.

DTS Neo:6: Operates on two-channel signals with or without surround encoding, and can therefore be helpful with CDs, LPs, and other stereo sources. It adapts the two-channel signal to a 6.1-channel array with front left/center/right channels, side-surround left/right, a mono back-surround channel that is usually split between two speakers, and subwoofer, forming a 7.1-speaker system. Has both movie and music modes.

DTS Advanced Neo: Builds on DTS Neo:6 by adding a pair of "height" channels above the front left and right, and another pair above the back-surround speakers.

DTS Neural Surround: Similar to DTS Neo:6 but licensed for different applications. Formerly licensed by THX, now owned by DTS.

DTS 96/24: Occasionally used in DVD, a high-resolution 5.1-channel format that takes its name from its 96kHz sampling rate and 24-bit processing.

DTS Head Tracker: For headphone use, allows the soundfield to follow head movements.

DTS Envelo: For portable applications, a listening mode that deals with the special problems of highly compressed audio formats.
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More Audio Articles to Explore:

Surround Sound 101: Create the Ultimate Home Theater Experience
Dolby Surround Sound
THX Surround Sound
Audio for Video: How do they fit together?