What is the DTS file format?
DTS (Digital Theater Systems) is a multichannel audio format used to produce surround sound. A standard .dts file stores audio encoded with DTS Coherent Acoustics compression across 5.1 channels: left-front, center, right-front, left-rear, right-rear, and an LFE (low-frequency effects/subwoofer) channel. It requires a DTS-capable decoder and a compatible speaker system to reproduce all channels - playback on a two-channel system without a DTS decoder produces noise rather than audio, as the compressed bitstream is intentionally attenuated.
Encoding .dts content requires compressing the multichannel audio data according to DTS Coherent Acoustics specifications, typically at bitrates up to 1,536 kbps for the core format. Standalone .dts files are most commonly extracted (demuxed) from DVD or Blu-ray disc images. Several programs are available to open .dts files, running on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
The DTS family has expanded beyond the original 5.1 format: DTS-HD Master Audio offers lossless multichannel audio at up to 24-bit/192 kHz (standard on Blu-ray), and DTS:X (2015) is an object-based audio format not limited to fixed channel layouts. Core DTS is standardized in ETSI TS 102 114 and is commonly embedded in DVD-Video (.vob), Blu-ray (.m2ts), and Matroska (.mkv) containers.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWRaw DTS audio bitstreams carry negligible security risk as a file format - they contain only audio data. Risk is limited to potential parser vulnerabilities in decoders (keep software updated). Physical risk: playing a .dts file at full volume through a non-DTS DAC outputs loud noise; use moderate volume until confirmed decoding correctly.
Format details
in a nutshell- SQL Server Data Transformation Services Package (legacy) - Microsoft SQL Server 2000 DTS packages were sometimes stored with a .dts extension as plain text or binary XML; completely unrelated to DTS audio. SQL Server 2005 replaced DTS with SSIS (.dtsx).
- Device Tree Source (Linux kernel) - Linux kernel .dts files are plain-text device tree source files describing hardware topology; compiled to .dtb (Device Tree Blob). Completely unrelated to audio DTS.
Programs that open DTS files
Windows4 apps
VLC media player
Open-source File > Open File, select the .dts file; VLC decodes DTS natively and downmixes to stereo if no DTS output is available. 
Foobar2000
Free Install the DTS decoder component (foo_dts or ffmpeg wrapper); drag .dts file into the playlist. 
MPC-HC (Media Player Classic Home Cinema)
Open-source Open .dts file directly; MPC-HC uses built-in DTS decoder via LAV Filters. 
macOS2 apps
VLC media player
Open-source File > Open File or drag .dts onto VLC; handles DTS decoding with downmix to stereo. 
Linux2 apps
VLC media player
Open-source vlc file.dts from terminal or via GUI; DTS decoded by libdca built into VLC.
Infuse 7
Freemium Add .dts file via Files integration; Infuse plays DTS with software decode on iPhone/iPad. Technical details
deep spec| Audio encoding | DTS Coherent Acoustics (lossy; subband ADPCM-based compression) |
| Primary syncword | 0x7FFE8001 (big-endian, 16-bit packed DTS) |
| 14-bit variant syncword | 0x1FFFE800 |
| Byte order | Big-endian (standard); little-endian byte-swapped variant also exists (syncword 0xFE7F0180) |
| Container | Raw bitstream - no outer container wrapper in standalone .dts files |
| Channel configurations | Core: up to 5.1; DTS-ES: 6.1 discrete; DTS:X: object-based (no fixed channel limit) |
| Maximum bitrate | Core: up to 1,536 kbps; DTS-HD High Resolution: up to 6 Mbps; DTS-HD Master Audio: lossless (variable) |
| Supported sample rates | 32, 44.1, 48 kHz (core); 96, 192 kHz (HD variants) |
| Bit depth | 16, 20, or 24 bits per sample |
| Frame checksum | CRC-16 per frame (optional; signaled in frame header) |
| Typical file size | 10 MB - 2 GB (raw bitstream at 1,536 kbps ≈ 11 MB per minute) |
| MIME type | audio/vnd.dts (IANA registered) |
| Governing standard | ETSI TS 102 114 (core DTS Coherent Acoustics) |
| Common host containers | MKV, M2TS (Blu-ray), VOB (DVD), AOB (DVD-Audio) |
| Released | 1993 (DTS theatrical, Jurassic Park release); .dts file format 1990s |
| Latest version | DTS:X (2015, object-based audio); DTS-HD Master Audio (2004, Blu-ray) |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | wiki.multimedia.cx |
DTS conversions
Community Q&A
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