A:Answer Tough question. If you’re trying to stay up with the most current audio technology, well, yes, it keeps evolving all the time. A number of years ago a company called DTS developed DTS Virtual:X, which employs Digital Signal Processing (DSP) in an aim to provide the same spatial cues that a traditional DTS:X system could provide, but over a smaller number of speakers, even if you’ve only got two. This technology, which is the surround sound technology available in the Yamaha X-485, first rolled out in soundbars, which makes sense as they often only include a separate subwoofer and maybe a pair of satellite speakers at most. Since then, companies like Denon and Marantz have added support for DTS Virtual:X to their receivers, while Sony has its own virtual surround soundbar that reads DTS:X and Atmos mixes.
Surely this, too, will be further developed, but that’s just the way the industry works now. I suspect that digital SS will be with us for some time yet, but nothing is written in stone.
I hope this helps you.
