What is a .dts file?
DTS Surround Audio · Audio · DTS, Inc. · 1993
A .dts file is DTS surround-sound audio, a rival to Dolby Digital found on DVDs, Blu-rays and in home cinema. It carries a multi-channel soundtrack, often 5.1, at higher bitrates than AC-3.
What is a .dts file used for?
DTS core streams begin with the sync word 7F FE 80 01. DTS is known for higher bitrates than Dolby Digital, and extensions like DTS-HD and DTS:X add lossless and object-based surround.
You usually find DTS inside a movie file rather than alone. VLC decodes it; convert to stereo for devices without surround support.
What opens a .dts file?
The .dts format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- VLC
- foobar2000
- MPC-HC
macOS
- VLC
- IINA
Linux
- VLC
- ffmpeg
- mpv
Open a .dts file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .dts. Drop it into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads its signature in your browser without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with VLC or foobar2000.
- On Mac, use VLC or IINA.
- On Linux, try VLC or ffmpeg.
- Still stuck? Convert the .dts to wav, which opens more widely.
Why can't I open my .dts file?
Almost always because no installed app understands DTS. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads. If double-clicking opens the wrong program instead of nothing at all, the file association is set to the wrong app rather than the file being broken.
The other possibility is that the file is not really a .dts at all. Drop it into the file identifier to check it by its bytes instead of its name. Nothing is uploaded.
How to convert a .dts file
You can convert a .dts file to wav, ac3, aac using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
What is the .dts file signature (magic bytes)?
A .dts file starts with the hex bytes 7F FE 80 01. Programs identify DTS by those bytes, not by the filename, so a renamed file still gives itself away.
These are the documented signatures for DTS. For a full breakdown, see the DTS surround file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | ASCII | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7F FE 80 01 | 0 | - | core stream sync word |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .dts file?
A .dts file is DTS surround-sound audio, a rival to Dolby Digital found on DVDs, Blu-rays and in home cinema. It carries a multi-channel soundtrack, often 5.1, at higher bitrates than AC-3.
How do I open a .dts file?
Play it in VLC, which decodes DTS. For a stereo-only device, convert it to WAV or AAC first.
What is the difference between DTS and Dolby Digital?
Both are surround formats. DTS typically uses higher bitrates; Dolby Digital (AC-3) is more widely used on broadcast. Most home-cinema gear supports both.
Why is there a .dts file with my movie?
It is the surround-sound track, sometimes stored separately. A player pairs it with the video, or you can mux it back into the file.
Related formats
Sources
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