Dolby Cinema and IMAX are two of the most popular movie theater technologies we have available to us. You often see these two movie formats advertised in theaters, but how do they actually compare to one other?
To ensure you are getting the experience you deserve without wasting money, our experts have compared Dolby Cinema VS IMAX.
What is Dolby Cinema?
We know that Dolby Laboratories have been around for decades, and over the years, they have continued to develop their technologies to provide the best theater experience possible. They are the brand behind Dolby Digital (the audio compression technology), Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Vision, and of course, Dolby Cinema.
The first Dolby Cinema came to the scene in 2014, and since then, lots of theaters have adapted their equipment to keep up with the new tech.
Immersiveness is the key here. Dolby Cinema is outfitted with a full 360° surround sound, a laser projector with 4K resolution, excellent subwoofers, and built-in 3D abilities. It also has over 2,000 watts per channel for superior sound. Indeed, watching a movie has never been this exciting. You would be able to hear sounds from all angles within the theater, and the resolution and colors just make films leap off the screen. Dolby has indeed pulled out all the stops in the making of Dolby Cinema theaters.
With this, movie lovers can enjoy the clearest picture quality and the most realistic sounds that could only be described as a first-rate movie watching experience. Further in this article, we will discuss the components that make this cinema technology what it is today.
We can’t say this enough — Dolby Cinema is the giant when it comes to movie resolution and contrast ratio. It outperforms IMAX in this area and has more audio channels, so there is indeed a difference here. But to explore things further, our experts will dive deeper into the pros and cons of Dolby Cinema.
Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision: Explained
Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision are the two important components of Dolby Cinema. So just to give a brief explanation, we discuss both of them in this section.
Atmos is a surround sound format developed by Dolby Laboratories. It’s a pretty complex setup usually composed of 5 in-screen speakers, four subwoofers, and 48 surround speakers. Speakers are placed at different heights along walls, and to add a three-dimensional sound effect, there are also overhead speakers that provide that completely immersive experience. This setup lets viewers hear 128 different audio tracks from 64 audio channels.
The Dolby Atmos sound system is being used in more and more theaters around the world, and higher quality venues may have up to 400 speakers installed. With this, Atmos provides the best sound compared to others.
Moving onto Dolby Vision, it’s the visual technology that amps up the image quality more than what we normally experience in regular theaters. Dual 4k laser projectors are used to project a wide color gamut, higher brightness, and high dynamic range. The dark scenes are darker, and the bright scenes are brighter on the screen.
In addition, the contrast ratio with Dolby Vision is 500 times higher than that of a standard theater projector. The result is a highly accurate color reproduction that helps superbly realistic images.
Combined, Dolby Atmos and Vision make the immersive movie watching experience in Dolby Cinemas.
Dolby Cinema Pros and Cons
Dolby Cinema is by far the winner in image quality and picture detail, and it can process both digital and standard content at high resolutions. The 2.40:1aspect ratio is also higher than that of the IMAX, and the laser projection tech by Dolby Laboratories is a hundred times better than those in standard projectors.
Other than the visuals, the sound offered by Dolby Cinema also surpasses IMAX with 64 audio channels thanks to Dolby Atmos compared to the 12 offered by the latter.
Dolby Cinema movie theaters are usually equipped with more comfortable chairs that are similar to recliners.
However, Dolby Cinemas isn’t without its drawbacks. Even with its high-end tech by Dolby Laboratories, there are less Dolby Cinema theaters around the world. We are looking at only about 197 worldwide and this type of theater is only optimal for 2D films.
What is IMAX?
You’ve probably heard of IMAX more often than Dolby Cinema theaters, and that’s because it’s widely available all over the world. If there’s a premium cinema where you live, it’s most likely going to be IMAX rather than Dolby Cinema, and its popularity and accessibility are definitely important strengths.
IMAX specializes in large-format movie screens. IMAX theaters offer 3x the resolution regular cinemas do. They can support digital or standard format and are widely used and preferred by many.
When it comes to sound, the IMAX theater can bring in some big guns, too. They have 64 speakers for maximum surround sound, so the sound quality is immersive and enjoyable for many spectators. Later, we’ll break down the features offered by IMAX so you can see what makes it a successful movie format on a global scale.
Just as a teaser, IMAX cameras have been used in the creation of many films. This includes Jurassic Park, Transformers, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Dark Knight, Interstellar, Captain America: Civil War, and Avengers: Infinity War, just to name a few.
IMAX Components: Explained
We will be discussing four components here: the camera, screen, projectors, and speakers.
- IMAX Cameras
As previously mentioned, IMAX cameras have been used in the film industry, including many Hollywood movies and A-List films such as Avengers: Infinity War and Transformers: The Last Knight. The main advantage of the IMAX camera is its high resolution. Compared to the regular resolution which is 2096 x 1080, the images captured on 70mm IMAX film have a resolution of around 12,000x 7,000 pixels.
Regular movie formats generally use a 35mm film stock, which only have 6,000 lines of horizontal resolution. On the other hand, an IMAX movie uses the 70mm film which creates 18,000 lines of horizontal resolution. Simply put, the resolution and colors of an IMAX movie are so much better on screen than the conventional cameras being used to shoot movies. Every film created with these cameras just achieve a higher contrast and quality that leaps off the screen. The only drawback is that the IMAX camera is heavier than the usual equipment. - IMAX Screen
IMAX provides a larger screen than what most theaters use. Generally speaking, most theater screens are 15 to 50 feet high. On the other hand, the average IMAX screen is 75 feet, with the biggest one in the world measuring 117 feet high.Additionally, the screen has a slight curve at the center. This creates more immersive experiences when viewers watch IMAX movies.
- IMAX Projectors
IMAX uses dual laser projectors with 2k resolution, although we’ve also mentioned previously that the newer theaters use dual 4k laser projectors. These two projectors are placed closer to the screen so you’ll see brighter colors and clearer images in the film. The proprietary technology of IMAX plus placement techniques creates an enhanced viewing experience for movie lovers.
- IMAX Speaker
Of course, the IMAX experience wouldn’t be complete without enhanced audio. The setup is customized to every IMAX theater, as they take into consideration different factors that may affect the quality of the audio in movies. But in general, IMAX takes advantage of their bigger screens by putting more speakers (and bigger ones at that) behind it. They also have a centralized hub where they can control the settings remotely, which makes sense so they don’t have to do manual adjustments when showing movies.
It’s also worth noting that the audio is optimized to sound great in every seat in the room. So wherever you are seated in the theater, the movie watching experience will be the same.
IMAX Pros and Cons
When you compare Dolby Cinema and IMAX, the winner is quite obvious in terms of specifications. However, IMAX wins when it comes to versatility and availability. IMAX theaters are geared towards both 2D and 3D film content. These movies are also more accessible globally with over 1500 IMAX theaters around the world, so watching an IMAX movie is easy.
The aspect ratio is lower than Dolby Cinema, at 1.90:1 and the seats are not quite as nice. They are not far off from regular theater seats you are used to with a bit more padding to make your viewing experience more enjoyable.
IMAX vs Dolby Cinema: Image Quality
Dolby Cinema is the clear winner when it comes to image quality. This is thanks to Dolby Vision [1] and Dolby Atmos technologies, which are present in these movie theaters. You get four times the resolution than the standard movie format, along with an impressive 500x higher contrast ratio. As such, viewers can expect amazing pictures.
Dolby Vision’s visual technology works by expanding the dynamic range and increasing the brightness. To make things realistic, they have considered the fact that the human eye can perceive 0.001nit at the darkest and 20,000nit at the brightest. As such, they’ve developed the projection level to be close to these numbers to create a high dynamic range, contrast, and a life-like caliber to the pictures.
The brightness standard is also considered in Dolby Vision. Currently, the film industry standard for 2D brightness is 14fL. (Side note: fL refers to Foot-Lambert, a unit of brightness detection)
For 3D brightness, the present standard is at 4.5fL, as there’s a loss of brightness during the theater projection process because of technical reasons. Anyway, the brightness of Dolby Cinema is at 31fL/14fL, so you can see how different it is from the usual standard or digital formats.
With Dolby Vision, the image quality and contrast are definitely stunning. Compared to the standard or digital format, Dolby Cinema technology presents a huge difference in resolution, color, and overall quality. The picture quality is excellent and add that to the superior sound system, viewers will enjoy the premium cinema experience.
Dolby Cinema definitely has the advantage. That’s not to say IMAX image quality is poor, but the screen projection produced by IMAX projectors just doesn’t match up to Dolby. IMAX screens offer only 2K resolution in their theaters. Some of the more advanced IMAX theaters have dual laser projectors with 4k resolution. But even with this laser projection, this movie format can only reach up to 3x more resolution compared to the standard or digital format. Still, the dual 4k laser projectors are state-of-the-art and can provide a great movie experience.
Image Format
In the image format comparison, IMAX is one step ahead of Dolby Cinema. Most theaters, such as digital, AMC Prime, ETX, and Dolby Cinema included, all use the 2.40:1 aspect ratio in their movies. This is also the same aspect ratio you will see in newer phones.
Meanwhile, IMAX uses an aspect ratio of 1.90:1, which is taller than the other different movie formats. Simply put, you get 26% more screen space with the IMAX image format compared to Dolby Cinema. Translating that to the experience itself, the giant screens make the details in movies pop out more and the images will have a more immersive feel overall.
With the IMAX image format, the big screen and aspect ratio just provides a more thorough perception between the two film formats. So, watching IMAX films shot with IMAX cameras in these theaters are definitely the complete package.
Furthermore, IMAX also has IMAX Laser and IMAX Dome. Both of these provide a superb cinematic experience, so no complaints there. Digital IMAX is another format. The only catch is that some films produced in Digital IMAX format are only available in the Standard Digital format.
Sound System
In terms of audio comparison, we have a clear winner when it comes to the sound system. Thanks to Dolby technology such as Dolby Vision and Atmos, there is no other technology that matches its audio capabilities.
Dolby Atmos technology really shines when it comes to audio quality and performance, and the use of this sound format in theaters and home entertainment systems worldwide shows that Dolby Laboratories really perfected their surround sound system. The addition of height channels or overhead speakers to surround sound lets us interpret things in three dimensions. As such, the entire Dolby Atmos sound experience is fuller, multidimensional, and has more depth — evidently better than what you get at a standard movie theater.
While this already provides stunningly realistic sound quality, the Dolby Cinema at AMC leveled up by installing transducers into their comfortable reclining chairs to bring the sound directly to your ears. This means you can feel low frequency sounds right in your seat and you can also hear and follow small moving objects across the room because of sound. Furthermore, this audio technology is available in many home theaters as well, with more Atmos-enabled films coming out.
On the other hand, IMAX also has impressive sound systems equipped with bigger speakers that are more abundant in its theaters. These high-quality speakers do produce powerful and precise sounds that are better than your standard movie theater. You will be able to watch movies in IMAX theaters with excellent sound quality, and we’ll doubt regular moviegoers will have complaints.
However, while moviegoers may still experience earth-shattering sound, our experts have to give credit to Dolby Atmos and its incredible sound capabilities. The audio quality is just super immersive, realistic, and incredibly well-executed. And with a leading audio giant like Dolby behind the tech, it’s really no surprise that Dolby Cinemas take the lead in this aspect. Simply put, the immersive experience from the audio define the Dolby Cinema experience more than other factors.
Availability of Dolby Cinema and IMAX
It’s clear that both Dolby Cinema and IMAX are two formats that have their own strengths and weaknesses. They are both popular and better than standard or digital formats, but the big question is, which one of them is available in movie theaters near you?
IMAX theaters are much more prevalent and they have over 1500 theaters combined on a global scale. They have a presence in 80 countries, so even if you’re traveling abroad and you’re looking for a premium movie theater, you’ll probably have a better chance at watching IMAX films.
So while Dolby Cinema is the clear winner in many aspects, there are only 197 of these theaters worldwide. In fact, 127 are located in the US alone through AMC theaters. With these figures, you will be lucky to experience Dolby Cinema near you. Sure, there are Dolby Cinemas being built as you’re reading this, so they will eventually pop up in more locations in the future. That said, the IMAX theater is still the winner when it comes to availability in current times.
Comfort
Aside from picture and sound quality, which are both crucial aspects in evaluating the two movie formats, comfort is also something to consider in this comparison.
Of course, no matter how advanced the technology is, you won’t enjoy the experience very much if the seats aren’t comfortable. Watching a movie in a theater shouldn’t end up in sore muscles, after all.
In this case, Dolby Cinemas take the cake when it comes to seating comfort. The reclining leather seats are definitely first-class. They are comfy, spacious, and can be reclined to your preference. Plus, these reclining chairs also rumble so you can feel the scenes better. So if the film is supposed to be thrilling or action-packed, the seats will rumble a bit so you can get a piece of the action while you watch the film.
IMAX seats are comfortable as well, but they’re not reclining seats like those in Dolby Cinema. In our experience, we found ourselves adjusting our position a few times throughout the film. Another thing is that IMAX seats aren’t as spacious as the ones in Dolby Cinema, so there is a slight discomfort on this part especially for moviegoers who have a bigger physique.
Bottom line, comparing Dolby Cinema to IMAX, the high end chairs of Dolby provide a high level of comfort that contributes to the enhanced cinematic experience that lets you enjoy the film more.
2D vs. 3D
When it comes to the film process, Dolby Cinemas only offer 2D films, so if you like 3D, you can only go with IMAX. That’s the simplest way to put it.
However, our experts advise that if you’re going to watch a 2D film in an IMAX theater, just be aware that not all of these theaters provide an immersive experience. Some of them are branded as fake IMAX, which just has an enhanced format of a standard or digital movie. It’s still pretty good, although you obviously want the real IMAX experience when you watch a film.
But again, the bottom line here is that Dolby Cinemas have no 3D option, while IMAX films offer both 2D and 3D in cinemas around the world.
Cost
Another thing you might consider is the cost of the movie watching experience. With advanced technology incorporated in the movie theater, is it expensive?
For IMAX, not so much. The average cost of an adult ticket for IMAX movies is about $20, and it’s less for children and seniors. Compared to a standard movie which costs about $15, the additional bucks you have to shell out are worth it.
On the other hand, Dolby Cinema tickets are a bit more expensive. But in the end, the choice really depends on you. If you want a premium movie experience once in a while, then IMAX or Dolby tickets are worth the splurge.
What is AMC Prime?
AMC Prime refers to the premium theaters managed by AMC. AMC used to show different movie formats, which included Dolby Cinema at AMC Prime. Eventually, they removed other formats when Dolby and AMC partnered to introduce Dolby Cinema at AMC.
If you want to still have a great movie experience without making a dent in your wallet, AMC Prime is an excellent option. You can enjoy superb audio and reclining leather seats inside an auditorium, and the price is lower than what you’d usually pay for IMAX tickets. You just have to be a member of the AMC Stubs program.
In North America, there are over 300 locations that offer AMC Prime. Currently, AMC America has 1,697 venues and more than 20,000 seats in North America.
FAQ
What is IMAX with laser vs Dolby cinema?
IMAX with laser vs Dolby Cinema is just a difference between the screen size and audio plus visual quality. IMAX with laser has a much bigger screen compared to Dolby Cinema, but Dolby comes out on top with crisper images, higher resolution and more impressive audio.
Conclusion
Both Dolby Cinema and IMAX are two formats with great cinema technologies that will add to your movie viewing experience. One is better than the other for sound and visuals, and the sound is definitely what makes Dolby Cinema great. After all, the company’s advanced audio tech is being used in theater equipment worldwide, and it’s also being introduced in the home theater setup.
But because Dolby Cinema is less accessible between the two formats, most of us have a better chance at experiencing IMAX film enhancements. There aren’t many Dolby Cinemas around yet, so moviegoers are likely to watch movies in IMAX or AMC.
Either way, both of them have great sound systems and visual technologies, so you can expect an immersive cinematic experience in a Dolby or IMAX screen.
At the end of the day, the upgraded sound system and larger screens all give an enhanced theater experience compared to that of standard formats. Of course, Dolby Cinema or IMAX can be best enjoyed the old-fashioned way, try these high-rated popcorn machines for a classic theater experience.
