Dolby Cinema Vs IMAX is two completely different experiences. If you want to get the best audio quality from your movies, with a good visual, go for Dolby cinema movie theaters. IMAX offers a vibrant experience for action and fantasy movies.
In general, superhero movies like Superman and Aquaman will feel vibrant when watched on IMAX. Action movies like Warcrafts which involve giants, too much action, and things moving around with lightning speed are worth looking forward to.
Horror movies feel like horror with the transducers vibrating below you. You can check out Drag Me to Hell or The Sand. Action movies with things flying in the air while others breaking like The Matrix and the Avengers infinity war. Musical movies feel different at Dolby. Check out for A Star is Born.
Dolby Cinema Vs. IMAX
| Feature | Dolby Cinema | IMAX |
|---|---|---|
| Image Quality | Dolby Cinema uses 4K laser projectors in their theaters. This is four times better than the ordinary full HD projectors. Unlike most theaters, Dolby Cinema uses 2 of these projectors in imaging. Images produced by Dolby Cameras are in 4096 x 2160 format. We are talking of over 8 million pixels. With this amount of pixel count, ultra-fine striking pictures are produced. Dolby employs different color systems to achieve about 99% P3 color gamut. The colors are natural as can be. In fact, black will be black, and not dark gray as it appears in most HD projections. The contrast ratio of images in Dolby Cinema is 500 times that of ordinary projectors; a ratio of about 2,000,000:1. If you can differentiate between a 720p video from a 1080 one, inevitably you will feel the superiority of image quality at Dolby Cinema. The image format at Dolby Cinema is in a 2:40:1 aspect ratio. This is what most standard theaters offer. | IMAX being the king of theaters offers scenic unsurpassed images. IMAX theaters use dual digital projectors that either has a resolution of 2K or 4K. 4K projectors are mainly found in newer theaters. We’ll talk of 4K projectors as they are of the latest technology. These projectors are also known as IMAX with Laser where the engine produces laser lights used in projection. Laser lights produce 50% brighter images than what the 15/70 could offer. The image format of these projectors is 4,096 x 2,160, the latest format that is found in a few cinemas. The images produced are of the best quality available on the globe. Just like Dolby projectors, IMAX projectors have a higher contrast ratio and a wider BT.2020 color gamut. For some traditional movies which do not look great with laser technology, some IMAX theaters use the 15/70 projectors, thereby giving their audience an all-around epic experience. |
| Sound System | With Dolby Atmos, you no longer listen but feel the sounds. It is the technology that is reigning in the Audio sector. Dolby Cinemas have speakers on the sidewalls and on the rear wall. This is the standard arrangement of speakers in most premium theaters. But in Dolby cinema, more speakers are added to the ceiling. The speakers are powered independently by a Dolby Atmos Processor. With this kind of arrangement, different speakers are utilized to achieve any kind of sound object. This configuration enables you to trace the trajectory of a bird or chopper across the auditorium. Dolby Cinema sound system can manipulate 128 different sound objects at ago, with a whopping 64 sound channel system. | IMAX theaters have a quality sound system with great bass. The space behind the large screens is filled with huge speakers. Other speakers are arranged on the walls in a precise orientation to produce quality surround sound. The sound quality is the same independent of where you seat. IMAX supports a 12 channel sound system. From this, you can easily tell why we call Dolby the King in Audio technology. |
| Screen Size | You will find standard theater screens in Dolby cinemas. The screen size will vary from one theater to another depending on the auditorium size but the average screen size you will find in most Dolby Cinema is from 45 to 65 feet wide and about 30 feet tall. | IMAX sure does provide images in maximum sizes. They have extra-large screens of an average size 72 feet wide by 53 feet. The powerful IMAX projectors images on these huge screens of an aspect ratio of 1:190:1 enough that you won’t see the letterboxing cutting the view on IMAX screens. However, there are IMAX movie theaters that have smaller screens with lower aspect ratios, they are commonly known as Lie-Max. |
| 2HD/3HD Support | Dolby cinema only plays movies in 2HD format. This is the format supported by most devices, be it your phone, TV, or computer. They may not be switching to 3D anytime soon as they claim US moviegoers are not so thrilled about it. | IMAX supports both 2HD and 3HD movies. However, of late, IMAX seems to favor the 2D format. Several theater technologies have entered 3D imaging, however, IMAX seems to be on top of the game with better laser projectors that offer better digital mastering. |
| Comfortability | Dolby Cinemas have recliner seats with buttons to partial or full reclining, you can set to a comfortable position. They have spacious isles for your legs to sit comfortably. Dolby seats have transducers that roar when you watch a movie filled with rumbling scenes. Another noteworthy thing about Dolby cinemas is the extravagant entrances. The isles to the theaters are decorated with ambient lighting and displays of the movie to be played. You feel like a star moving into a WWE theater. | IMAX offers standard theater chairs, only that they are slightly more comfortable. However, you will have to maintain the same position (or slither on your chair) throughout the session. |
| Availability | As of 2022, there are 250 Dolby Cinemas worldwide. However, Dolby Atmos technology is employed in over 6000 cinemas worldwide. | IMAX has more than 1500 theaters in more than 80 countries on the globe. The US alone has over 5,380 IMAX screens. |
| Ticket Price | The Dolby Cinema at AMC is just as expensive as IMAX. The cheapest tickets are during morning hours and go for about $12.49, the standard price. In the evening, the adults pay as much as $20 a ticket. | Many moviegoers have complained about expensive ticket prices but much has not been done. IMAX tickets for adults are as high as $20. |
What is Dolby Cinema
To understand Dolby Cinema technology, you need to understand Dolby first. Most people think that Dolby is an audio company since it is widely involved in audio technology. However, Dolby laboratories specialize in both audio (Dolby Atmos) and visual (Dolby Vision) technologies. Dolby Cinema incorporates these technologies in theaters to provide its audience with a prime cinematic experience.
Dolby Cinema technology is prominent in three areas, vision, sound, and comfort. They use high-resolution laser projectors with a resolution of 4K to enhance visual quality. Dolby Atmos helps in providing unbeatable sound quality that is able to produce 128 different sound objects at once. As for the comfort, Dolby theaters have recliner seats that have low-frequency transducers that roar when asked.
Best Movies To Watch In Dolby Cinema Theater
Besides enhancing the visual quality of the movie, Dolby produces the best sound effect that can be produced in a movie. Some of the movies to look out for at Dolby Cinema includes;
- Ready player one
- The Sand
Ready player one
This movie is in the future and is filled with metaverse technology. The movie is about games and yet there is more than just a game in it. If you’ve watched it you know. In Dolby Cinemas, Dolby Atmos has a way of manipulating the sounds using different speakers to make the races feel real in the auditorium.
The Sand
This movie was shot using Dolby Atmos technology making super sound effects. You will feel joy, pain, fear, and horror with the 128 sound objects available in Dolby Cinemas. This horror movie looks and sounds more like a documentary. A big part of it was shot in the hot desert sun so the brightness won’t be an issue.
Long story short, if you want to get the best audio quality from your movies, with a good visual that is, go for Dolby cinema movie theaters. Horror movies feel like horror with the transducers vibrating below you.
Action movies with things flying in the air while others breaking like The Matrix and the Avengers infinity war. Musical movies feel different at Dolby. Check out for A Star is Born.
What is IMAX
IMAX is an iconic destination for most moviegoers. IMAX technologies (mainly IMAX camera) have been involved in shooting countless movies like Jurassic World. It is one of the biggest theater companies in the World having over 15000 theaters.
IMAX is Image MAXimum shortened. And as the name has it, they maximize captured images, both in size and quality. Behind the scenes in the IMAX experience, you’ll find expensive laser projectors with either 2K or 4K resolution.
2K IMAX projectors work wonders and are at times comparable with Dolby’s 4K projectors. They are able to project first-class images on the huge IMAX screen, yes, IMAX theaters also have huge screens that are 26% bigger than the standard theater screens.
Best Movies To Watch In IMAX Theater
- Transformers
- Mission Impossible
- Avengers infinity war
Transformers
Transformers is a movie worth looking forward to. For the best experience, watch it on IMAX and this is why. You wouldn’t want to watch giant transformers on smaller screens. Besides, most movies in the Transformer series were shot on IMAX 3D cameras.
Mission Impossible
IMAX has outstanding visuals of this great movie series, Mission Impossible. Try watching Fallout in an IMAX cinema and you’ll see. Favorite scenes are the super lightning ride on the bike and the fight on the helicopter. Watching these scenes on the IMAX huge screens feels different.
Avengers infinity war
Avengers is one of the most action-filled movies with many superheroes. People, aliens, and machines seem to be battling every minute of the movie. IMAX projects this movie both in 2D and 3D formats. IMAX 4K laser projectors will bring out crisp pictures with clear color distinctions.
In general, superhero movies like Superman and Aquaman will feel super when watched on IMAX. Action movies like Warcrafts which involve giants, too much action, and things moving around with lightning speed are worth looking forward to.
Other Remarkable Theater Technologies
- 70MM Theater Technology
- Digital IMAX/IMAX with Laser (Branded IMAX)
- RealD 3D
- PRIME at AMC
- Cinemark XD
- Dolby Cinema at AMC
- BigD at AMC
- 4DX
- D-BOX
- ScreenX
- VOID
- RPX
70MM Theater Technology
Some theaters use projectors that are 70 mm wide where light comes from a lamp. These 70mm projectors offer warmer pictures with high resolutions of 6K (IMAX 1570 projectors are closer to 12K). This
70 mm technology was widely used in the early 21st century but was later replaced by laser technology which is now used in most theaters like IMAX and Dolby Cinema. Both technologies offer the best quality pictures on the planet but 70mm projectors are huge and heavy and therefore not much preferred.
Read my comparison on IMAX vs. Standard here.
Digital IMAX/IMAX With Laser (Branded IMAX)
Initially, IMAX projectors used xenon lamps to light the films. However, as of 2008, IMAX started installing 2K laser projectors in their theaters; they are still used in most IMAX theaters. These Digital IMAX projectors use laser light from the light engine to produce brighter pictures that are even on the screen. Today, some IMAX and all Dolby cinemas use dual 4K laser projects though moviegoers seem to like the picture quality at Dolby more.
RealD 3D
RealD 3D theater technology is mainly specialized in producing stereoscopic images. In RealD cinemas, high-resolution projectors that display images at a speed of 144 times per second are used. This is a better option if you want to watch 3D movies at cheaper prices. The cinema experience is also just about what you get at IMAX theaters.
PRIME At AMC
Nowadays we don’t hear much of AMC Prime at AMC theaters. This is because most of them were replaced by Dolby after Dolby and AMC teamed up in 2015. However, the few remaining AMC Prime still offers their customers the best experience. However, in Prime at AMC, you will find plush recliner seats that are better than what we see at IMAX theaters. Their projectors also produce brighter images with high resolutions and contrast that is next to Dolby Cinema.
Cinemark XD
Cinemark XD theaters specialize in extremely large screens that are 70 feet (21m) tall and cover from wall to wall, a little bigger than the standard IMAX screens. Cinemark XD theaters use Barco’s Aura 11.1 speakers that are known for quality sounds, almost what Dolby Atmos offers. Cinemark ranks third in theater availability with 324 theaters in 42 states of the US.
Dolby Cinema At AMC
From 2015, some AMC theaters were equipped with devices made from Dolby laboratories. These theaters were renamed Dolby Cinemas. Dolby Cinemas are known for their unbeatable sound quality that is able to produce 128 different sound objects. They also use 4K digital that produces crispier image details, even better than what the theater king IMAX can offer.
BigD At AMC
BigD theaters were introduced by Carmike before they closed. BigD theaters have large screens, mostly 30 feet tall and up to 70 feet wide. They also have a Dynamic sound system that is close but not exactly par, with Dolby Atmos. The seats at BigD at AMC have retractable armrests, they are not that wide but provide good comfort for the viewers. BigD uses Christie 3D projectors which produce better images than the standard HD projectors.
4DX
4DX theater technology brings life to the motion and environmental effects in the movies. At 4DX, water, wind, snow, fog, or scent from the movies are imitated in the auditorium. You will see smoke on the theater screen if there is an explosion involving smoke. Other companies like IMAX have not however shown any interest in incorporating this technology provided by CJ 4DPLEX, a South Korean company.
Read my detailed comparison on 4DX Vs. IMAX here.
D-BOX
D-BOX theater technology employs haptic technology in cinema seats. The seats are fitted on powered motion actuators that translate the motion effects from the playing movie actions to the chair with viewers. Their chairs have buttons that you can use to regulate these effects. When it comes to the technology of chairs, D-BOX rules even the likes of IMAX and Dolby Cinemas.
ScreenX
ScreenX theater technology is 3D on another level where movies are displayed on a 270-degree screen, this is achieved by expanding their screens on the left and right walls and sometimes the ceiling, they call it “Future of 3D.” ScreenX is gaining momentum as other studios like Disney and Warner Bros are backing it up and movies being shot in supported formats. I’ve got to say, though larger companies like IMAX and Dolby currently receive no greater competition from ScreenX, the future is unprecedented.
VOID
Virtually reality is real with The Void. At the Void, you no longer watch the movie but you are involved in the action. The players are fitted with gadgets that transport them into the virtual reality world where the action takes place. You can fight the intergalactic wars on virtual alien planets with The Void. The void brings a new experience that is not possible at any other Movie theater.
RPX
RPX (Regal Premium Experience) technology specializes in large theater screens, bigger than even the IMAX screens, and a better sound system that is made up of a 7.1 audio channel system. The seats in RPX are also fitted with low-frequency transducers just like Dolby Cinema. There are 514 RPX theaters in the US, almost 4 times the number of Dolby Cinemas.
Read my comparison on RPX Vs. IMAX here.
FAQ
There you go. Now you know what to look for when deciding between Dolby cinema Vs. IMAX. Choose the right theater setting for the best movie experience and enjoy your time. Christopher Nolan movies and Dolby cinema technology are perfect marriages.