IMAX Enhanced

What IMAX Enhanced Is

IMAX Enhanced combines two core technologies: IMAX's proprietary Digital Media Remastering (DMR) for picture and DTS:X object-based audio. The program certifies both content and playback devices (TVs, receivers, and processors) must meet strict performance benchmarks in resolution, brightness, and sonic fidelity overseen by a joint committee of IMAX, DTS, and Hollywood technical specialists.

The certification applies to 4K Blu-ray discs and streaming titles, with Disney+ launching the first streaming wave on May 15, 2024, featuring 18 Marvel Cinematic Universe titles plus "Queen Rock Montreal."

Picture: DMR Remastering and Aspect Ratios

IMAX Enhanced uses proprietary DMR (Digital Media Remastering) technology to reduce noise and grain under filmmaker guidance and optimize content for high-brightness 4K HDR displays. The remastering process preserves the full dynamic range of the original while preparing the image for next-generation TV panel capabilities.

Content is presented in IMAX's 1.43:1 or 1.90:1 aspect ratios. The 1.90:1 format delivers up to 26% more picture on compatible displays compared to standard widescreen presentations. For HDR, IMAX Enhanced uses Dolby Vision on select 4K Blu-ray titles, which provides dynamic scene-by-scene metadata to avoid tone-mapping issues that plague static HDR10 content.

Audio: DTS:X from Theatrical Masters

IMAX Enhanced's DTS:X audio is derived from the theatrical IMAX print master (which may itself be a 12-channel or 5-channel mix depending on the title). The theatrical source preserves full dynamic range while adding subtle sub-bass management to create a dedicated LFE channel optimized for home systems.

For streaming delivery, IMAX Enhanced uses DTS:X Profile 2 (also called DTS:X for Streaming), a lossy codec. The 12-channel theatrical IMAX mix is downconverted to a 10-channel (5.1.4) configuration for home viewing, balancing fidelity with bandwidth constraints of streaming services.

IMAX Enhanced vs. Dolby Cinema

Both formats deliver theatrical-grade content to the home, but with different emphases. IMAX Enhanced prioritizes picture remastering with expanded aspect ratios and object-based DTS:X audio. Dolby Cinema focuses on Dolby Atmos (up to 118 spatial objects plus a 9.1-channel bed) and Dolby Vision laser-projection HDR with contrast reaching 1,000,000:1. The choice between them depends on whether content has been encoded in either format (many titles are exclusive to one or the other).

Content Availability and Device Support

On physical media, IMAX Enhanced 4K Blu-ray releases occurred between 2019 and 2020, including titles such as Jumanji: The Next Level, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Zombieland: Double Tap, and Bad Boys For Life. No new 4K Blu-ray releases have been announced since 2020.

For streaming, Disney+ launched IMAX Enhanced content on May 15, 2024, initially supporting select Android TV and Google TV models: Sony (A95L QD-OLED from 2023; BRAVIA 7, 8, and 9 from 2024), Hisense (U6K, U7K, U8K series), and TCL.

On the audio side, certified A/V receivers from Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, Pioneer, and Sony, as well as select home theater processors from Anthem, Arcam, McIntosh, Storm Audio, Trinnov, and JBL, support full DTS:X decoding for IMAX Enhanced content. Display certification is more restrictive; manufacturer support remains limited to the brands listed above.