The Mandalorian and Grogu has finally landed on Disney+, and has brought something the Star Wars franchise has never had on the service before – an IMAX Enhanced version alongside the standard widescreen. The expanded image is what everyone gets if you choose that option, as it’s available no matter what device you’re streaming from, but the audio is a different matter entirely.

That’s because IMAX Enhanced sound with DTS:X (which this is) depends on a whole chain of requirements, and even Disney’s own support pages name just four TV brands that support it. If you’ve read our verdict on whether IMAX Enhanced versions are worth chasing, you can probably predict that getting the most out of your viewing experience will depend on what lines up (and what doesn’t).

The bigger picture is the easy bit

And it costs you nothing beyond your existing subscription

Disney has been clear at least that every supported Disney+ device is able to play IMAX’s expanded 1.90:1 aspect ratio, which works out to about 26% more of the original image than the default letterboxed version, and there’s no setting to find or certification to check before you settle in to enjoy your movie.

For this particular film, as with many others even in the theater, what you’re getting is select sequences in IMAX Enhanced rather than the whole thing, with reports saying that it’s somewhere around the 20-minute mark. Disney advises viewers to check the description in the app’s Versions tab, so you know what to expect going in.

Star Wars movies have actually been shooting sequences in IMAX since 2015, but without any real way to enjoy them at home and with Disney’s reluctance to include footage on 4K Blu-ray, this is a great time for fans who missed out on the big screen.

DTS:X support is for select brands only

Disney lists four, but only two are commonplace

As said, sound is where things get tricky, as Disney+ currently supports IMAX Enhanced with DTS:X on just select Android TV devices from Sony, Hisense, Sharp, and Xiaomi. So, even if your TV says its IMAX Enhanced certified in general, you might not be getting the full experience.

For those based in the US, only two of those brand names are easy to find, and Xaomi doesn’t even sell in the American market. Sharp, meanwhile, primarily sells Xumo and Roku TVs, so they’re out too. So in practice, that leaves very select Sony and Hisense sets as the only realistic choices.

Streaming sticks are yet another obstacle

Yet it’s what most people tend to upgrade first

The DTS:X option actually goes away entirely if you’re streaming Disney+ on a streaming stick like Apple TV 4K, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Google’s Chromecast, or anything else. You’ll still be able to enjoy an expanded aspect ratio and Dolby Atmos where applicable, but it has to be the Disney+ app built into the television itself if you specifically want the IMAX audio mix.

This is because streaming uses a slightly newer variant – DTS:X Profile 2 – which is built from the theatrical mix but delivered at a much lower bitrate (via FlatpanelsHD). So a device that supports DTS:X in general isn’t necessarily going to be able to decode Profile 2, and some streamers don’t handle DTS at all.

It’s a little ironic given how much streaming hardware has built its kingdom on the premise that it’s better than whatever you’ve got running on your TV, but the result is the same.

And because Profile 2 is a 5.1.4 mix taken from a 12-channel theatrical soundtrack, but running at about 448 Kbps, it’s not the same as what you might find on a physical disc. It’s ‘dynamic range’ rather than raw fidelity, so it really, really matters whether you’ve got the best speakers to be able to notice the difference.

The last step (which might catch people out)

There’s a toggle that pretty much no one mentions

Credit: Disney

So let’s assume for argument’s sake that your TV qualifies for the full shebang – the soundtrack still needs to reach something that can play it. You’ll need an audio/video receiver (AVR) or soundbar with DTS:X decoding, for example, and it should be connected via HDMI. DTS names Denon, Marantz, and JBL among the brands that support IMAX Enhanced sound, for the record.

If you’re connecting a receiver to your TV rather than the other way around, then the Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) port is the one you want, for reasons we’ve covered in depth before. You’ll also need Disney+ Premium, which costs $18.99/month at the time of writing. You won’t get this on the ad-support tier.

Then there’s the most important bit – the IMAX Enhanced sound actually needs to be switched on, as it’s not automatic. During playback, you’ll need to select the Audio Options button at the far right, and toggle IMAX Enhanced sound with DTS:X. If your TV isn’t supported, then the button simply won’t be there, which makes things slightly easier. If you can’t find it, you have your answer.

You can also go to the Details tab once you select your movie or show, and there will be a DTS:X badge if the title has IMAX sound.

Is any of this worth it?

Probably not, but the bigger image is still a treat

Credit: Disney

If you’re tempted to spend your hard-earned cash on new hardware that can support a 5.1.4 mix, I’d recommend you not bother. DTS:X is still a format with fewer titles and a short list of compatible devices, and Disney+ is more or less the only major US service carrying it right now. If your setup already qualifies, then by all means toggle everything on and enjoy the full experience of a Star Wars movie from your living room.

But if you’re not already one of the lucky few, it’s probably not worth chasing down the right equipment. After all, the expanded aspect ratio is already available to everyone, and that’s the thing that makes IMAX Enhanced content impressive for most people. There are also plenty of other ways to build toward a cinema-scale setup that don’t hinge on four TV brands and a menu most people never open.

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