<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-14</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001226308</issuerCik><issuerName>DIGITAL THEATER SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>DTSI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001189596</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MCELWEE JAMES B</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>X</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2780221</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0.02</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3086631</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3272</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>17</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3083359</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Series A Nonconvertible Preferred Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2352650</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Series B Nonconvertible Preferred Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1603896</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Warrant (Right to Buy Common Stock)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.02</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>X</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1176325</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1997-10-24</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-12-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1176325</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Warrant (Right to Buy Common Stock)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.02</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>X</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>801948</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2000-01-27</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-12-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>801948</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Warrant (Right to Buy Common Stock)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.02</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>X</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>801948</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2000-09-30</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-12-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>801948</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">All outstanding shares of preferred stock of the Issuer were redeemed by the Issuer in accordance with their terms at the original issuance price of $2.019 per share, plus accurred but unpaid dividends accumulated theron at 10% per annum from January 1, 2003 to the redemption date (July 16, 2003).</footnote><footnote id="F2">The amounts shown in Table I and Table II represent the beneficial ownership of the Issuer's equity securities by Weston Presidio Capital II, L.P., a portion of which may be deemed attributable to the Reporting Person because he is a partner of Weston Presidio Capital Management II, L.P., the general partner of Weston Presidio Capital II, L.P.  The actual pro rata portion of such beneficial ownership that may be deemed to be attributable to the Reporting Person is not readily determinable because it is subject to several variables.  Mr. McElwee disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his proportionate interest in these shares.</footnote><footnote id="F3">These shares of common stock were acquired upon the automatic exercise of warrants in a net exercise transaction in which shares issuable upon exercise were surrendered to pay the exercise price of the warrants.  The net number of shares benefically owned following the reported transaction is set forth in the row immediately below.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ James B. McElwee</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

