Samsung and Google are set to unveil Eclipsa Audio, a new open-source 3D audio format, at CES 2025. This move marks a significant step towards democratizing access to immersive audio experiences and potentially challenging the dominance of proprietary formats like Dolby Atmos.
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Eclipsa Audio will initially be supported on select YouTube videos and across Samsung’s 2025 lineup of TVs and soundbars. The format, developed in collaboration with Google, enables the manipulation of audio data, including sound location, intensity, and reflections, to create a truly immersive 3D audio experience.
This partnership builds upon the companies’ 2023 initiative, Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF), which aimed to establish an open-source framework for 3D audio. The IAMF specification has now been adopted by the Alliance for Open Media, a consortium of industry leaders including Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Netflix, among others. This broad industry support is crucial for the widespread adoption of Eclipsa Audio, although the slow adoption of the AV1 video codec by the Alliance for Open Media serves as a cautionary tale.
To ensure consistent audio quality across devices, Samsung and Google are establishing a certification program in collaboration with the Telecommunications Technology Association. This program will certify devices that meet specific standards for Eclipsa Audio playback, similar to existing certification programs for Dolby Atmos and THX.
The launch of Eclipsa Audio is expected to be formally announced at CES 2025, where further details regarding its implementation and availability will be revealed.
