Samsung and Google will launch a new spatial audio format this year to compete with Dolby Atmos.
Conflicts in three-dimensional audio formats.
Samsung and Google are working together to promote a new standard called Eclipsa Audio. This format will enable 3D audio experiences in certain YouTube videos later this year and will be supported in Samsung's line of televisions and soundbars by 2025. Over the years, Samsung has opted not to adopt Dolby Vision HDR for dynamic HDR metadata management, instead preferring its own HDR10 Plus alternative. Now, it seems ready to make a similar move with open-source 3D audio support.
Eclipsa Audio could become a free alternative to Dolby Atmos, the predominant 3D audio format for which hardware manufacturers like Samsung must pay licensing fees to use in their TVs and other devices. According to Samsung, like Atmos, this new format will allow for adjustments to "audio data, such as the location and intensity of sounds, as well as spatial reflections" to create a three-dimensional experience.
The collaboration between the two companies was first announced in 2023 under the initial name of Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF). At that time, WooHyun Nam, in charge of spatial audio at Samsung, mentioned that the format would offer "a completely open-source framework for 3D audio, from creation to delivery and playback." Furthermore, the IAMF specification has been adopted by the Alliance for Open Media, a group that has been promoting support for royalty-free codecs since 2015, and includes members such as Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Netflix, as well as Samsung and Google.
The additional support from these companies could facilitate the acceptance of the format, although it has already been a prolonged process for its AV1 video codec to gain more popularity. Additionally, Samsung and Google are developing a certification program with the Telecommunications Technology Association to "ensure consistent audio quality" among devices using this format, something reminiscent of how companies like Dolby and THX manage the labeling of their specifications. More information about Eclipsa Audio is expected to be revealed in the coming days, as CES 2025 will kick off next week.