After a long wait, Google and Samsung have officially announced the premiere of Eclipsa Audio – a new 3D spatial audio format that is set to compete with the popular Dolby Atmos. The technology will appear on YouTube and in all Samsung TVs from the 2025 series, from the cheapest LCD models to the flagship QD-OLED and 8K QLED.
What is Eclipsa Audio?
The technology was first announced in 2023 during the IAMF (Immersive Audio Model and Formats) conference. Its debut was planned for 2024, but the premiere was postponed. Now, ahead of the CES 2025, both companies are revealing the details:
No licensing fees and open to everyone – creators can use the technology at no additional cost.
Support from the AOM (Alliance for Open Media) – responsible for the AV1 codec.
The goal? To elevate home audio to a new level of quality and immersion.
Eclipsa Audio on YouTube – a new quality of content?
From 2025, creators will be able to upload audio materials using Eclipsa Audio technology on YouTube. However, to fully enjoy the effect, a 2025 Samsung television will be required. This is an important difference compared to Dolby Atmos, which is supported by most modern televisions and streaming platforms, but not by YouTube.
🗣️ “We believe that Eclipsa Audio has the potential to change the way we experience sound. We are excited to see how the creator community will use it to create amazing audio experiences.” – said Jim Bankowski from the Google Chrome engineering team
Does Dolby have something to fear?
Behind the Eclipsa Audio technology is a broader project called Project Caviar, under which Google and Samsung are also developing HDR10+ as an alternative to Dolby Vision.
The year 2025 promises to be incredibly exciting for home cinema enthusiasts. Will Eclipsa Audio break Dolby's dominance? We will find out soon.
