Samsung and Google attack Dolby Atmos

Samsung is integrating the new 3D audio technology Eclipsa Audio into its TV and soundbar models for 2025. The technology, developed in collaboration with Google, promises an immersive sound experience and could become serious competition for Dolby Atmos.

Immersive sound experience for the home cinema

Samsung is using a new audio technology called Eclipsa Audio in its 2025 TV and soundbar models. The 3D audio technology developed in cooperation with Google is intended to provide users with a particularly immersive sound experience. Eclipsa Audio will be integrated across Samsung’s entire TV range – from the Crystal UHD models to the premium Neo QLED 8K series devices.

The new technology should make it possible to precisely adjust audio data such as the position and intensity of sounds as well as spatial reflections. This is intended to create a three-dimensional sound experience that allows viewers to immerse themselves even more deeply in films, series and games.

As Samsung announced in a statement (via Neowin), the technology will also be available on YouTube from 2025. Content creators can then upload videos with Eclipsa Audio soundtracks to the platform. Owners of compatible Samsung devices will then benefit from premium surround sound when playing these videos – at least that’s the promise.

Challenge to established standards

With Eclipsa Audio, Samsung is positioning itself as a direct competitor to established 3D audio formats such as Dolby Atmos. The new technology is based on the Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF) standard, adopted by the Alliance for Open Media (AOM) in October 2023. In addition to Samsung and Google, other technology giants such as Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Netflix also support this open standard.

Of course, it remains to be seen how many film studios and content providers will support Eclipsa Audio. Of course, the success of the technology largely depends on whether enough compatible content will be available. The prerequisites are of course there, because Samsung has been the market leader in the TV segment – for 18 years in a row.