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Samsung and Google Launch Eclipsa Audio for Enhanced 3D Audio Experiences

In an innovative collaboration, Samsung and Google are set to introduce Eclipsa Audio, a new standard that will facilitate immersive 3D audio experiences in select YouTube videos later this year. This technology will be incorporated into Samsung’s lineup of TVs and soundbars for 2025, promising to elevate how users experience sound in multimedia.

Historically, Samsung has opted out of integrating Dolby Vision HDR, instead favoring HDR10 Plus as its preferred standard for dynamic HDR metadata. With the introduction of Eclipsa Audio, Samsung appears poised to champion an open-source alternative in the realm of 3D audio technology.

Potentially, Eclipsa Audio may evolve into a cost-effective rival to Dolby Atmos, the current leader in 3D audio formats. Manufacturers typically incur licensing fees to implement Dolby Atmos in their products. Samsung claims that Eclipsa Audio possesses capabilities akin to Atmos, including the manipulation of audio elements such as sound placement, intensity, and spatial reflections, thereby creating a robust 3D audio landscape.

The partnership between Samsung and Google was first announced in 2023 under the working name Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF). At that time, WooHyun Nam, head of Samsung’s spatial audio division, highlighted the initiative’s goal of delivering a comprehensive open-source framework that encompasses the entire process of 3D audio—from creation to delivery and playback.

The IAMF specifications have garnered support from the Alliance for Open Media, a consortium advocating for royalty-free codecs since 2015. This group includes prominent members like Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Netflix, alongside Samsung and Google. If these major players endorse the Eclipsa Audio format, its adoption may gain momentum, although the journey for wider acceptance of the AV1 video codec has been slow and lengthy.

To further ensure a consistent audio quality across devices leveraging this new standard, Samsung and Google are establishing a certification program in collaboration with the Telecommunications Technology Association. This initiative mirrors the certification processes utilized by companies such as Dolby and THX to maintain strict standards for their audio specifications. As CES 2025 approaches, further details about Eclipsa Audio are anticipated, marking an exciting development in the field of audio technology.

Source
www.theverge.com