Samsung and Google are taking on Dolby Atmos with Eclipsa Audio, an alternative to the dominant spatial audio format. He will have to prove himself.
A format has established itself in cinemas, homes and even in headsets: the Dolby Atmos. Dolby audio technology offers an immersive listening experience by “enveloping” the listener in a bubble where sounds can come from all directions. If Atmos is known and appreciated by cinema fans – at home or in theaters – it has also made a strong entry into the Music sector, with its integration into Apple Music.
Making noise in front of Dolby Atmos
That doesn’t mean that Dolby has won the game. Two formidable competitors have come together to offer an alternative: Samsung et Google have in fact announced Eclipse Audioa new 3D audio technology. It will appear in the 2025 range of Samsung televisions and soundbars, while YouTube will start supporting it in a few months where we will be able to enjoy Eclipsa tracks on compatible TVs.
Creators will be able to adjust audio data such as the location of instruments in space and sound intensity to design “ an immersive three-dimensional experience “, explains Samsung. A certification program will also be put in place to guarantee the Eclipsa compatibility of products that claim to be so.
Samsung and Google began working on this technology, called “Immersive Audio Model and Formats” (IAMF), in 2023. The Korean manufacturer promised at the time an open-source framework covering the complete audio spectrum, from creation to production. ‘listen.
The IAMF specifications were adopted by the Alliance for Open Media, which pushes the industry to produce royalty-free standards. This organization counts in its ranks all the big names in the technology sector, from Amazon to Apple, including Microsoft and Netflix. It is in their interest to promote these formats for which they do not have to pay licenses, unlike Dolby Atmos.
To quickly gain market share in the face of Dolby’s domination, Eclipsa Audio will necessarily have to be offered free of charge, without constraints… and deployed as quickly as possible.
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Source :
Samsung
Tech
