Samsung will debut Eclipsa Audio format in collaboration with Google on 2025 TVs

Andrew Romero | Jan 3 2025 - 10:11 am PT

Samsung has announced that Eclipsa Audio will be featured on Samsung’s 2025 TVs. This new audio standard has been a project of the company and Google for some time, with the audio format now taking ground instead of other, more popular standards.

Just a couple of years ago, Google had made note of a project that would aim to replace Dolby Atmos. That new 3D immersive audio would come as a free alternative to Dolby Atmos without the licensing fees associated for creators. The project would essentially work as an open-source alternative, though the idea of a wide user base would not be so easy, considering Dolby is a large household name with a foothold on TVs, projectors, and other devices.

Today, Samsung announced that, in partnership with Google, Eclipsa Audio will be featured on TVs and soundbars released in 2025. The new standard for Samsung will come as a free alternative to Dolby Atmos, complete with all of the tools necessary to craft a 3D immersive audio experience. That includes ways to adjust the intensity and location of certain sounds — the sort of audio that makes a movie or TV show really stand out.

In Samsung’s blog post, the company also noted that YouTube creators will soon be able to upload videos with Eclipsa Audio tracks, which furthers the push to bring spatial audio to all kinds of content outside of expensive productions.

Both companies are working with the TTA to create a certification program that will ensure devices with Eclipsa Audio meet the quality standards set. This is similar to how Dolby ensures devices that are marketed as Dolby Atmos or Dolby Vision devices present a picture or audio experience that can be clearly identified as high-end or more immersive.

Samsung notes that plenty of models will see the new standard this year, including Crystal UHD models and Samsung’s more expensive Neo QLED 8K units. Beyond that, it’ll be interesting to see if other OEMs decide to adopt Google’s format instead of a proven yet expensive standard that’s already widely adopted.