Samsung Unveils Eclipsa Audio: A New Open-Source Contender to Dolby Atmos for Enhanced Immersive Sound Experiences

The recent collaboration between two major players in technology has resulted in the launch of an open-source competitor to Dolby Atmos. Currently limited to Samsung’s 2025 TVs and soundbars, this initiative, named Eclipsa Audio, aims to offer an alternative for those involved with less professional audio production.

As stated in Samsung's announcement, this system enables creators to manipulate audio attributes such as sound placement and intensity, as well as spatial reflections, crafting an immersive three-dimensional auditory experience. Furthermore, creators will soon have the ability to upload video content utilizing Eclipsa Audio directly to YouTube.

A certification program is also on the horizon to uphold the highest standards of sound quality. However, this concept seems somewhat contradictory considering the primary focus is enhancing spatial audio on televisions, which are often regarded as subpar audio playback devices.

Although the announcement did not go into detail about specifics, further investigation indicates that Eclipsa employs 28 input channels, which can be configured to deliver sound through various speaker setups or regular stereo headphones, utilizing binaural rendering techniques. The framework uses IAMF — Immersive Audio Model and Formats — with specifications available for review. It is notable that the system not only supports several prevalent audio formats but also leans towards the newer Opus codec for optimal performance.

Although the impact on home audio systems may seem minimal in the immediate future, there is potential for enhanced spatial audio experiences in headphones and mobile audio equipment.