Open source immersive digital audio is taking shape now after CES 2025 announcement from YouTube owner Google and hardware manufacturer Samsung. Currently named Eclipsa Audio, new format is based on the open source royalty-free audio codec jointly conceived and promoted by Alliance Of Open Media, which connects software giants like Google, Apple and Microsoft, to media creators (Amazon, Netflix) and hardware manufacturers (Samsung).
Eclipsa Audio presently allows digital creators to produce immersive 3D soundtracks for YouTube videos, while new Samsung TVs and soundbars announced at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, are to recreate this surround sound experience at home.
The upcoming new 3D audio format will be competing against well-established Dolby Atmos by Dolby Laboratories and its main existential reason is to be royalty- and licensing-free as opposed to its rival. Recent history shows that audio/video industry is mostly reluctant to diversify audio formats available to consumer: devoid of obvious advantages new formats remain either unnoticed by or confusing the buying public (remember Sony's 360 Reality Audio or DTS Audio?). Still for modern digital media creators cost cutting option may be an opportunity. We will see what Samsung/Harman can do hardware-wise in the nearest future.