rewrite this title Samsung and Google will unveil their open-source Dolby Atmos alternative at CES 2025

Samsung and Google are officially rolling out an alternative to Dolby Atmos, the leading spatial audio format in consumer audio. Samsung and Google first announced their partnership in creating an alternative three-dimensional audio format in 2023, promising that the technology would be open-source and accessible to many.

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It’s called called Eclipsa Audio

The 3D audio technology is called Eclipsa Audio, and Samsung and Google hope to make high-quality 3D audio more accessible to consumers. Despite that wish, it is only available on Samsung’s 2025 lineup of Crystal UHD to Neo QLED 8K TVs and the 2025 lineup of soundbars.

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Additionally, creators on YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, can upload audio in the Eclipsa Audio format, but only viewers with a compatible Samsung device can access it. Samsung says the companies are working with the Telecommunications Technology Association to establish a certification for devices using Eclipsa to ensure quality playback.

Samsung and Google didn’t disclose any specs about Eclipsa Audio. The companies are likely waiting until CES 2025 kicks off, when eventgoers can experience the technology for themselves on Samsung’s latest home audio products.

Free and open-source audio format

Unlike Dolby Atmos, Samsung and Google mentioned releasing Eclipsa Audio as a free and open-source audio format. Companies pay Dolby to license the audio technology, and its gold standard of 3D audio made it the first choice for almost all consumer audio makers.

However, some notable companies like Bose and JBL release flagship headphones and earbuds using proprietary spatial audio software. Still, home theater devices have been primarily tethered to Dolby Atmos for spatial audio.

ZDNET has reporters on the ground for CES 2025, and we’ll be sure to include any updates about and first-person experiences with Eclipsa Audio.