Spatial audio: Google plans to integrate Eclipsa Audio into Android, Chrome and YouTube
On the occasion of the launch of its new vintages televisions And sound bars at CES 2025, Samsung took the opportunity to formalize a new spatial audio format developed in collaboration with Google. Initially, this technology called Eclipsa Audio will be supported by the South Korean manufacturer's new Neo QLED and QD-OLED televisions, as well as its new HW-Q995F and HW-QS700F soundbars. Their release dates have not yet been announced, but we already know that Eclipsa Audio should be released in the spring.
As a reminder, the objective of Samsung and Google is to compete with Dolby Atmos and its content mixed for the occasion, or even Apple's proprietary Spatial Audio format, by offering a solution capable of transforming any stereo signal into an immersive three-dimensional audio experience. Furthermore, the solution being open source and requiring no licensing fees, it could easily be injected into devices from other manufacturers during the year 2025.
Samsung HW-Q995F at CES © Les Numériques
Spatial audio for all sources and all users
As the first development demonstrating this desire for expansion, Google recently announced that it was considering the deployment of Eclipsa Audio within its software solutions. According to the brand, in addition to future Samsung products, the technology should therefore arrive within Google Chrome and in the next version of Android. Google also said it would integrate Eclipsa Audio into YouTube. Through this, beyond allowing content creators to benefit from it, it will be possible to download audio files including spatial audio tracks.
Google intends to increase the number of integrations to allow anyone to benefit from it, whether natively on their smartphone, via their web browser or certain popular audio and video streaming platforms.
Technology from Google for professionals
The Mountain View firm also plans to allow professionals to take advantage of its solution. It will therefore soon be available on GitHub for software developers. Sound engineers will also benefit in the form of a free plug-in dedicated to Pro Tools sound processing software. Musical artists and sound engineers will thus be able to bring a spatial dimension to a particular audio track in order to support their creation.
“Eclipsa Audio is based on Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF), an audio format developed by Google, Samsung and other key contributors” © Google
The entry of such a technological giant into the spatial audio market is undoubtedly capable of democratizing the technology once and for all. Indeed, by integrating Eclipsa Audio into its software and allowing various television and soundbar manufacturers to use it, Google would already be increasing the number of entry points to the technology. Thus, by establishing itself as a new standard for 3D audio virtualization, Eclipsa could overshadow many competing technologies already on the market.
