Samsung Newsroom took a closer look at the technology behind Eclipsa Audio and how it delivers lifelike 3D spatial audio.

Developing 3D Spatial Audio Technology

In 2023, the Alliance for Open Media (AOM) — a global consortium that includes Samsung, Google, Netflix, Meta and other leading companies — officially adopted Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF) as the industry standard for 3D audio. Developed by Samsung and Google, this innovative 3D audio format is currently available to content creators under the brand name Eclipsa Audio.

Eclipsa Audio establishes a shared protocol between different types of media content and the devices that play them. The format delivers a deeply immersive listening experience by optimizing and adapting audio positioning, intensity, spatial reflections and other sound elements to various output environments, such as cinemas, home theater systems, gaming consoles and mobile devices.

Depending on the output device, the technology can render sound from multiple directions — including from the front, back, left, right, above and below — to create a sense of spatial depth and presence within the scene being watched. In a concert video for instance, Eclipsa Audio presents the artist’s performance in crystal-clear detail while also capturing the energy of the audience, making the viewer feel as if they are physically there.

Designed for Optimal 3D Audio in Everyday Life

Among the growing range of technologies enhancing 3D sound — including surround sound, immersive audio and spatial audio — Eclipsa Audio was specifically designed to provide a 3D audio experience optimized for everyday listening.

Traditionally, 3D audio content is created with the assumption that it will be played in environments equipped with multiple surround speakers. However, most home entertainment setups primarily consist of a TV and a soundbar — making it challenging to accurately replicate the content creator’s intended spatial audio effects. Eclipsa Audio overcomes this limitation by automatically analyzing sound elements in each segment of a film — from whispered dialogue to the roar of fighter jets in the background — and delivering a dynamic 3D audio effect fine-tuned for the viewer’s home environment.

Building a 3D Audio Ecosystem With Open-Source Technology

Eclipsa Audio’s open-source framework sets it apart from other 3D audio technologies by allowing anyone to create 3D audio content without paying royalties. Following its debut at CES 2025, the technology has been met with enthusiasm from content creators and has gained momentum across media platforms and online communities.

In this way, Eclipsa Audio serves as an open vessel in which content creators can integrate 3D audio elements from all directions without restrictions. By democratizing spatial audio, Eclipsa Audio empowers content creators and ensures that consumers experience sound as intended — regardless of their audio setup.

Eclipsa Audio on Samsung TVs

Eclipsa Audio’s immersive 3D sound performs at its best when paired with exceptional hardware. To make that peak performance a reality, Samsung and Google have worked tirelessly to provide consumers with Eclipsa Audio-supported 3D audio content — soon to be available via the YouTube app on Samsung’s latest TVs. Eclipsa Audio is set to roll out across the company’s entire 2025 TV lineup from the Crystal UHD series to the premium flagship Neo QLED 8K models.¹

Most Samsung TVs are equipped with stereo speakers at the bottom of the screen, and for QLED 4K models and above, additional speakers are positioned at the top. Flagship models, though, come with extra benefits. Besides surround speakers added to the rear of the sides, their top-positioned speakers are specially designed for height perception. Eclipsa Audio reflects sound off the ceiling with these special speakers, creating an effect that allows viewers to experience upward-directional audio — such as the sensation of an object flying overhead. Pairing the TV with a soundbar further enhances the experience, producing richer and more expansive 3D spatial audio.

Eclipsa Audio has established the foundation for a 3D audio content ecosystem by bringing industry leaders — from device manufacturers to content platforms — together under a unified standard. In an era where streaming services blur the line between content creation and consumption, Eclipsa Audio unlocks new possibilities for immersive sound that Samsung is determined to further expand.

¹ Rollout schedule and service details may vary depending on the TV model.

Samsung Electronics today announced the integration of Eclipsa Audio — a groundbreaking 3D audio technology developed in partnership with Google — into its 2025 TV and soundbar lineup. By empowering creators to craft dynamic, immersive audio content and enabling seamless playback on Samsung TVs, Eclipsa Audio brings captivating audio and visual experiences closer to consumers than ever before.

“We are proud to lead the industry with the integration of Eclipsa Audio into our 2025 TV and soundbar lineup,” said Taeyong Son, Executive Vice President and Head of the R&D Team, Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics. “This innovation opens new possibilities for immersive audio experiences and reinforces our commitment to shaping the future of home entertainment.”

Innovating the Home Entertainment Experience

Samsung, the global leader in the TV market for 18 consecutive years, is redefining home entertainment with the integration of Eclipsa Audio. With the largest market share over 75 inches worldwide, Samsung TVs are poised to make this groundbreaking technology accessible to more consumers than ever before.

Eclipsa Audio allows creators to adjust audio data such as the location and intensity of sounds, along with spatial reflections, to create an immersive three-dimensional sound experience.

As the first in the industry to adopt Eclipsa Audio, Samsung is integrating the technology across its 2025 TV lineup — from the Crystal UHD series to the premium flagship Neo QLED 8K models — to ensure that consumers who want to experience this advanced technology can choose from a wide range of options.

Expanding Content and Playback

Starting in 2025, creators will be able to upload videos with Eclipsa Audio tracks to YouTube. Viewers with 2025 Samsung devices will be able to watch YouTube videos with premium spatial audio when available.

To ensure consistent audio quality, Samsung and Google are working with the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) to create a certification program for devices using Eclipsa Audio, ensuring that consumers experience the highest standards of sound fidelity.

“We believe that Eclipsa Audio has the potential to change the way we experience sound,” said Jim Bankoski, Vice President of Engineering, Google Chrome. “We are excited to see how the creator community uses it to create new and innovative audio experiences.”

Put simply, 3D audio makes listeners feel as if they’re really in the middle of the action. Typically only supported at specific venues such as movie theaters or recording studios, 3D audio is making its way into homes to give viewers a new way to experience their favorite content.

Samsung Electronics’ advanced research institute Samsung Research has been striving to popularize 3D audio since 2020. To this end, Samsung worked with Google to jointly develop Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF) — an advanced 3D spatial audio technology that was adopted by the Alliance for Open Media (AOM)¹ in October 2023. Samsung Newsroom sat down with the team that developed IAMF to hear the story of how the technology came to life.

▲ The Visual Technology Team at Samsung Research led the development of a standard for audio technology. (From left) SungHee Hwang, JeongHoon Park and WooHyun Nam

A New Way To Enjoy 3D Audio at Home

Ambient noise exists everywhere — from the sound of shoes scraping on the sidewalk to the gentle hum of cars driving down the road. While this noise may seem unnecessary in media, it’s vital in adding depth and a sense of realness. 3D audio works to seamlessly blend ambient noise with conversations and other sound effects to create a more vibrant and authentic entertainment experience.

“3D audio makes you feel as if you’re really in the heart of the action by adjusting the strength, movement and vibrance of the sound,” said WooHyun Nam from the Visual Technology Team at Samsung Research. “In this way, viewers are able to enjoy a more full-bodied sound that captures the 3D aspects of the world around us.”

▲ SungHee Hwang from Samsung Research’s Visual Technology Team

Despite the advantages of 3D audio, it has been difficult to apply the technology to home audio devices due to technological limitations. “3D sound information from content cannot be interpreted properly by home audio systems such as TV speakers or sound bars, resulting in a slightly limited audio experience that lacks detail from the original content,” said SungHee Hwang from the Visual Technology Team at Samsung Research.

To resolve this, Samsung worked diligently with Google to develop an audio solution that would allow viewers to experience content audio as intended. “If the 3D audio data can be read by device manufacturers, they can adjust the sound in audio devices — allowing for immersive audio experiences with standard TV speakers or sound bars at home,” said Nam. “By adjusting the audio to match the home device environment, listeners can experience audio just as the creator intended without any distortions or loss in quality.”

A uniform standard is required to send and receive audio data smoothly between creators and device manufacturers. “Samsung and Google’s respective expertise in devices and content made the companies ideal partners to create IAMF technology,” said JeongHoon Park, Executive Vice President and Head of Visual Technology Team at Samsung Research. “By coming together to develop this unprecedented technology, we are paving the way for consumers to enjoy 3D audio in their homes.”

Three Characteristics of IAMF Technology: Vertical Audio, AI-Based Audio and Customized Audio

IAMF technology offers three distinct features that enhance the audio experience.

▲ WooHyun Nam from Samsung Research’s Visual Technology Team

1. Ability To Express Sound Vertically

Previous open-source audio codecs only supported horizontal sound expression. With IAMF technology, audio can now be expressed vertically so that sound is increasingly multi-directional. “IAMF makes sound more realistic, by allowing listeners to hear audio in front, behind or to either side and also above or below them,” said Nam. “As such, when IAMF technology is applied to home TV speakers and sound bars, it allows listeners to hear sounds such as birds flying over their head on their TVs at home.”

2. AI-Based Scene Analysis and 3D Audio Effects

IAMF utilizes AI and deep-learning technology to analyze scenes and emphasize certain aspects of the content — adjusting audio levels for more enhanced sound throughout the viewing experience. “In TV and film, there are certain scenes where the soundtrack or background music is the main focus,” said Nam. “IAMF will balance the sound in these instances. Similarly, the technology will fine-tune audio when there is character dialogue to allow the listener to focus on the conversation.”

In addition, IAMF technology provides optimal sound despite changes in the device environment. “By adjusting the scene analysis audio data according to the device environment, IAMF technology enables listeners to enjoy the content’s original sound quality on standard home TVs,” Hwang added.

3. Highly Customized Audio

Users will be able to freely adjust sound according to their preferences with IAMF technology. Whether viewers are looking to amplify sound effects from an action scene or enhance dialogue, IAMF gives them the flexibility to customize content audio for a more personalized experience.

▲ IAMF analyzes data from content and allows viewers to adjust and customize audio settings. When watching a sports game, users can directly choose whether to emphasize the commentator’s voice or the sounds of the game itself.

3D Audio Across the Industry With Open-Source IAMF

Open source is crucial to creating a unified standard across the industry. IAMF is the first open source-based audio technology standard adopted by AOM — meaning both corporate and independent content creators across the industry can access the technology and expand its use.

“In order to allow people to freely create content with 3D audio technology, related technology needs to be open to all,” said Nam. “Providing a complete open-source framework for 3D audio, from creation to delivery and playback, will allow for even more diverse audio content experiences in the future.”

Similarly, Park highlighted how IAMF technology will have a large impact on the audio landscape moving forward. “Because we live in an era dominated by content creation, IAMF will help lead, expand and transform the 3D audio ecosystem,” he said.

Success Accomplished Through Cooperation

Research on IAMF began in 2020 and took nearly four years to complete. Through a combination of perseverance and hard work, the team was able to achieve success.

“The project involved many days of nonstop work, and there were times when we needed to work at night due to the time difference between our office and Google’s,” said Hwang. “Despite these challenges, I was proud in the end. It was a great opportunity to work with developers from other countries.”

The teams developed a sense of camaraderie along the way and built a solid foundation of trust and understanding. “A Google employee mentioned how this partnership with Samsung has been the most enjoyable collaboration he had completed so far,” Park recalled. “We were able to accomplish this project because our teams trusted each other. I’m very proud of and thankful for our team members’ efforts and their cooperation.”

▲ JeongHoon Park, Corporate EVP and Head of the Visual Technology Team at Samsung Research

Additionally, Park praised each team member’s unique skills and expertise which helped contribute to the creation of IAMF. “WooHyun Nam was instrumental in proposing the technology development ideas while SungHee Hwang organized and documented our team’s ideas in a clear-cut manner,” he said.

A Vision for ‘Samsung Sound’

Upon its release, the Samsung Research team realized that the standardization of 3D spatial audio marked a new era of sound technology.

“Thanks to IAMF, we can begin researching technologies that will open up a world of audio possibilities,” said Nam. In line with this, the Samsung Research team is currently developing an advanced version of IAMF technology that can be applied to different sectors such as mobile devices, the metaverse, video games and more.

▲ With their combined efforts and unrelenting persistence, the Visual Technology Team at Samsung Research was able to successfully create a new standard for 3D audio.

Given the success of IAMF, the Samsung Research team is motivated to create better audio technology for consumers. Each of the team members shared their aspirations for the future of 3D audio.

Nam touched on his desire to create audio technology that is more immersive. “I want to create a more advanced 3D audio technology that makes users feel like they are truly in the scene of a movie, TV show or live event,” he said. “I also hope to continue this research until 3D audio is applied to Samsung’s smartphones.”

More broadly, Hwang discussed how he hopes Samsung will be able to create unrivaled audio technology that will place it among the ranks of other leading audio companies. “My goal is to develop a technology that consumers will be able to easily distinguish as ‘Samsung Sound’ when they hear it,” he said. “I am optimistic that the IAMF standard is a stepping stone toward this dream.”

“My hope is that Samsung’s sound technology will enable consumers to enjoy an upgraded audio experience that is on par with that of current visual experiences,” said Park. “I hope that content creators will utilize Samsung’s audio technology to make 3D audio content accessible. Additionally, we aim to create a supportive environment that enables researchers to take on bold and exciting challenges such as expanding Samsung’s audio technology.”

Technological standards such as IAMF will make entertainment more immersive for viewers across the board. The Samsung Research team is paving the way for innovations that will change the future of audio.

¹ A non-profit industry consortium formed to develop and share technology for multimedia delivery, allowing creators to utilize the technology without worrying about cost. It is operated by an alliance of 38 companies including Samsung Electronics, Google, Amazon, Apple and Meta.