Built on the open 3D audio standard, Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF), Eclipsa Audio optimizes the spatial positioning of sound for playback devices such as TVs and soundbars to deliver a more immersive listening experience. From the music on stage to the cheers of the audience, the technology brings musicals and live performances on Samsung TV Plus to life.

Eclipsa Audio is the result of close collaboration between Samsung Research, which developed the underlying 3D audio technology, and the Visual Display (VD) Business, which brought it to Samsung products and services.

Samsung Newsroom spoke with Woohyun Nam, Head of the Display Innovation Lab at Samsung Research, and Joonhun Choi, Head of Samsung TV Plus at the VD Business, to learn more about Eclipsa Audio and the story behind its development.

A Front-Row Experience at Home

A live performance is about more than what appears on screen. From performers’ voices and music on stage to the applause and cheers of the audience, Eclipsa Audio on Samsung TV Plus adds a new dimension to the viewing experience.

Q. What is the biggest difference consumers will notice with Eclipsa Audio on Samsung TV Plus?

Choi: People can now enjoy the excitement of musicals and live performances from home. While Samsung TV Plus makes this content more accessible, Eclipsa Audio recreates the rich, immersive sound of the venue in the living room.

Rather than simply watching on screen, viewers can immerse themselves more deeply in its music and emotion.

* For the best listening experience, earbuds are recommended.

Q. Audio plays a particularly important role in the musicals recently added to Samsung TV Plus. How does Eclipsa Audio enhance that experience?

Nam: Unlike typical video content, musicals rely on performers’ singing and dialogue, orchestral music, sound effects and audience reactions to create an emotional impact. Eclipsa Audio captures each of these elements with its own spatial characteristics. Performers’ voices remain clear and centered, the orchestra surrounds the stage with rich, expansive sound and audience reactions seem to come from all around the viewer.

Eclipsa Audio also adjusts sound balance and placement based on the playback setup, whether viewers are listening through a TV alone or with a connected soundbar. As a result, they can experience the depth of the stage, the richness of the music and the audience’s energy from the comfort of home.

Spatial Audio for Live Performances

A live performance comes to life when every sound — and its position within the venue — is faithfully reproduced. Spatial audio technology is key to creating that experience.

Q. How does Eclipsa Audio recreate the immersive atmosphere of a live performance?

Nam: Eclipsa Audio goes beyond stereo by reproducing sound in three-dimensional space. Instead of limiting sound to the left and right channels, it incorporates front, back, left, right and height information to create a more realistic sense of space. Performers’ voices, musical instruments, venue acoustics and audience reactions are reproduced with their original positioning intact, making viewers feel as though they’re sitting in the audience.

Built on the IAMF standard, Eclipsa Audio reconstructs the spatial information embedded in the content, including the position and movement of sounds, to match the speaker configuration of a TV or soundbar. This preserves the depth and immersion intended by the creator, naturally bringing the live performance experience into the home.

Because IAMF is an open standard independent of any specific codec or licensing model, Eclipsa Audio can be extended across a wide range of content and devices. Beyond musicals and concerts, it delivers immersive audio for movies, sports and other content where realistic sound is essential.

From Innovation to Implementation

Bringing Eclipsa Audio to Samsung TV Plus required close collaboration between Samsung Research and the VD Business. Together, the two organizations combined expertise in audio technology research and product implementation.

Q. How did Samsung Research and the VD Business collaborate to bring Eclipsa Audio to Samsung TV Plus?

Nam: Samsung Research developed the core audio technologies and underlying system to ensure Eclipsa Audio content could be reliably transmitted and played back on Samsung TV Plus. We built the IAMF-based framework for spatial audio metadata and developed the encoding and playback technologies needed to support it. We also ensured compatibility across different setups, including TVs and soundbars, while allowing unsupported devices to play content in standard stereo.

In short, Samsung Research laid the technical foundation that enabled Eclipsa Audio to move beyond the research stage and operate reliably on Samsung TV Plus.

Choi: The VD Business commercialized Eclipsa Audio for Samsung TVs, secured compatible content for Samsung TV Plus and made it available to viewers.

Q. What was the biggest focus when integrating Eclipsa Audio?

Nam: Our top priority was ensuring viewers could fully experience the immersion of a live performance. We worked closely with the VD Business to verify that Eclipsa Audio could be delivered seamlessly through Samsung TV Plus and that the spatial audio of live performances was faithfully reproduced.

One of the most important tests took place in a 280-seat concert venue with a professional sound engineering company. Using a live performance, we captured the venue’s spatial audio, converted it to Eclipsa Audio, streamed it live through a Samsung TV Plus channel and played it back on a Samsung TV. We verified that the music, vocals, audience reactions and venue acoustics were recreated accurately, validating both the technology and viewing experience.

Choi: We focused on securing Eclipsa Audio content and encouraging content partners to adopt the technology. Because spatial audio was still unfamiliar to many production companies, implementation required extensive preparation and collaboration. We demonstrated how Eclipsa Audio could create a more immersive viewing experience while helping their content reach a wider audience.

Q. What was the biggest challenge in bringing Eclipsa Audio to Samsung TV Plus?

Choi: The biggest challenge was ensuring a seamless transition between Eclipsa Audio content and stereo advertisements. Samsung TV Plus is a free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service, meaning content delivered in IAMF-based immersive audio must transition seamlessly to stereo advertisements within the same viewing session.

It was also important to ensure smooth transitions without disrupting audio timing or audio-video synchronization. Samsung Research evaluated technical solutions based on audio formats and processing technologies, while the VD Business shared the service requirements and advertising delivery system. The two teams developed transition policies that enabled stable playback throughout.

Nam: Another challenge was making sure content played seamlessly across a wide range of devices — including TVs, TVs paired with soundbars and devices that do not support Eclipsa Audio. We developed a playback architecture that delivers immersive audio on supported devices while automatically playing standard stereo on unsupported ones.

Expanding the Live Entertainment Experience

Eclipsa Audio takes the at-home live performance experience a step further, giving viewers new ways to enjoy content.

Q. How have users responded so far? Do you have any tips for getting the most out of live performance content?

Choi: Users said they felt as though they were sitting in the audience at a live performance. Some even said that certain scenes were more satisfying than watching from a small theater. Many also noticed a clear difference compared with content that doesn’t support Eclipsa Audio and hoped to see more compatible content and features.

For the best experience, I recommend pairing a Samsung TV with a Samsung soundbar. Together, they deliver rich multi-channel audio that enhances spatial depth, allowing viewers to hear the music, performers’ voices and audience reactions more naturally. I also recommend using Multi-Cam feature. Viewers can switch between the full-stage and close-up views during key moments, focusing on a particular performer’s expressions and movements.

Q. What are your goals and plans for the future?

Nam: Our goal is to make the technology disappear, allowing users to simply enjoy better sound. We want viewers to turn on their TV and instantly feel as though they’re at a live performance or in the middle of a stadium during a sporting event. Long term, we hope to deliver more personalized audio experiences. For music, viewers could emphasize vocals or specific instruments, while for sports, they could choose between commentary and venue sound.

“Our vision is ‘Spatial Audio for Everyone,’ where anyone can enjoy Eclipsa Audio through Samsung TV Plus.”

Choi: Beyond musicals, we plan to expand Eclipsa Audio to K-pop concerts, classical performances, movies and sports. Ultimately, we want Samsung TV Plus to become a platform for live entertainment, making high-quality performances accessible to everyone, anytime, and anywhere.

“We aim to bring the immersive atmosphere and spatial depth of a premium live venue into the living room.”

Samsung TV Plus and Eclipsa Audio will continue to evolve, delivering even more immersive viewing experiences. By combining advanced audio technology and streaming services together, Samsung is redefining how people experience entertainment.

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.

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.