Eclipsa Audio: 2025 Announcement and Device Checks

Samsung and Google introduced Eclipsa Audio, a royalty-free 3D audio format, in early 2025. Samsung's February 2025 announcement set out the rollout plans; actual availability depends on the full model SKU, region, firmware and compatible content. Before buying, check the supplied TV or Sound Bar and the apps and sources you plan to use.

What Eclipsa Audio is

Eclipsa Audio is a spatial audio format developed by Samsung and Google, originally announced in 2023 under the name IAMF (Immersive Audio Model and Formats).

Unlike conventional surround sound, it positions sound in three dimensions — above, behind, beside — rather than simply from the direction of the speakers. Content creators can place and weight individual audio elements in that space.

The key difference from Dolby Atmos: no royalties

Eclipsa Audio is open-source and royalty-free. Dolby Atmos is proprietary and manufacturers pay to license it.

That is what gives it long-term potential: royalty-free means entry-level hardware can carry it. The IAMF specification has been adopted by the Alliance for Open Media, whose members include Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, Samsung and Google.

Confirm support on the full supplied SKU

For Eclipsa playback, confirm the exact TV or Sound Bar suffix, territory, firmware and source-content path. A format announcement is not a model-by-model compatibility list, and a missing feature in a specification list is not proof of incompatibility.

Samsung's UK HW-Q990H/XU page and Australian HW-Q990H/XY sheet list DTS:X. Other supply regions need their complete SKU checked; omission from a feature list does not mean absence. Playback still depends on the source, decoding and connection path. Samsung HW-Q990H 11.1.4 channel soundbar; soundbar range; high-end soundbar comparison

Three things to know before you buy

1. Check the content and playback path

You need compatible content, an app/player, output and receiving devices. Check the titles you use and whether the app supports the format on your device and account territory; a format logo alone does not guarantee playback.

2. Do not buy a set for Eclipsa alone

If a product's only advantage is "it has Eclipsa" while losing on driver count, channel configuration and the audio formats you actually play, it is not worth it. Hardware first, format second.

3. TVs and soundbars have different warranties

People often assume these match. They do not:

International-version TVs: three years of store inspection and repair labour. Replacement parts are quoted separately and work proceeds after confirmation; service arrangements follow the full TV policy.
Sound Bars: one month of store repair cover under the applicable terms, separate from the TV policy.

Full terms are in the delivery and warranty terms.

Frequently asked questions

Is Eclipsa Audio replacing Dolby Atmos?

The announcement does not establish replacement of Dolby Atmos. Choose for the formats in the content you actually use and a compatible device path.

Does my 2025 Samsung TV have Eclipsa Audio?

Confirm your full model suffix, region, firmware and content path with its official documentation. Check both decoding and passthrough rather than treating an omitted label as a negative result.

What do I need to use Eclipsa Audio?

You need compatible content and a supported app/player, output and receiving-device path. Confirm the full SKU, firmware and region through official compatibility information; a missing specification label alone does not decide support.

Does Eclipsa Audio cost extra?

The format is royalty-free. Content subscriptions, service fees and hardware pricing are separate, so this does not promise free access or a lower product price.

Does the HW-Q990H support DTS?

The UK and Australian Q990H documents linked above list DTS:X. For the supplied version, confirm its full suffix and the track's decoding and connection requirements.

Any questions

WhatsApp +852 9847 9793 (11:00–19:00). Tell us your TV model and what you are trying to solve, and we will help you work out whether it is a specification issue, a content issue, or something that does not need new hardware at all.

For more Samsung television options, see the Neo QLED range.