Samsung’s Bold Move: How Eclipsa Audio and HDR10+ Advanced are Challenging the Dolby Monopoly
For over a decade, Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision have been the undisputed kings of the premium home cinema experience. However, the tide is turning. Following the groundbreaking showcases at CES 2026, it is clear that Samsung is spearheading an ambitious “de-Dolbyization” movement. By championing Eclipsa Audio (based on the IAMF standard) and HDR10+ Advanced, Samsung is creating a royalty-free, open-source ecosystem that rivals—and in some ways, surpasses—the legacy standards.
IAMF Architecture from AOMEDIA
1. Eclipsa Audio: The IAMF-Powered Game Changer
Samsung’s strategic push for IAMF (Immersive Audio Model and Formats) alongside Google reached a fever pitch at CES 2026. Eclipsa Audio is the commercial manifestation of this standard, designed to bring 3D sound to every living room without the “Dolby tax.”
- AI-Driven Spatial Sound: At CES, Samsung demonstrated how Eclipsa Audio utilizes on-device AI to intelligently map audio objects to complex speaker arrays, such as the 9.1.6 or higher configurations supported by the AmpVortex A-Series.
- The YouTube Advantage: Being natively supported by YouTube, Eclipsa is already the standard for the next generation of 8K spatial content, providing a massive, free library that Dolby cannot match.
2. HDR10+ Advanced: Precision Meets Openness
CES 2026 also saw the debut of HDR10+ Advanced on Samsung’s latest MicroLED and Neo QLED lineups. This isn’t just a minor update; it is a direct offensive against Dolby Vision’s dominance.
- Dynamic Metadata 2.0: The “Advanced” tier now offers even more granular frame-by-frame precision, ensuring cinematic accuracy even in challenging, high-ambient-light environments.
- Eco-System Synergy: Major streaming giants showcased their 2026 roadmaps at CES, with a significant shift toward HDR10+ Advanced due to its open nature and superior bandwidth efficiency.
Amazon Prime Video will be first to use HDR10+ Advanced
3. The Integrator’s Perspective: Insights from CES 2026
As technical experts like Pankaj and other top-tier installers witnessed at the Las Vegas convention, the industry is moving toward “Open Immersive” platforms.
- Future-Proofing with AmpVortex: The AmpVortex A-Series (Immersive Audio) is engineered to be at the heart of this shift. By focusing on high-performance DSPs that can decode evolving formats like Eclipsa Audio, we ensure that our integrators can deliver premium 3D soundscapes without being locked into expensive, proprietary licensing.
Conclusion: Embracing the New Standard
The rise of Eclipsa Audio and HDR10+ Advanced, as solidified at CES 2026, marks a pivotal shift from proprietary control to open innovation. At AmpVortex, we aren’t just watching the change—we are built for it.
