Eclipsa Audio, the open-source immersive audio format developed by Samsung, is coming to every LG TV in the 2026 lineup — a move that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. LG’s biggest rival built the format, and LG is now adopting it across its full range, from flagship OLEDs to micro RGB LCD models. This is not a minor firmware tweak. It is a signal that the immersive audio landscape is shifting, and Dolby Atmos may no longer be the only game worth playing.
What Eclipsa Audio Actually Is
Eclipsa Audio refers to an open-source immersive audio format developed by Samsung as an alternative to Dolby Atmos, which operates under a proprietary licensing model. The open-source nature of Eclipsa Audio is the key distinction: it removes the licensing friction that has historically limited which manufacturers can implement immersive audio and at what cost. Where Dolby Atmos requires manufacturers to work within Dolby’s terms, Eclipsa Audio is designed for broader compatibility across the TV ecosystem.
The practical implication is that content encoded in Eclipsa Audio can reach more screens without the bottleneck of proprietary agreements. For consumers, this means the immersive audio experience is no longer gated behind a single company’s format — assuming content creators and streaming platforms begin encoding in Eclipsa Audio alongside or instead of Dolby Atmos. That adoption curve is the real variable, and it is the one LG and Samsung cannot fully control.
Which LG 2026 TVs Support Eclipsa Audio
Eclipsa Audio support covers the entire LG 2026 TV lineup. On the OLED side, that includes the W6, G6, C6, CS6, B6, and B6E models. The micro RGB LCD range — the MRGB95, MRGB9M, and MRGB85 — is also included. LG has not carved out Eclipsa Audio as a premium-only feature, which is a meaningful decision. Rolling it across entry-level and flagship models alike suggests LG is treating this as foundational infrastructure rather than a selling point reserved for top-tier buyers.
These TVs are announced as part of the 2026 lineup and are set to launch later in 2026. Alongside Eclipsa Audio, the same 2026 models will support Dolby Atmos FlexConnect — LG’s wireless speaker ecosystem that works with the Sound Suite range, including the M5 and M7 wireless speakers and the W7 subwoofer. The two audio technologies serve different purposes: Eclipsa Audio is a content format, while FlexConnect is a speaker configuration system. Having both is not redundant — it is complementary.
How Eclipsa Audio Compares to Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos remains the dominant immersive audio format in home cinema, supported by the vast majority of streaming platforms, Blu-ray releases, and soundbars on the market today. LG’s 2026 TVs will continue to support Dolby Atmos alongside Eclipsa Audio, so this is not a replacement scenario — it is an expansion. The question is whether Eclipsa Audio can build enough content and hardware momentum to become a genuine parallel standard rather than an also-ran.
The open-source argument is compelling in theory. A format without licensing barriers should, over time, attract more manufacturers and more content. But format wars in home audio have a poor track record of resolving quickly or cleanly. Eclipsa Audio’s best argument is not necessarily sound quality — it is ecosystem freedom. For buyers who have felt locked into Dolby’s ecosystem, the arrival of a credible open alternative backed by both Samsung and now LG is a meaningful development, even if the content library takes time to follow.
What About the Rest of LG’s 2026 Audio Setup
The FlexConnect system deserves attention in its own right. LG’s 2026 TVs can act as FlexConnect hubs, supporting up to 22 different speaker configurations using combinations of Sound Suite speakers — up to four M7 units plus the W7 subwoofer. The TV analyzes speaker placement and adjusts audio output accordingly, which removes some of the setup complexity that typically comes with multi-speaker home audio. TCL was first to market with a FlexConnect speaker product, the Z100 system, so LG is not pioneering the standard — but it is bringing it to a wider range of models.
The LG Sound Suite M7 wireless speakers sit at a premium price point, competing directly with the Sonos Era 300, which is itself a Dolby Atmos speaker. The H7 soundbar rounds out the lineup as a 5.1.3-channel unit with up to 500W output that can upscale to 9.1.6 — figures that look strong on paper, though real-world performance will depend on room acoustics and source material. LG’s 2025 OLED models — the C5, CS5, and G5 — are also set to receive Dolby Atmos FlexConnect support via a software update, though no specific date has been confirmed for that rollout.
Is Eclipsa Audio worth caring about for your next TV?
Yes, but with realistic expectations. Eclipsa Audio on LG’s 2026 TVs means the hardware is ready — but the format’s value depends on content availability, which is still developing. If you are buying a 2026 LG TV, you will have access to Eclipsa Audio when content arrives, without needing a hardware upgrade later. That is a genuine long-term advantage.
Does LG still support Dolby Atmos on its 2026 TVs?
Yes. LG’s 2026 lineup supports both Dolby Atmos and Eclipsa Audio. The two formats coexist rather than compete on LG hardware, which means buyers are not forced to choose sides. Dolby Atmos content will continue to work as expected across the full 2026 range.
What is the difference between Eclipsa Audio and Dolby Atmos?
Dolby Atmos is a proprietary immersive audio format that requires manufacturers to license the technology from Dolby. Eclipsa Audio is an open-source alternative developed by Samsung, designed to achieve similar immersive audio results without the licensing restrictions. Both aim to deliver three-dimensional, object-based sound, but Eclipsa Audio’s open nature theoretically enables broader adoption across manufacturers and devices.
LG adopting Eclipsa Audio across its entire 2026 TV lineup — from entry-level OLEDs to micro RGB LCD models — is one of the more significant audio format developments in home cinema in years. It does not dethrone Dolby Atmos overnight, and the content ecosystem still needs to catch up. But when two of the world’s largest TV manufacturers are aligned behind an open-source audio format, the industry tends to follow. Watch this space carefully before your next TV purchase.
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: What Hi-Fi?
