For decade , Dolby Labs has been the undisputed loss leader in audio frequency and TV format . Even when multitude ca n’t needfully describe why a film sounds better inDolby Atmosor looks comfortably on their TV when it ’s presented inDolby Vision , they know that these are the label to expect for when buying a newTVorsoundbar , or when sign up for a streaming overhaul like Netflix . Dolby ’s dear ubiquity is a will to its technical innovation and masterful merchandising . It ’s hard to find another instance of a fellowship that constitute no forcible product , yet commands such instant make recognition .
But Dolby ’s twenty-four hours as the audio / picture data formatting king look progressively numbered as companies rage up their adoption of spare option .
Royalties must be paid
The lion ’s share of Dolby Labs ’ profits come from licensing its engineering to manufacturers . The sales agreement of every TV , streaming equipment , or soundbar compatible with content create using a Dolby format ensue in a minuscule requital to the company . The precise amount per whole is know only to Dolby and its licensee , but cumulatively it ’s worth hundreds of millions .
Since the majority of the consumer electronics industry is construct on razor - thin margins , every penny counts . This has created incentives for instrumentalist to ring together to develop royalty - free option to Dolby ’s format .
The video format death match
In the human race of television , Dolby Vision is the most popular feeling of active HDR — a variation ofhigh active rangetechnology that allows for more brightness than standard HDR , in addition to scene - by - scene grading of color and contrast .
It ’s widely used on 4 K UltraHD Blu - beam of light discs , and most every HDR - compatible streaming servicing includes rubric present in Dolby Vision .
However , not long after Dolby Vision debuted , a pool lead by Samsung developedHDR10 + , an open - generator and royalty - free alternative . acceptation of HDR10 + was slow at first , but with Netflix ’s late announcement that it intends to pop the question HDR10+for all HDR titles by the end of 2025 , Dolby Vision ’s dominance is come to an final stage .
It ’s an especially important triumph for Samsung . Not only did the Korean juggernaut spearhead the creation of HDR10 + , it alsosteadfastly defy to license Dolby Vision for any of its tv .
Atmos under attack
Dolby Atmos is Dolby ’s other key content technology . Atmos is aspatial audioformat that enjoy monolithic adoption across picture , tv set shows , and most of late , music recordings under theDolby Atmos Musicbrand .
Since audio content , devices , and services far outnumber their video counterparts , and since Atmos has thoroughly beaten its main rival ( DTS :X and Sony 360 Reality Audio ) in the acceptation race , Dolby Atmos has become synonymous with spatial audio recording .
A few years ago , Samsung decided to take aim at Dolby Atmos , hop to repeat its HDR10 + success .
This time , Samsung draft the support of Google and theAlliance for Open Media , whose members let in tech heavyweights like Apple , Amazon , Microsoft , THX , and Nvidia . The result is a new undecided - source spatial audio formatknown formally as IAMF . But since that ’s a terrible recording label , IAMF was give a catchy new sword name at CES 2025 . Going onward , it will be know as Eclipsa Audio .
Eclipsa Audio , according to Samsung and Google , countenance anyone create spatial audio for free . If you ’re a professional who uses manufacture - standard software like AVID Pro Tools DAW , there will presently be barren Eclipsa plugins . But perhaps more significantly , any maker can stomach Eclipsa royalty - free on their audio products .
As with HDR10 + , you may expect Eclipsa espousal to be slow at first . And , once again , Samsung is leading the chargeon the hardware front . Its latest flagship soundbar , the HW - Q990F , is the first with Eclipsa compatibility .
A free future?
Despite these threat to Dolby ’s dominance , do n’t expect to see Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos disappear anytime soon . These formats have a boastful head word start , and as I indicated earlier , public awareness of Dolby ’s brands ca n’t be underrate . The presence of those steel on a product ’s box ( or the intersection itself ) is now find out as a promise of audio or video lineament , even when purchaser do n’t have admission to the content want to experience the benefits those technologies offer . That ’s a large reason for companies to retain licensing Dolby ’s technical school .
It will be years before folks associate that same level of quality with HRD10 + and Eclipsa , if in fact they ever do . And for that to happen , some serious merchandising firepower will postulate to be employed . If Apple , for instance , were to back these technologies the way it has done so far with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos , it could be a game changer .
Dolby is also a savvy player . Even as spare alternative threaten to erode its market share , it ’s proceed to innovate . One of those innovations isDolby Atmos Flex Connect , a new means for telly manufacturers to provide wireless utterer that can be invest anywhere in a elbow room — without the need for a connected soundbar — and still ply an immersive experience .
The good news is that competition seems to be doing what it ’s supposed to do : increase choice for buyers while play as both a cultivated carrot and a stick to drive the next lot of technological achievements — even if you may have to determine a few novel tech terms before you corrupt your next TV .
