A new 3D spatial audio technology called Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF) was announced by Samsung last November. It has now been confirmed that the audio format will be available for TVs, soundbars, and more later this year. Samsung provided an update on IAMF at CES 2024, saying it will start rolling out before the end of the year.
Unlike Dolby Atmos, you won’t need to buy new expensive equipment to enjoy IAMF. It will work on older Samsung TVs and existing speaker systems through a simple software update. But it’s not clear yet how old your devices can be. Samsung is developing IAMF together with Google. YouTube will also add support for the new audio format sometime this year.
There are still some unknowns about IAMF. Samsung may give it a catchier name before launch. The audio may only work on mobile devices and TVs, since web browsers only support stereo sound. IAMF will be free to use compared to Dolby Atmos, which requires royalty payments.
By the end of 2024, Samsung owners could be exploring 3D sound without buying new hardware. YouTube content in IAMF will provide an early listen. Samsung is working to make immersive audio accessible to more people. Their new format promises to deliver Dolby Atmos-like quality through devices you already own.
