Sony has announced the ECM-AX10, a compact USB-C microphone designed to bring spatial audio recording to smartphones. Announced on October 8, 2026, the microphone is the world’s first to receive Eclipsa Audio certification, according to Sony, and is aimed at vloggers, mobile filmmakers, and content creators who want to capture more immersive sound without carrying a separate recording setup.

The ECM-AX10 uses four built-in omnidirectional microphone capsules in a newly developed spherical module to capture sound from multiple directions. Sony’s spatial audio processing is designed to preserve a recording’s sense of space, direction, and distance, helping smartphone videos convey more of the atmosphere of a live event, busy street, music performance, or outdoor setting.

Weighing approximately 24 grams, the microphone connects directly to compatible smartphones through USB-C. Sony says the setup is designed to simplify mobile production, allowing creators to record video and spatial audio, review footage, make basic edits, and export content using a dedicated smartphone app.

Sony ECM-AX10 offers three audio recording modes

The ECM-AX10 supports three recording modes, giving creators options depending on how they intend to publish or listen to their content.

• Ambisonics: Captures sound from different directions for spatial audio production. When paired with Sony’s Spatial Audio Video Tool app, recordings can be prepared for publishing in Eclipsa Audio on YouTube.
• Binaural: Uses Sony’s proprietary spatial audio technology, also used in 360 Reality Audio, to create a three-dimensional listening experience optimized for headphones.
• Stereo: Provides conventional two-channel audio for everyday videos, headphones, speakers, and compatible recording applications.

The three modes make the ECM-AX10 suitable for different content formats, from immersive travel videos and live performances to everyday social media clips. Creators can use stereo recording when conventional playback is sufficient and turn to spatial audio workflows when they want listeners to experience a stronger sense of the recording environment.

Designed for a smartphone-first production workflow

Sony’s dedicated Spatial Audio Video Tool app is central to the ECM-AX10’s spatial audio workflow. Available for iOS and Android, the app supports recording video, reviewing clips, making simple edits, and exporting finished content with spatial audio. Some of these functions require the dedicated app rather than a standard camera application.

The microphone is compatible with phones running iOS 18 or later or Android 14 or later, provided they have a USB-C port. However, Sony recommends checking its official compatibility list before buying, as not every compatible-on-paper smartphone has been tested with the microphone and app.

Sony also notes that 4K video recording support through the dedicated app is planned for December 2026. That feature is not yet available at launch.

What Eclipsa Audio certification means

Eclipsa Audio is an open-source spatial audio technology based on the Immersive Audio Model and Format (IAMF) specification, which is available under a royalty-free license through the Alliance for Open Media.

The format is designed to deliver immersive sound across supported playback systems. For the ECM-AX10, Ambisonics recordings can be processed through Sony’s app to create Eclipsa Audio content for YouTube.

Sony says the microphone’s certification confirms compliance with spatial audio encoding and compatibility requirements based on the IAMF standard. The company was certified for this milestone on September 15, 2026, before the microphone’s public announcement.

Sony also worked with Sony PCL, a Sony Group company specializing in content production and spatial experiences, to tune the microphone’s sound.

Sony ECM-AX10 price and availability

Sony has set the US suggested retail price at $249.99, with preorders opening on October 8, 2026. The company also lists a Canadian price of CA$349.99. In Europe, the announced price is approximately €199, while Sony’s UK announcement lists approximately £179.

The ECM-AX10 gives smartphone creators a dedicated way to capture spatial sound without carrying a separate recorder or a larger microphone array. Its three recording modes also make it useful beyond Eclipsa Audio production, although creators planning to publish immersive videos will need to account for the dedicated app and supported playback platforms.