Convert E-AC-3 Files on Mac
E-AC-3 (Dolby Digital Plus) is an audio format using the .eac3 and .ec3 extensions. Consul converts E-AC-3 files to 11 other formats, and 25 formats to E-AC-3. Rename a file's extension in Finder and Consul handles the conversion automatically.
What is E-AC-3?
E-AC-3, branded Dolby Digital Plus, is a lossy surround-sound audio codec Dolby introduced in 2004 as the successor to AC-3 (Dolby Digital). It scales up to 15.1 channels and can layer Dolby Atmos objects on a 5.1 core, and it's the audio format used by Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+ and ATSC 3.0 broadcasts. A standalone .eac3 or .ec3 file holds the raw elementary stream, though the codec more often lives inside a video container.
E-AC-3 uses lossy compression: encoders permanently discard some detail to keep files small. Converting to a lossless format later preserves the file exactly as it is now, but that discarded detail doesn't come back.
E-AC-3 was developed by Dolby Laboratories.
Opening E-AC-3 files on a Mac
Quick Look previews E-AC-3 files. Select one in Finder and press Space.
afconvert can convert E-AC-3 from Terminal, e.g. to AAC or ALAC. macOS recognizes .eac3 as an Enhanced AC-3 audio type and Core Audio can decode it, but a raw elementary stream is unusual on its own, and the codec normally lives inside a video file.
Consul supports 36 conversions for E-AC-3
Consul is the easiest way to convert E-AC-3 files on your Mac, or to turn other files into E-AC-3. Rename file.eac3 to change its extension, and Consul converts it automatically.