Dolby Atmos FlexConnect has just been given the privilege of being featured as a new feature on some TCL TVs and speakers. Could you tell in what way the audio system at home had been improved by this new feature? Suppose that you are one of those people for whom surround sound has generally not been enough because of the need to make multiple adjustments, the problem with the cable, or the inconvenient shape of your room. In that case, this step is probably going to be the one that changes your day.
So, what is Dolby Atmos FlexConnect anyway? Simply, it allows your TV to wirelessly connect to the external speakers that can be anywhere in your room. A soundbar, an AV receiver, or some compulsive regimentation of the setup are not needed. FlexConnect can “easily adapt as more devices are added, no matter where they’re placed,” and at the same time, it can automatically adapt the Dolby Atmos experience to the room and speaker setup, according to Dolby. In other words, you get a mandatory immersive, spatial audio without the usual troubles of the setup.
TCL is the first in the U.S. to bring FlexConnect to its 2025 QD-Mini LED TVs, Precise Dimming Series, that is. The QM8K, QM7K, and QM6K models are the ones. Apart from these TVs, TCL is also launching the Z100 smart speaker, which is designed to work well with FlexConnect. Up to four Z100 speakers can be paired with a compatible TV, and the TV’s speakers can be used together to create a Dolby Atmos system. The Z100 is already available in China, but there is no information about the price in the U.S. yet.
What sets FlexConnect apart is simply how flexible it actually is. You can position the speakers wherever they suit you—no more fussing with getting them lined up or running wires across the floor. The system adjusts itself with microphones to scan your room’s dimensions and tone the sound for you. TCL employs the TV’s microphones for this process, so the entire thing remains easy and seamless.
There are a couple of technical things to keep in mind. The four-speaker limit isn’t something built into Dolby’s tech—it’s more about the processing power available in TCL’s current TV lineup. And if you’re looking to add a subwoofer, TCL says you’ll need to use their specific model. More details on that are still to come.
John Couling, Dolby’s senior vice president of entertainment, put it nicely: “With Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, consumers can unlock even more flexibility and adaptability in the way they plan their home entertainment systems, without the hassle of wondering if their speakers are in the right spot to receive an amazing Dolby Atmos experience.”
And there’s also industry buzz building in this space. Since Dolby’s FlexConnect announcement, Fraunhofer IIS—the same group responsible for the MP3—has come out with its immersive sound solution, called Fraunhofer UpHear Flexible Rendering. The competition is heating up, and that means more innovation and more options for those who want to level up their home entertainment systems.
Currently, TCL’s FlexConnect-compatible TVs and Z100 speakers lead the charge in this transition, offering more easy access than ever before to cinema-quality sound, without making your living room look like a puzzle of wires.