Just recently, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect was the feature that some TCL TVs and speakers proudly announced as their new characteristic. Would you be able to figure out in which way the new feature has upgraded the home audio system? What if you were the kind of person for whom surround sound has never been enough because of the necessity of multiple adjustments, the problem with the cable, or the inconvenient shape of your room? Then, this step is probably going to be the one that changes your entire day.
So, what exactly is Dolby Atmos FlexConnect? In a nutshell, it allows your television to wirelessly interact with the external speakers anywhere in your room. There is no requisite for a soundbar, an AV receiver, or some compulsive regimentation of the setup. The way FlexConnect works, according to Dolby, is that the technology “easily adapts as more devices are added, regardless of where they are placed” and it “automatically adapts the Dolby Atmos experience to the room and speaker setup.” Simply put, you obtain an indispensable immersive, spatial sound without the usual setup woes.
TCL is the first company in the United States to launch FlexConnect on its 2025 QD-Mini LED TVs, a part of the Precise Dimming Series. In other words, the QM8K, QM7K, and QM6K models. Along with these TVs, TCL is also launching the Z100 smart speaker, which is created to work well with FlexConnect. Four Z100 speakers can be connected to a single compatible TV, and the TV’s speakers can be used to create a full Dolby Atmos system. The Z100 has been available in China for some time, but the U.S. price is still unknown.
The main thing about FlexConnect that makes it different from other similar technologies is that it is incredibly versatile. Simply put, you can put the speakers wherever you want; no more worrying about getting them lined up or running cables across the floor. The system then adjusts itself using microphones to measure your room’s size and make the sound just right for you. TCL uses the TV’s microphones for this operation, so the whole thing remains simple.
It is advisable to remember a couple of technical points. The limitation of four speakers is not something that is hardwired into Dolby’s technology; rather, it is more about the processing power of the current TV models from TCL. In case you are intending to install a subwoofer, TCL advises that you should use their particular model. There is still a lot to be revealed about that.
John Couling, Dolby’s senior vice president of entertainment, expressed the idea quite elegantly: “With Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, users gain even more freedom and adaptability in how they organize their home entertainment systems without the inconvenience of having to check whether their speakers are placed correctly to receive a stunning Dolby Atmos experience.”
Also, industry insiders are talking about that too. Since the announcement of Dolby’s FlexConnect, Fraunhofer IIS—the same organization that developed the MP3—has introduced its immersive audio solution, named Fraunhofer UpHear Flexible Rendering. The race is on, and the end-users will stand to benefit from an increased pace of technology development and more choices to upgrade their home entertainment systems.
At the moment, the TLC FlexConnect-compatible TVs and Z100 speakers are paving the way for this change, making cinema-quality sound more readily accessible than ever before without the need to compromise the aesthetics of your living room with an unsightly tangle of wires.