Not too long ago, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect was the feature that some TCL TVs and speakers proudly announced as their new characteristic. How would you tell that the new feature has improved the home audio system? What if you were the person who thinks surround sound has never been enough due to always having to make multiple adjustments, having problems 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 is really Dolby Atmos FlexConnect? Basically, it enables your TV to communicate with external speakers wirelessly, wherever they are in your room. There is no need 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.” In other words, you get a highly immersive, spatial sound that is usually indispensable but without the common setup problems.
TCL is the first company to introduce FlexConnect on its 2025 QD-Mini LED TVs, a part of the Precise Dimming Series in the US. In other words, the QM8K, QM7K, and QM6K models. Besides these TVs, TCL is also debuting the Z100 smart speaker, which is designed to be a good partner with FlexConnect. Four Z100 speakers can be wirelessly linked to one Dolby Atmos-compatible TV, and the TV’s speakers can then be used to create a full Atmos system. The Z100 has been launched in China for a while, but the price in the US is still a mystery.
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.