Latest news with #DolbyAtmosFlexConnect
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is one of the coolest bits of tech I've seen in years, and it's finally coming in a speaker you can buy
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The first speaker that works with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, the TCL Z100, has finally been unveiled – though as with most announcements in these days of regularly changing tariffs, there's no exact price or release date yet. Announced back in 2023, the idea with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is that you don't need to think about where you're placing the speakers to get home theater sound – you don't even need to have pairs of them placed symmetrically. Put one next to the TV, one on the shelf to your right, one directly behind you – whatever's convenient for your space is fine. The system will then map the placement acoustically and will adjust the speaker output to give the best version of Dolby Atmos-powered surround sound that it can from those positions. You can have up to four of the TCL Z100 speakers in one configuration, and each speaker is a 1.1.1 audio configuration on its own (a forward-facing driver, a bass driver, and an upfiring driver) – though when combined, they can produce something akin to virtual 7.1.2 audio, according to TCL. That includes a compatible TV providing two channels, including the center channel. Speaking of which, the speakers must be connected to a suitable Dolby Atmos FlexConnect hub, which can handle the mapping and processing. Right now, that means getting one of TCL's 2025 mini-LED TVs. TCL is the only company offering products for the launch of FlexConnect, though other companies have pledged support in the future – and it should also be possible for one of the best soundbars to be the FlexConnect hub in the future. They also support playing music over Bluetooth – two can work in a stereo pair to play music from your phone. As you might expect for a Dolby-specific product, there's no built-in DTS support. However, the TCL TVs that are necessary to make the system work all support DTS:X, and the idea is that they'll decode the DTS sound (including DTS:X), process it in 7.1.2 channels, and then convert it for the virtual surround system for your configuration, so you should get something close to full-fat DTS. Although there's no price, we've been told by TCL's European arm to expect a price approaching €300 – and usually Euro and US Dollar prices convert very closely, though the final amount will depend on the latest tariffs. UK prices will be close to the Euro price. I've seen this technology in action a few times since its announcement in 2023, and it's very impressive – though the speakers I saw it demoed with were more elaborate than the TCL Z100 have turned out to be. Those had side-firing drivers as well as forward and up-firing drivers, potentially giving them more control over the steering of virtual sound. It was amazing in my demos how two speakers – one at the front to the right of the TV, and one behind and to the left of me – could create a broadly immersive sound with steering of sounds in basically all directions. Whether the Z100 can do this as well remains to be seen, and either way, the system isn't going to match just having speakers in all the right places – but that's just not possible for everyone. I think there's real value in having speakers that can be placed not just imperfectly, but in totally odd places, and still get something more immersive than TV sound alone from them. The one other thing missing from this announcement, though, is bass. I've been told that the FlexConnect system can support a subwoofer, but there's no sign of one here – hopefully that will come before too long. Update: Dolby and TCL have informed me that a subwoofer that's compatible with the system is coming in summer 2025, which also gives us an indication of when to expect these speakers to launch. Loewe unveils a wireless Dolby Atmos TV speaker system that's half the price of Sony's Bravia Quad, and I'm tempted Dali's mega-powerful 16-inch ported subwoofer wants to shake your home theater to bits, in a good way I've been watching the latest 4K Blu-rays with a flagship OLED TV and soundbar setup for six months – here are my 7 favorites so far
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
TCL Brings Dolby Atmos FlexConnect to 2025 QD-Mini LED TVs
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect to power forthcoming wireless speaker throughthe company's premium TV lineup SAN FRANCISCO, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Dolby Laboratories, a leader in immersive entertainment experiences, and TCL, one of the world's best-selling TV brands, announced that support for Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is coming to TCL's 2025 QD-Mini LED TVs in its Precise Dimming Series, including the QM8K, QM7K, and QM6K. Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is a new feature that unlocks the ability to place speakers anywhere you choose, while optimizing the sound experience to fit any room layout or speaker configuration. It provides a customized Dolby Atmos experience where any seat will feel like the best seat in the house. TCL will also introduce the Z100 smart, panoramic sound speaker, designed to pair with TCL's lineup of Dolby Atmos FlexConnect-enabled TVs. Starting this summer, customers can connect up to four Z100 speakers working alongside the TV speakers to create a tailored Dolby Atmos experience. "The launch of Dolby Atmos FlexConnect across TCL's Precise Dimming Series marks a new chapter of personalized home audio experiences," said John Couling, Senior Vice President of Entertainment at Dolby Laboratories. "With Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, consumers can unlock even more flexibility and adaptability in how they design their home entertainment systems, while removing the stress of whether their speakers are in the right location to get an incredible Dolby Atmos experience." "TCL and Dolby share a long history of redefining home entertainment – TCL's entire 2025 4K TV lineup sport Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, all of our full feature sound bars use Dolby Atmos, and soon we'll have Dolby Atmos FlexConnect," said Chris Hamdorf, Executive Vice President at TCL North America. "Dolby Atmos FlexConnect empowers customers to enjoy a premium immersive audio experience that's tailored to their unique preferences and spaces." Consumers seek the best audio from their sound systems, but room constraints often make optimal speaker placement a challenge. Whether due to room size, outlet locations, or balancing sound performance with aesthetics, positioning speakers can be frustrating. Dolby Atmos FlexConnect unlocks the freedom to place one or more wireless speakers anywhere in a room without having to worry whether they are placed perfectly. The solution is easily adaptable as more devices are added no matter where they are placed, intelligently optimizing the Dolby Atmos rendering of each speaker and the TV to create the best possible experience available that's tailored to the room. The launch of Dolby Atmos FlexConnect in the United States follows the explosive growth of Dolby Atmos content around the globe, which is the leading and only immersive audio experience spanning all your favorite entertainment – from film to streaming, music, sports, gaming, and beyond. Movies: 98 of the top 100 box office titles from the past five years were in Dolby Atmos with all major Hollywood studios releasing their latest films in Dolby Atmos for both theatrical and home distribution. Streaming: Dolby Atmos is supported across the major global streamers, including 100+ streaming and PayTV services worldwide, which continue to release their most watched movies and shows in Dolby Atmos. Music: 93% of Billboard's 2024 Year End Top 100 Artists have released music in Dolby Atmos with all three major record labels and thousands of independent artists delivering tracks to 20+ enabled music streaming services worldwide. Sports: Fans can watch sports weekly in Dolby Atmos, including the most watched games of the year like the Big Game. Gaming: Gamers can enjoy their favorite games in Dolby Atmos, across two of the world's most popular game consoles. About DolbyDolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) is a world leader in immersive entertainment. From movies and TV, to music, sports, gaming, and beyond, Dolby transforms the science of sight and sound into spectacular experiences for billions of people worldwide across all their favorite devices. We partner with artists, storytellers, and the brands you love to transform entertainment and digital experiences through groundbreaking innovations like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, Dolby Cinema, and Dolby OptiView. About TCLTCL Electronics specializes in the research, development and manufacturing of consumer electronics including TVs, mobile phones, audio devices, smart home products and appliances. Combining thoughtful design and innovative technology to inspire greatness, our lineup delivers must-have features and meaningful experiences. As one of the world's largest consumer electronics brands, our vertically integrated supply chain, and state-of-the-art display panel factory help TCL deliver innovation for all. For additional product information, please visit for the full portfolio. Media Contacts:DolbyCairon "Jamie" Andrea TCLRachelle View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Dolby Laboratories, Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
