For years, there have been just two options for better TV sound: A traditional, AV receiver-based home theater system or a soundbar.
The AV receiver route is undeniably the best way to go for a truly cinematic experience, but only the most diehard audiophiles are willing to deal with hulking metal boxes, yards of speaker wire, and a minimum of five speakers (plus a subwoofer) that must be placed just so. That’s before you delve into the often arcane settings needed for peak performance.
Soundbars, with their lure of simplicity—just plug a single speaker into your TV and walk away—have enticed many. But few single-speaker systems live up to the promise of Dolby Atmos, and if you buy a model with additional satellite speakers and subs, the placement of these speakers remains crucial to getting that dome-of-sound experience we associate with movie magic.
Photograph: Simon Cohen
Starting this summer, however, there’s a third choice: Dolby Atmos FlexConnect. FlexConnect is a new platform developed by Dolby that lets you place wireless speakers anywhere you like. The system automatically detects the speakers’ capabilities (power, frequency response, etc.), then maps their position in the room. From there, it calibrates the audio to maximize the system’s ability to deliver a Dolby Atmos experience (including height and surround channels).
In its launch guise, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect uses a smart TV as its central hub. This means you’ll need a FlexConnect-compatible TV and wireless speakers. However, future FlexConnect products may embed that hub function in soundbars or even smart speakers—opening up more options for those who don’t want to replace their TV. I got a chance to give a Dolby Atmos FlexConnect system a listen earlier this month at an invite-only event in Santa Monica, California, and came away impressed with the possibilities.
Wireless Dolby Atmos
Photograph: Simon Cohen
As Dolby’s launch partner, TCL is the first to embed FlexConnect into a TV. All of TCL’s 2025 QD-Mini LED TVs are FlexConnect-compatible and can be paired with up to four wireless TCL Z100 FlexConnect speakers, which TCL sells for $400 each. Optionally, you can replace one of these Z100 units with a wireless TCL Z100-SW subwoofer ($500).