Way back in 2023, Dolby announced a new wireless surround sound technology that the company said was just around the corner. Dolby Atmos FlexConnect promised wireless connectivity between TVs and speakers so that customers could create an immersive surround sound experience without a single cable between the TV and the speakers.
Last week, Dolby and TCL officially announced that TCL’s 2025 premium Q Series TV line-up would be the first to support the new technology and TCL will also offer the first Dolby Atmos FlexConnect-enabled powered speakers later this year.
Current models in TCL’s Precise Dimming Series, including the QM8K, QM7K, and QM6K will be the first TVs to support Dolby Atmos FlexConnect. TCL will also introduce the Z100 smart panoramic sound speaker, designed to pair with TCL’s lineup of Dolby Atmos FlexConnect-enabled TVs some time this summer. TCL customers will be able to connect up to four Z100 speakers working alongside the TV speakers to create a custom Dolby Atmos experience, optimized for each specific room and speaker placement.
What is Dolby Atmos FlexConnect?
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is a new wireless audio technology that allows TVs to connect wirelessly to 1 or more speakers in order to improve upon TV sound, without the need for any wires (not even an HDMI cable) between TV and speakers. Companies such as WISA and Xperi (the maker of DTS PlayFi) have released similar technology but both formats have attained limited adoption among TV and speaker manufacturers. Also, both LG and Samsung offer wireless speaker solutions, but these are brand-specific. To take advantage of them, you need to pair an LG TV with an LG soundbar or speaker system or a Samsung TV with a Samsung soundbar or speaker system.
Similar to the proprietary LG and Samsung solutions, Dolby FlexConnect can integrate these wireless speakers with the TV’s own built-in speakers for improved surround sound imaging and sound positioning. This allows you to hear dialog from the TV’s own speakers while allowing the external wireless speakers to focus on music and effects to create a more dynamic and expansive sound field than what the TV’s built-in speakers can accomplish on their own.
Also, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is not just a wireless speaker solution, it also includes Dolby Surround virtualization and sound mapping technology to enhance the spaciousness of the sound and compensate for imperfect speaker placements. It is also expandable in that you can add just one speaker or up to four speakers to a system depending on your budget and needs.
How it Works
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect uses the microphone built into the TV or smartphone to determine speaker placement, and creates an enhanced virtual soundstage, even when the speakers are placed in less-than-ideal locations. In theory, it sounds a lot like Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, which also uses advanced audio processing and virtualization to correct for non-ideal speaker placement.
What excites us about Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is that it isn’t limited to just soundbars. While soundbar-based systems can offer convincing surround sound, the front soundstage width is typically not that wide – it’s limited to the width of the bar itself. With Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, you could place a speaker further out on each side of the TV, thereby widening the front soundstage to give music and movies a more spacious and enveloping sound. And you can add discrete rear speakers in order to create real (not virtual) surround sound.
Unfortunately, on the TCL TVs, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is currently limited to just four speakers and does not seem to have an option for dedicated height speakers. This means height effects will be limited to virtualized speakers and TCL FlexConnect systems may have limited success in larger viewing/listening rooms. We’ll know more once we have a chance to test the system.
According to a Dolby rep we spoke to, “There is no practical limit to the number of speakers our technology can support. The limits within a particular product system come down to processor capability and wireless transmission protocol bandwidth.”
Pricing and precise availability of the TCL Z100 smart panoramic sound speaker have not yet been announced. The Z100 is expected to begin shipping “this summer.”
The Bottom Line
While Dolby Atmos FlexConnect will be available on TCL TVs and speakers first, the ultimate goal is to roll it out to more brands in order to build an ecosystem of products that would allow consumers to mix and match different brands’ TVs and speakers, depending on their specific needs, budget and personal preferences. Hisense has also announced intent to support Dolby Atmos FlexConnect though they have not announced any specific TV or speaker models that will include the feature. This brand-agnostic approach to wireless immersive home theater is something that competitive solutions from Xperi (DTS Play-Fi Immersive Home Theater) and WISA have yet to accomplish to any degree of scale. We’re hoping to be able to check out Dolby Atmos FlexConnect soon once these TCL speakers become available.
Updated 6/6/25 – Added quote from Dolby rep that the number of speakers and configuration details of speaker deployments are something defined by each individual manufacturing partner.
Related Reading:
WISA and DTS Play-Fi Bring Wireless Immersive Surround Sound to the Living Room
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect Promises Surround Sound Without Wires
Anton
June 2, 2025 at 7:44 pm
Very interesting. Any idea on cost? Can’t imagine this is less than a good soundbar.
Chris Boylan
June 3, 2025 at 6:55 pm
No pricing yet. But it’s TCL so I’m expecting maybe $249 per speaker (list) with discounts available. That would make a 4-channel system list for under $1000. But I admit this is nothing but a wild assed guess. I could be way off. What’s more interesting to me is will any sort of subwoofer be supported? This is kinda crucial for movies but all of the material we’ve seen so far has only mentioned a 4-channel limit and neither height channels nor subwoofers are mentioned. We’ll know more this summer when they start shipping.
ORT
June 2, 2025 at 11:06 pm
I just let go of my 9.2 Atmos setup after over a decade of constant use. Soundbars are nowhere near as good as what I had and yes, I am serious.
A soundbar is nice…enough. Dolby needs to pair with Denon/Marants/HEOS and perhaps others to license/certify rear/upwards firing wireless active speakers and wireless subwoofers. NOT BlooToof but WiFi.
My 9.2 Denon system is gone because it was time for me to downsize due to my being downsized myself. I don’t like it but it is my reality. I just gave it all away. I still have my HEOS setup throughout the house for music and I have the Denon Home Amp in the “media” room feeding a Martin Logan 10″ powered sub and a pair of Martin Logan bookshelf speakers. That’s it for film.
The technology has long been here for real wireless (NOT BlooToof!!) rear channels and more and it can be done economically enough to be more than affordable for the masses over the asses.
I do have a new Sony Sound bar that I am trying out. At 5.1 it’s okay enough for most films and if this was someone’s introduction to surround? They would be more than satisfied.
I hope Dolby does as I desire and get’s going on making Atmos more agreeable to more people. For those that say a speaker ain’t “wireless” if it has to be plugged in to your home’s AC?
WFT indeed?! Such people are closeted Luddites seeking to dampen both the audio newcomer and the genuine (NOT a ‘tardish frAudiophile!) enthusiast with their faux intellect.
albORT Einstein
Chris Boylan
June 3, 2025 at 6:58 pm
I’m testing a Sony soundbar system at the moment. Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6. Not blown away by it, frankly. But it is more of an entry-level option. The QUAD system is pretty good as are the BRAVIA 8 and BRAVIA 9 bars if you add the larger sub. ORT – which one do you have?
ORT
June 5, 2025 at 12:28 am
Hi Chris –
I have the same one, the Theater System 6. It is entry level but as I said, if this one’s first foray into Atmos then it will do the job nicely!
ORT
Chris Boylan
June 5, 2025 at 8:26 pm
The set-up of it is what bugs me. HDMI cable has to be plugged into the subwoofer (from the TV) then a proprietary dongle cable goes from subwoofer to soundbar, The included HDMI cable is only around 5 feet long so good luck getting the subwoofer in a good place with only that much play. Of course, you can get a longer HDMI cable, but then you’re limited by the length of that proprietary cable between the subwoofer and the soundbar. Also, rear channels require a separate wireless amp module with physical cables between that and the rear channel speakers. I get that this saves on cost and reduces the power cable requirement to just two power cables. But it just feels a little kludgy.