Dolby Atmos FlexConnect Lets You Place Speakers Anywhere

Although Dolby does not impose any limits hard on the number or type of speakers (or subwoofers), you can use in a single FlexConnect system, the choice of processor of each manufacturer determines what is possible.

What you cannot do is use the wireless speakers of another company, whether compatible with flexConnect or not. Of course, this raises the question of compatibility. When other companies eventually create their own flexconnect televisions, speakers or bars, or will it only work in the family of products of this brand? Dolby says that this type of brand locking is not integrated into Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, but there should also be compatibility between FlexConnect products.

Exclusive TCL (for now)

Photography: Simon Cohen

Unfortunately for the moment, the implementation of FlexConnect by TCL is the owner. I asked Dolby’s REPS on several occasions which companies have registered to be part of the FlexConnect World atmos, but they firmly refused to comment, rather choosing to let TCL own the spotlight during the initial launch.

Each TCL Z100 is estimated at 170 Watts RMS, which is delivered via three front oriented drivers (woofer, mid -range and tweeter) plus a driver at height for height effects. TCL says that it uses a 1.1.1 channel provision, which means that it can receive and reproduce a front / surround / rear channel, plus height and low frequency channels (LFE).

TCL does not say how the WOOFER of the Z100 can go, saying only that “the low frequencies are optimized and won, lowering the frequency of extension to offer more exciting and powerful bass performance.”

You cannot configure the Z100 to be part of a multiroom audio configuration as you can with a sound or bose sound bar, but you can go to Bluetooth mode for direct audio streaming from a phone. Two Z100s can be in stereo pair. Unfortunately, Bluetooth mode is not managed by Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, you may want to think carefully about the speaker position if you use it frequently.

Bending

Photography: Simon Cohen

Unlike the sound bars and AV receptors, which generally replace the internal speakers of a TV, Dolby Atmospons FlexConnect integrates them, channeling content and frequencies in a way that works with the rest of the system speakers. Presumably, most of this content will be the central channel (dialogue, key sound effects), wireless speakers filling if necessary.