While Dolby imposes no hard limit on the number or type of speakers (or subwoofers) you can use in a single FlexConnect system, each manufacturerâs choice of processor determines whatâs feasible.
What you canât do is use any other companyâs wireless speakersâwhether theyâre FlexConnect-compatible or not. Naturally, this raises the question of compatibility. When other companies eventually make their own FlexConnect TVs, speakers, or soundbars, will they only work within that brandâs family of products? Dolby says this kind of brand lock-in isnât built into Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, but neither does it require compatibility between FlexConnect products.
TCL Exclusive (for Now)
Photograph: Simon Cohen
Unfortunately for now, TCLâs implementation of FlexConnect is proprietary. Iâve repeatedly asked Dolbyâs reps which companies have signed up to be a part of the Atmos FlexConnect world, but theyâve steadfastly refused to comment, choosing instead to let TCL own the limelight during the initial launch.
Each TCL Z100 is rated at 170 watts RMS, which is delivered via three front-facing drivers (woofer, midrange, and tweeter) plus an up-firing driver for height effects. TCL says it uses a 1.1.1-channel layout, which means it can receive and reproduce one front/surround/rear channel, plus height and low-frequency effects (LFE) channels.
TCL doesnât say how low the Z100âs woofer can go, saying only that âlow frequencies are optimized and gained, lowering the extension frequency to deliver more thrilling and powerful bass performance.â
You canât configure the Z100 to be part of a multiroom audio setup like you can with a Sonos or Bose soundbar, but you can switch it to Bluetooth mode for direct audio streaming from a phone. Two Z100s can be stereo-paired. Unfortunately, the Bluetooth mode isnât managed by Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, so you may want to think carefully about speaker position if you use it frequently.
Flexinâ
Photograph: Simon Cohen
Unlike soundbars and AV receivers, which typically override a TVâs internal speakers, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect incorporates them, channeling content and frequencies in a way that works with the rest of the speakers in the system. Presumably, most of that content will be center channel (dialog, key sound effects), with the wireless speakers filling in as needed.