These Dolby Atmos speakers will be going in my living room thanks to this one key feature

If you’ve tried to get Dolby Atmos sound in your living room, you’ll know it’s like playing surround sound Tetris. You’ve got to find some spare outlets, line up your speakers, and then fiddle with the calibration. It’s definitely not the easiest of tasks.

That’s why Dolby started working on FlexConnect for Atmos. It’s some clever tech that actively adapts the sound based on where the speaker is plonked in your room, so you don’t need to line things up precisely. And TCL’s newest Dolby Atmos speakers are the first to support FlexConnect, which means they’re headed straight for my living room.

• Read more: What is Dolby Atmos FlexConnect? The wireless surround sound tech explained

TCL’s Z100 speakers are designed to pair with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect-enabled QD-Mini LED TVs from TCL – specifically the QM8K, QM7K, or QM6K models. You can start with one speaker and scale up to four, and the system will adjust itself accordingly. It’s a bit like building a LEGO set, only it makes your TV sound like an cinema theatre.

Now, don’t get too excited if you’ve already got a decent TV or speaker setup. Dolby’s FlexConnect won’t work with legacy kit, and the Z100s won’t pair with anything outside of TCL’s new FlexConnect-enabled TVs. It’s all very proprietary.

Dolby first announced FlexConnect in 2023, but this is the first time we’re actually getting speakers ready to buy and shove into our homes. Performance details are still a bit thin on the ground, and while no one’s expecting these to dethrone a professionally tuned 7.2.2 setup, that’s not the point. These are for those of us who want immersive Atmos sound without faffing with AV receivers.

Pricing for the TCL Z100 speakers hasn’t been confirmed yet, and neither has the exact release date. TCL says the Dolby Atmos speakers are due out this summer. Surprise, surprise, there’s also no word yet on pricing.

• Related: The best Dolby Atmos movies 2025 to watch today

Connor Jewiss

About

Connor is a writer for Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website. He has been writing for around nine years now across the web and in print too. Connor has attended the biggest tech expos, including CES, MWC, and IFA – with contributions as a judge on panels at them. He's also been interviewed as a technology expert on TV and radio by national news outlets including France24. Connor has experience with most major platforms, though does hold a place in his heart for macOS, iOS/iPadOS, electric vehicles, and smartphone tech. Just like everyone else around here, he's a fan of gadgets of all sorts. Aside from writing, Connor is involved in the startup and venture capital scene, which puts him at the front of new and exciting tech - he is always on the lookout for innovative products.

Areas of expertise

Mobile, macOS, EVs, smart home