Dolby Atmos FlexConnect Lets You Place Speakers Anywhere Leave a comment

Whereas Dolby imposes no laborious restrict on the quantity or sort of audio system (or subwoofers) you need to use in a single FlexConnect system, every producer’s alternative of processor determines what’s possible.

What you’ll be able to’t do is use another firm’s wi-fi audio system—whether or not they’re FlexConnect-compatible or not. Naturally, this raises the query of compatibility. When different firms finally make their very own FlexConnect TVs, audio system, or soundbars, will they solely work inside that model’s household of merchandise? Dolby says this type of model lock-in isn’t constructed into Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, however neither does it require compatibility between FlexConnect merchandise.

Wi-fi Dolby Atmos

Sadly for now, TCL’s implementation of FlexConnect is proprietary. In the course of the occasion, I requested Dolby’s reps which different firms have signed as much as be part of the Atmos FlexConnect world, however they refused to remark, selecting as an alternative to let TCL personal the limelight through the preliminary launch. Afterward, nonetheless, I obtained a follow-up electronic mail letting me know that Dolby had partnered with Hisense on FlexConnect outdoors of the North American market. No phrase on whether or not Hisense’s model can be related.

So far as the TCL setup, every TCL Z100 is rated at 170 watts RMS, which is delivered through three front-facing drivers (woofer, midrange, and tweeter) plus an up-firing driver for top results. TCL says it makes use of a 1.1.1-channel format, which implies it may possibly obtain and reproduce one entrance/encompass/rear channel, plus top and low-frequency results (LFE) channels.

TCL doesn’t say how low the Z100’s woofer can go, saying solely that “low frequencies are optimized and gained, decreasing the extension frequency to ship extra thrilling and highly effective bass efficiency.”

You possibly can’t configure the Z100 to be a part of a multiroom audio setup like you’ll be able to with a Sonos or Bose soundbar, however you’ll be able to swap it to Bluetooth mode for direct audio streaming from a cellphone. Two Z100s will be stereo-paired. Sadly, the Bluetooth mode isn’t managed by Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, so you might need to consider carefully about speaker place when you use it incessantly.

Flexin’

{Photograph}: Simon Cohen

Not like soundbars and AV receivers, which usually override a TV’s inner audio system, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect incorporates them, channeling content material and frequencies in a means that works with the remainder of the audio system within the system. Presumably, most of that content material can be middle channel (dialog, key sound results), with the wi-fi audio system filling in as wanted.