For the first time since it was announced in 2023, industry media is having its first hands-on experience with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect. Designed to enhance the at-home Dolby Atmos experience, FlexConnect allows users to create an acoustic map of a room, calibrating a TV’s built-in and external speakers to optimize spatial audio by tailoring it to the room’s layout and speaker placement.
FlatpanelsHD was able to test Dolby Atmos FlexConnect in-person at TCL’s European TV launch in Warsaw, Poland. TCL has been announced as one of Dolby’s launch partners for FlexConnect, and the company’s Z100 speaker is the first launched to support the new technology.
“When we listened to movies and shows, the surround sound was pronounced – noticeably better than any standalone soundbar,” writes FlatPanelsHD’s Rasmus Larsen. “It was impressive to witness how sound appeared to come from in front and to the right of the TV, even when the speaker was sitting on the floor below it. Rear effects felt wide and immersive, despite the speakers being placed too far forward relative to the seating position. In short, a convincing demo of what this added flexibility can achieve.”
The video above showcases the FlexConnect calibration process. To read more, visit FlatPanelsHD’s writeup.
The following was originally published August 30, 2023:
Dolby Laboratories has announced a new technology under the Atmos umbrella that they say will help consumers effortlessly get the best sound possible out of their TV. The new system is called Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, and it allows a TV’s built-in speakers to pair with external wireless speakers, then completes an acoustic mapping process to optimize the TV’s sound system for the room’s layout and speaker placement.
“Consumers shouldn’t have to move their furniture to experience better audio, but rather audio should adapt to them,” said John Couling, Senior Vice President, Entertainment, Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is an entirely new category of experience that offers consumers the freedom and flexibility to choose how they want to arrange their devices while still getting a great immersive Dolby Atmos experience.”
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Dolby is touting FlexConnect’s simple setup, which uses microphones built inside the TV to complete the acoustic mapping. The company says that audio is “intelligently spread” between the TV’s speakers and the wireless speakers, and is completely dynamic, changing based on the capabilities and location of each speaker, as well as any furniture in the room.
While it’s currently unknown whether or not users will be able to mix-and-match different brands of FlexConnect TVs and wireless speakers, TCL will be the first TV brand to include FlexConnect in its 2024 lineup. In additon to FlexConnect-supported TVs, TCL’s 2024 line will also include wireless speakers optimized for the new feature.
