Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

New Products

Check Out the TCL Q85H Premium Soundbar: 7.1.4 Channels of Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Goodness

TCL is finally stepping up their sound game with a premium soundbar that can immerse you in a dome of sound

TCL Q80H Dolby Atmos DTS:X soundbar

With few exceptions, even the best TVs offer mediocre sound. Thin dialog, constricted dynamic range, weak bass — the thinner a TV gets, the harder it is to offer great sound quality. This is why major TV makers like Sony, LG, Samsung – even Vizio and Hisense – offer high-quality Dolby Atmos-capable sound bar options with up-firing drivers and discrete rear speakers for immersive surround sound.

TCL may be late to the game, but they finally got there, and they’re playing for keeps. This year, the company has introduced the Q Class Q85H sound bar. And it’s not just some virtual surround trickster or your basic 5.1.2-channel solution. With front-firing, upward-firing and side-firing drivers on the sound bar itself and front-firing and up-firing drivers on the included wireless rear-channel speakers as well as a powered wireless subwoofer (also included), the Q85H system offers a full 7.1.4-channel sound system which can handle both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive surround.

Q-Class_Q85H_Hero-900px
TCL’s Q85H premium soundbar comes with a wireless subwoofer and rear surround speakers for 7.1.4-channel immersive surround sound, right out of the box.

I got to hear the new sound bar-based Q85H surround system at TCL’s spring preview event in New York City last week and I was intrigued by what I heard. For best effect, you’ll want to install the bar in a regularly shaped (rectangular) room with flat, reflective ceilings that aren’t too high (up to about 9 feet in an average sized room). This allows the various drivers to reflect sound from side walls and ceiling right into the main viewing/listening positions. But even in an open space or irregularly shaped room, you’ll get effective surround sound, thanks to the built-in AI Sonic room calibration system. It also includes DTS:Virtual X processing to create an immersive surround soundstage from stereo or 5.1-channel material.

The “suggested retail price” of the Q85H system is $999.99 but actual street price will likely be much lower (it in now available on Amazon.com).

Q85H_SOUNDBAR_LIFESTYLE4-900px
With up-firing speakers in the front and rear, the TCL Q85H soundbar system can create an enveloping dome of sound around the listener.

The Q85H supports Bluetooth wireless streaming from a phone, laptop or tablet as well as Apple AirPlay2 so it plays nice within an Apple-based ecosystem. The speakers use Ray Danz acoustic reflector technology to provide a wider more expansive soundstage, compared to traditional speaker drivers. For inputs, you’ll find HDMI eARC for connection to a compatible TV plus an additional HDMI input, fiberoptic digital input, analog aux input and a USB port for digital music playback.

The Q85H even comes with a free wall-mount kit and an HDMI cable for connection to any TV with an eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) HDMI port. It comes with a remote control and is compatible with the TCL Home App for advanced set-up and calibration. The rear surround speakers and powered subwoofer are both “wireless” but they do require a power plug so keep that in mind when determining placement. The Q85H is “Roku-ready” for seamless operation and control from a Roku remote.

Q75H – the “5.1.2” Version

TCL Q75H Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
TCL Q75H 5.1.2-channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer

If you don’t have a good place for rear speakers in your room, you can get the same soundbar and subwoofer, without the rear channel speakers, as the Q75H for $100 less ($899 suggested retail price). TCL calls this a “5.1.2-channel” system as it uses up-firing drivers for the height channels and side-firing drivers for the surrounds. Other features are identical to the Q85H (and no, you can’t buy the Q75H and add the rear speakers later, I asked).

We hope to get one in for review later this year as it looks like a good affordable option for immersive surround. The Q85H and Q75H will be available at Amazon and other TCL authorized retailers this summer.

Where to Buy:

Q75H 5.1.2-channel Soundbar, with subwoofer (no rear surround speakers)

  • Not yet available to pre-order

Q85H 7.1.4-channel Soundbar, with subwoofer and rear surround speakers

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Latest Products

Vincent Audio SV-500 MK Hybrid Integrated Amplifier

Integrated Amps & Stereo Receivers

SV-500 MK Adds HDMI ARC and Bluetooth 5.0 Connectivity and outputs 50 watts per channel for $1,500.

Fell Audio Amp and Disc Fell Audio Amp and Disc

Integrated Amps & Stereo Receivers

Fell Audio aims to attract British hi-fi buyers seeking retro aesthetics with value driven audio performance from its inaugural £1000 stack.

Schiit Audio Wotan Stereo Power Amplifier Front Angle Silver Schiit Audio Wotan Stereo Power Amplifier Front Angle Silver

Amplifiers

Lots of power, practical integration and control, and a reasonable price tag make the Wotan power amp worth consideration, especially if you own other...

Fezz Audio Equinox Vacuum Tube DAC in Sunlight Finish Front View Angle Fezz Audio Equinox Vacuum Tube DAC in Sunlight Finish Front View Angle

DACs

Starting at $2,995, the Fezz Audio Equinox Vacuum Tube DAC is the most affordable D/A converter with Lampizator technology.

iFi GO link Max Dongle DAC connected to laptop and IEM iFi GO link Max Dongle DAC connected to laptop and IEM

Dongle DACs

With more power and balanced connectivity, the iFI GO link Max dongle dac is a great upgrade over the previous GO link and only...

Audio CU Sound Over Power Audio CU Sound Over Power

A/V Furniture & Accessories

AUDIO Cu plug-in adapters eliminate long cable runs by sending up to 10 channels of audio over power lines already in your home.

Gift Ideas?

dts-holiday-guide

Gift Guides

Treat the audio enthusiast in your life to the best DTS-powered products this holiday season.

Advertisement

New Products

Grimani Systems Psi v3 Subwoofer - Promo Image

New Products

At $43,600, Grimani Systems' Psi v3 is four subwoofer system that goes in each corner of a home theater for generating up to 115...

20241110_115805-house-of-stereo-focal-t-a-featured 20241110_115805-house-of-stereo-focal-t-a-featured

Loudspeakers

High-end audio dealer House of Stereo brought out the big guns at CAF 2024, featuring two of Focal's finest loudspeakers.

Drop + Grell OAE1 Headphones Side Drop + Grell OAE1 Headphones Side

New Products

Building on the success of the OAE1 signature edition headphone, Drop + Grell has introduced a less costly non-signature model but with some improvements

Andover Audio SpinBase 2 White Wireless Speaker Under Turntable Lifestyle Andover Audio SpinBase 2 White Wireless Speaker Under Turntable Lifestyle

New Products

With updated styling and connectivity, the $349 Andover SpinBase 2 is a compact wireless speaker designed to sit under any turntable.

HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled Planar Magnetic Headphones Side HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled Planar Magnetic Headphones Side

New Products

At $1,400, the fourth-generation Arya Unveiled features a removable “Magnetic Veil” back panel and Stealth Magnet Technology.

FiiO BTR17 Portable Bluetooth DAC and Headphone Amplifier FiiO BTR17 Portable Bluetooth DAC and Headphone Amplifier

Dongle DACs

Pocket size FiiO BTR17 offers desktop headphone amp power and performance for $199, using the latest Qualcomm, ESS and THX tech.

You May Also Like

Loudspeakers

High-end audio dealer House of Stereo brought out the big guns at CAF 2024, featuring two of Focal's finest loudspeakers.

Articles

Forget sound bars and souped up TV speakers, a real Dolby Atmos immersive surround sound system is more affordable than you might think.

Best Right Now

This year's Battle Royale of UST projectors brought eight contenders into a room. Find out which one emerged victorious.

Gift Guides

Treat the audio enthusiast in your life to the best DTS-powered products this holiday season.

News

Feeling lucky? Enter for a chance to win a Meze Audio 109 PRO open-back Headphone. Must be 18+ and enter before 11:59pm PST on...

Amplifiers

Just add in-ceiling speakers to Q Acoustics 300A Ceiling Amplifier to bring streaming music and Amazon Alexa into any room.

Loudspeakers

The Danish speaker maker is hoping their new high-end loudspeaker lineup will help the company grow their footprint in North America.

Articles

Eric Pye continues his trip north taking in the Jazz Kissas of Tohoku.

Advertisement

ecoustics is a hi-fi and music magazine offering product reviews, podcasts, news and advice for aspiring audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts and headphone hipsters. Read more

Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.



SVS Bluesound PSB Speakers NAD Cambridge Audio Q Acoustics Denon Marantz Focal Naim Audio RSL Speakers