TCL's new Q95K soundbar brings 360-degree spatial audio and Bang & Olufsen tuning

TCL has expanded its audio lineup with the launch of three new soundbars, headlined by the flagship Q95K model at the TCL Flagship New Product Launch conference. The new high-end soundbar is built around an 11.1.4 physical Hi-Fi acoustic architecture and features a joint sound tuning collaboration with Bang & Olufsen.

The Q95K system features a main bar, an independent wireless subwoofer, and independent wireless surround speakers, delivering a peak power output of 1420W through 22 independent speaker units. The main soundbar houses seven horizontal channels, two overhead channels, and a subwoofer channel. This is supplemented by the two wireless surround speakers, which handle the rear surround, rear side surround, and rear overhead channels to create a comprehensive spatial audio layout.

To manage sound reproduction, TCL has implemented a three-way physical acoustic unit and a fully independent sound chamber design, allowing the Q95K to cover an ultra-wide frequency band of 30Hz to 20kHz while keeping overall distortion under 1%. (Please note having a low THD is not the same as having a flat frequency response graph.) The mid-to-high frequencies utilize neodymium iron boron magnets paired with aluminum diaphragms to maintain detail and vocal clarity.

For lower frequencies, the system relies on dual 7-inch opposed units with a long-stroke damping design within a dual-engine subwoofer. This opposed movement is engineered to minimize cabinet resonance and maintain stable bass output even at higher volume levels.

Internally, the soundbar uses 12 independent power amplifier chips to drive the different speaker units separately, which helps reduce audio crosstalk. It supports high-specification audio decoding alongside 4K HDR video pass-through. The audio profile is the result of hardware and algorithmic collaboration with the Bang & Olufsen team, and users can adjust the sound visually using the integrated Beosonic Mood Mixer to fit their preferences.

The soundbar also includes 360-degree omnidirectional sound field technology, which relies on algorithm optimization to reduce the hardware's dependence on specific room acoustics or wall reflections. It supports adaptive sound calibration via the TCL app, alongside connectivity options that include HDMI 2.1 with eARC, WiFi 6, and AirPlay 2.

The physical design of the Q95K incorporates a floating base to mitigate desktop resonance and an integrated grille that balances sound transmission with dust prevention. It supports both desktop and wall-mounted setups, featuring a dual-mode sound field design that automatically adapts to the chosen placement.

Alongside the flagship model, TCL also introduced two secondary models: the Q85K, which features a 7.1.2 channel architecture, 16 units, and 1180W of peak power, and the Q75K, which offers a 7.1.2 configuration with 14 units and a peak power of 580W. All three soundbars are currently available in China. Pricing for the new lineup places the Q95K at 7,999 yuan (approximately $1,181), the mid-tier Q85K at 5,999 yuan (roughly $886), and the entry-level Q75K at 4,699 yuan (around $694).