Q. You mentioned that the TCL QM9K television sounded so good that an external soundbar was not necessary. I find that most televisions sound awful, but would like to avoid getting a soundbar if I can. Is a home entertainment fan likely to want a soundbar anyway?

—L.S., Kansas City, Missouri

A. I think it is fine without a soundbar, but it is very easy to take it to the next level. The $299.99 TCL Z100-SW Wireless Subwoofer and $249.99 Z100 Wireless Home Theater Speaker with Dolby Atmos can pair wirelessly with the QM9K's Bang & Olufsen sound system to create impressive home theater sound very easily. In fact, it is the easiest system to set up and enjoy that I have ever tested, and the results are fantastic.

The Z100 speakers are heavy, solidly built and beautifully finished. The Z100 subwoofer is very compact and though the woofer driver is only 5.25 inches in diameter, it still had strong and satisfying impact in a midsize room. Setup could not be simpler. The quick start guide walks you through the process starting with plugging in the subwoofer, then going to the audio menu on the television. The television automatically finds and pairs the subwoofer, then uses test tones to calibrate it for room placement and acoustics.

Adding the Z100 subwoofer raises the television's already excellent sound to an entirely new level. Supplemented by the subwoofer output, the television's sound system was even more effective and subjectively seemed twice as good as before, and that is really saying something. The sound was seamlessly integrated from bass to treble with no weakness in any part of the sonic spectrum, and a wall of sound coming from the television filled the room. If you have invested in this television I think the subwoofer is practically a must-have. The simplicity, sound quality and total cost make it my preferred option over adding a separate soundbar and subwoofer, especially for only $299.99.

In addition to the subwoofer you can use one to four of the Z100 Atmos speakers with the system. I started by putting a single Z100 speaker in the back corner of the room. Once again, the speaker paired with the television effortlessly and automatically configured itself for surround duty based on placement and room acoustics. The system knows how many Z100 speakers there are and where they are placed, and distributes the sound accordingly.

Using a single Z100 speaker with the QM9K television and Z100 subwoofer provided beautiful, immersive sound, much better than I would have expected given the simplicity of the system. I am very picky and have a complicated and elaborate home theater in my home. I realize this is more than most people want or need, and think this combination of an outstanding television sound system, wirelessly connected to a subwoofer and a single, strategically placed surround speaker is exactly what many people are looking for. It provides rich, thrilling and impactful sound, doesn't crowd your room with lots of speakers and has easy, automated setup and optimization.

Using four Z100 speakers in conjunction with the subwoofer would run around $1,300, at which point there is serious competition from separate soundbar systems that have much bigger subwoofers and can play much louder. If you're going to spend that much you should expand your shopping list, but I think adding the Z100 subwoofer and a Z100 Atmos speaker to a compatible TV, especially the QM9K with its outstanding Bang & Olufsen sound system, is an absolutely great move.

The Z100 speakers are compatible with TCL televisions with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, which include the QM6K, QM7K, QM8K and QM9K. tcl.com

———

©2026 Tribune Content Agency, LLC