TCL - S-Class S60K 3.1 Channel Dolby Atmos Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer (2026) - Charcoal

TCL has their new S60K 3.1 Soundbar with Subwoofer system available, and it doesn't disappoint. The box includes the soundbar, wireless subwoofer, remote control, 2 AAA batteries, HDMI cable, 2 AC power cords, mounting template with hardware, and quick user guide/paperwork. The soundbar comes with a manufacturer's 1-year warranty. If you want the same exact TCL soundbar/subwoofer system with but with 2 added rear satellite speakers, TCL has the S65K system available. PROS: ----------- * TCL claims 340W of power. After playback of music and movies on this soundbar, I. WAS. STUNNED. -- in a good way. I played various items in both my enclosed home office and also in my main theater room. - The office sounded better due to the size of system with respect to the room... bass was incredible. - The theater room sounded great, but you can definitely tell this soundbar should stay in its lane. Even though you can put it in a theater room, this is likely best used in a small to large room where audio is there to fill in the airwaves and not to be submersed in it. It has a great sound, but it's not a "top-tier" system for bigger areas. Bass was good, but still lacked in the theater room. * SOLID, quality construction. End caps with "TCL" inscribed looks great. * Built-in center channel for better/clear dialogue. * AI room calibration. This is starting to become standard for many sound bar systems since no 2 rooms are alike with shape and sound reverberation. * If connected via Bluetooth (BT), the TCL Home app can be used to pair up with the soundbar In the TCL app, there are some settings that can be changed instantly without using the remote. There is even a subwoofer control (in the app) that is not available via the remote. * Quality rubber feet on each end of the soundbar so as not to scratch up furniture if not mounted. * Can be mounted with hardware provided, including a paper wall mounting template to make it easy. A level, drill, and phillips head screwdriver are minimal tools that may be needed. * 4 Ports are provided: HDMI (eARC), Optical, AUX, and USB. Even though it only provides 1 HDMI port, I like the fact that it includes AUX as well. This is useful in some applications (ie.wired 3.5mm base for RF headphones). It's great that all 3 are included along with USB for low-power connections. * DIGITAL LIT-UP LCD PANEL on the front! (and in big letters) I love sound bars that use more than just multi-colored LEDs to indicate what's going on (power, volume levels, input indicator, etc). Thank you, TCL for including this as part of the soundbar specs! * When making changes in the Surround Mode, there is only a "blip" of empty space while switching to the new mode. This is great for hearing the difference quickly between modes without losing hardly any of the content, whether it's music or movies. * The 6.5" driver on the sub performs better than expected at this price point. It paired up with the soundbar instantly with no issues and went to sleep when the soundbar was put to sleep. The sub is smaller in stature but packs a nice punch especially if you set up your subwoofer settings in the app (not only increase "bass", but "subwoofer" power if you need more). * The VOICE feature can be turned ON/OFF in any mode via the remote/app. This allows the user to remain in MOVIE mode but still hear a bit better what's being said if voice audio is lacking. * After a few seconds, the LCD panel on the front of the bar turns off so it does not interfere with TV viewing - it's a pretty bright panel especially in a darkened room. CONS: ----------- * If the soundbar is BT'd to a TV, then the user is unable to connect via the TCL app to make adjustments on the fly using another device besides the remote (where the user has to cycle through each mode or level). Only 1 BT connection can be made at a time. * The soundbar does lack a few of the lower mid-range frequencies - those freqs you get before crossing over to the subwoofer. You don't really notice it much until you compare it to a quality receiver with quality components. But once you use it for an extended time, you tend to get used to it and not notice it as much. * The 5 buttons on top of the soundbar aren't used much; however, if they are, and the soundbar is pushed under a TV so the fronts are mostly flush, the buttons are then inaccessible because they are positioned near the rear on top of the soundbar. But this seems to be the case with many soundbars. This is definitely not a deal-breaker. OTHER OBSERVATIONS: ----------- * Sub has a 6.5" woofer driver with a clear visual pass-through on the bottom of the unit (under the driver itself). This will allow sound to be ported a bit more in the front/rear configuration and not just facing down into carpet/flooring. * Approximate dimensions of the soundbar: 33.5"W x 2.5"H x 3.5"D at ~6 lbs * Approximate dimensions of the subwoofer: 8.6"W x 11.5"H x 13"D at ~10.5 lbs * I found STANDARD mode to be the most "surround"-based; however, it did not provide as much voice control. For most content, I felt MOVIE/GAME/SPORTS were all extremely similar and were my go-to default for nearly all content I played. * Unless you upgrade and get the rear speakers, you won't get the true rear sound. The 3.1 sounds great, but it is definitely not 5.1. * When I connected the soundbar via BT to my Samsung TV, I no longer had control of the volume via the TCL remote - I was only able to control the volume via the TV remote while connected. * When I downloaded the TCL Home app (official app in the Play Store), I entered my email address. When I got the confirmation email with the security code, it came from a GMAIL account. I thought this was extremely strange that a company would use a GMAIL account for account activation. This did not appear to be a hack or spoof email either, but TCL should be aware of this, if not already, and start using the TCL domain as the email address domain these notifications come from. CONCLUSION: ===================== I am thoroughly stunned and impressed with the quality and power of this system given it's sub-$200 price point. I was not expecting to hear what I heard. This soundbar will make nearly any TV sound better in almost any space except very large spaces and theater rooms where you'd expect better peripherals. The Dolby/DTS:X sound was incredible along with the paired subwoofer. BT was seamless, and the app made it easy to connect (after creating a TCL account) with this soundbar and future devices if I added more. I commend TCL for packing a lot of punch into this entry-to-mid-level soundbar. I enjoy the power and sound it provides, and I would highly recommend at this price point.

This is my first soundbar from TCL, and I chose it because it has a wireless subwoofer. Since I use a short throw projector instead of a traditional TV, I positioned the soundbar on the console below the projector and placed the subwoofer off to the side. A wall mounting kit is also included for mounted TVs. Setup was simple; just plug both units in and connect the soundbar to an eARC/ARC port on your input device with the included HDMI cable. Other input options include Bluetooth, optical, 1.8mm AUX, and even USB, but some features may not be available over these connections. Since the soundbar supports HDMI CEC, it powers on and off automatically with my projector and I can also control its volume using the projector’s remote. However, the included remote has other buttons for specific audio features like sound/night modes, AV sync adjustment, surround sound, AI Sonic, Voice enhancement, music playback controls, and treble and bass EQ. You can also control these settings from the TCL Home app by pairing the soundbar with your mobile phone over Bluetooth. The app is the only place where you can configure AI Sonic, which uses your smartphone’s microphone to measure and analyze the soundbar’s audio and automatically adjusts it based on your room configuration and where you are sitting, accounting for speaker distance, sound pressure level, and frequency response. This aims to deliver balanced and immersive sound to your sitting location and throughout the room, and you can create up to 3 individual profiles for different seating positions. For me, I didn’t find that enabling this feature changed my listening experience significantly; however, it may be that my living room is too small to have a noticeable impact as we are seated only 5.5 ft away from the console. When paired to the speaker over Bluetooth 5.3, there was no video to audio lag or sync delay, but if pairing with an older BT protocol, it has AV sync correction up to 300 ms if you need it. I did find that when adjusting the settings via the app while paired with my phone, I wasn’t able to hear the audio input from my TV through the soundbar, despite setting the source to HDMI eARC, until I disconnected from my phone. I was truly impressed with the sound quality from this entry-level sound system. It has three dedicated drivers and one tweeter that produces sound that is full and well-rounded with a wide sound stage when set to ‘standard’ mode, though it can sound a bit flat spatially. With virtual surround sound enabled, the 3.1 channel audio does impart a decent sense of depth and spaciousness, though it’s not as immersive as a true 5.1 channel system nor can it be expanded by adding rear satellite speakers. When listening to Dolby Atmos and DTS content, audio directionality and movement can clearly be identified as left, right, or center, though height and depth felt less accurately placed. The 6.5” driver subwoofer does a good job with low bass support, producing a nice rumble effect for frequencies in the 25-55 Hz range and a sense of fullness between 55-90 Hz, while dropping off thereafter. The volume on this sound bar is also quite powerful with a maximum output of 340 Watts. While its increments range from 0-99, setting it at 22 completely fills our 250 sq ft living room while 35 produces a room shaking club vibe; anything over 50 is probably unsafe for prolonged listening at close range, but might be well suited for projecting audio over a large distance or open space like a dance hall or outdoor space. As the sound was already deafening at 50, I did not attempt to push the speaker to its max volume, however, I did start to notice some muddying and distortion in both the high and low registers at that volume level. The voice enhancement feature works well and increases the volume of voices in both music and videos, however, the overall quality changes, narrowing and bringing forward the sound stage, so expect the audio to sound a bit boxier and enclosed with this feature enabled. Music mode places the audio farther away from the listener and adds reverb reminiscent to a stage performance, while movie mode boosts dialogue and low bass frequencies while widening the sound stage by pushing sound farther to the left and right. It’s able to perform these spatial adjustments thanks to TCL’s proprietary, curved Ray-Danz III acoustic reflectors and angled drivers. Overall, the soundbar greatly enhances the sound quality from my projector versus its built-in speakers. The sound is full, rich, and more expansive with the subwoofer adding in tons of bass support. It uses AI to adapt to a room’s conditions and your seat location, and the virtualized surround sound is dimensionally accurate and immersive. The ability to enhance voices is great, especially during noisy action scenes or low-volume dialogue. This sound system is unexpectedly powerful, with way more volume than we’ll ever use, and delivers a satisfying listening experience, whether you’re having movie night, listening to music, or just watching TV.

TL;DR: A wide‑sounding, immersive TCL S60K 3.1 Dolby Atmos sound bar with a punchy wireless subwoofer. Easy to set up, great for movies and gaming, and surprisingly cinematic thanks to TCL’s Ray‑Danz acoustic design. I personally love Atmos — it reminds me of a modern, updated THX experience — and this bar delivers that vibe well. SETUP: Setup is quick and easy. HDMI ARC handles most of the work, and the wireless subwoofer pairs automatically. Bluetooth pairing is simple, and AI Sonic Auto Room Calibration adjusts the sound to your room without any effort. The whole process is plug‑and‑play, and it’s noticeably easier than many premium bars that require long calibration setup steps. USE: The S60K shines with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content. The sound feels wide, open, and cinematic, which is very reminiscent of that classic THX theater immersion, but updated and more precise. I’m a big Atmos fan, and this bar hits that same “bubble of sound” feeling I love, similar to how Atmos sounds in a well‑tuned car system, like in today’s Cadillacs. Dialogue is clear, effects have great separation, and the wireless subwoofer adds deep, punchy bass without muddying the mids. USABILITY: The remote is simple, HDMI ARC makes volume control seamless, and switching inputs is fast. Bluetooth streaming works reliably, and the wireless subwoofer gives you flexibility in placement. Ray‑Danz isn’t a person…it is TCL’s acoustic reflector technology…and it genuinely helps widen the soundstage in a way that feels more premium than the price suggests. The soundbar is slim enough to fit under most TVs, and once calibrated, it is set it and forget it. OVERALL: A fantastic value for a mid‑range Atmos sound bar. Wide sound, strong bass, easy setup, and a cinematic feel that punches above its price. If you love immersive audio, like Dolby Atmos presents, this soundbar delivers a modern, THX‑like experience without needing a full receiver setup. REVIEW: The TCL S Class S60K 3.1‑Channel Dolby Atmos Sound Bar surprised me with how immersive it sounds. Setup was simple: HDMI ARC connected instantly, the wireless subwoofer paired on its own, and AI Sonic calibration handled the tuning. Once everything was running, the soundbar immediately delivered a wide, cinematic soundstage…I am very impressed! Dolby Atmos and DTS:X give movies and games a spacious, 3D feel. I’m a huge Atmos fan. I love how it sounds on my AirPods and in my car, and I’ve always appreciated that “updated THX” sound style immersion…the S60K captures that nostalgic vibe extremely well. TCL’s Ray‑Danz acoustic reflectors help spread the sound outward, making the bar feel bigger than it is. Dialogue stays clear, effects have great separation, and the subwoofer adds deepness without overwhelming the mids. Usability is excellent. The remote is simple, Bluetooth streaming works smoothly, and HDMI ARC makes everything feel seamless. The soundbar responds quickly, and once calibrated, you don’t have to do anything else. It’s flexible enough for smaller rooms, larger living rooms, or gaming setups. Overall, the TCL S60K is a strong, immersive Atmos soundbar that delivers a wide soundstage, punchy bass, and a cinematic feel at a great price. If you love Atmos, this soundbar hits the sweet spot.

Unboxing was simple, it’s pretty much the same as any other subwoofer. I was planning on replacing a one year old Insignia 2.1 soundbar with subwoofer with this, assuming this would be a better option. But I had a moment of panic, since I use a toslink cable to connect to my gaming computer, a 2026 Alienware. And when I first picked this, I saw optical input, but later looking at the page the optical was only showing now for the 5.1 version of this, not the 3.1. But the optical connector IS there on the 3.1 version as well. When I first got this hooked up and booted, I played an MP3 just to get a quick feel for the system and the sub before I even looked at settings. And it sounded pretty good, and the sub is definitely a few steps up from the Insignia. So I thought I’d be happy with this. Then I started gaming. Destiny 2 was my first test. And the soundbar was just SUCH a disappointment. EVERYTHING sounds tinny coming out of it. The subwoofer is doing a great job, and I love the bass response. But the soundbar is just TINNY, to the point it’s a complete distraction and the gaming is annoying rather than fun. I spent a lot of time going through all the settings there are trying to compensate, and NOTHING made the soundbar sound anything as good as the Insignia did. No matter what this sounds like it’s just nothing but the highs. Granted, this does a great job of reproducing the mids and highs. But the problem is that seems to be ALL it does, so EVERYTHING sounds like it’s coming out of a little AM radio speaker from the 60’s that isn’t coming out of the subwoofer. There are plenty of options for sound adjustment – bass and treble, from -6 to +6. Subwoofer level adjustment, soundbar level adjustment. Various sound modes, games, movies, music, etc. I was about to swap my Insignia back in, but I figured let’s see if it’s just Destiny or is it everything. Fortunately, it seems at this point of my testing to only be Destiny that sounds so bad with this soundbar. Halo. Assassin’s Creed. Horizon. Ghosts of Tsushima, these all sound normal / good. I don’t watch movies on this PC here, since I have a full atmos setup in my great room, but I thought I’d test some here to see how this does with movies. And I was very leased with it. Again, the sub is a busy little worker, and the low level response for things is quite an improvement over my Insignia sub, which I was very happy with. There are options to try to enhance the dialog, but for me it didn’t seem to make much of a difference if I was trying to use the voice mode as opposed to movie or anything else. The size of the subwoofer is satisfying, seeing it next to the old one. I like the design as well with the open bottom out the front and back. And in the third day of testing somehow I was working on the standard sound mode, which I could’ve sworn I tested initially with Destiny 2 but I must not have – that let the game sound normal and good again. So I was happy to be at the point where I have improved sound all around, much better bass with this subwoofer. I’m curious how things would be with the bigger brother of this, the 5.1 system with the rear channel, but since this is just for gaming, I was content replacing my other soundbar with the same functionality, just better. And it’s definitely that. Very happy now with my gaming system.

After our previous soundbar started having issues, I decided to look for a new one and was really interested in this TCL, especially knowing that they make good quality televisions these days. The setup process was very easy, and I was able to place it directly underneath my TV as it is slim and a low profile. Connecting it via HDMI eARC was super simple, though I did run into a minor issue at first where I wasn't getting any sound. Once I realized I needed to go into the settings and turn the TV’s internal speakers completely off, the audio came through really clear and crisp. Overall, I'm happy with how it performs. The dedicated center speaker keeps dialogue focused when watching television shows, and the 6.5-inch wireless subwoofer delivers a deep, satisfying bass at all volumes without taking up much room. I ended up placing it behind and to the left of my television, I know that it is not ideal location as of now. The remote is very simple and has fast response time when trying to adjust volumes. It isn't quite the best compared with the higher-end sound bars, but you get what you pay for and the TCL S60K isn't trying to be that. My main qualm is that the sound can occasionally feel a bit hollow, The other issue that I ran into is that the front display can also be a little hard to read if you aren't sitting directly in front of it because the display reads from right to left, and the display is not to large. So long words take time to move and has been a challenge to read it. Despite these concerns, I found that this soundbar offers really good sound for our smaller living room size. If you are on a budget, and want a solid decent sound, this is the one to get.