TCL has unveiled and launched its most powerful and complete soundbar to date: the TCL X937U. It is a 7.1.4 channel soundbar designed to compete in the premium soundbar segment and challenge the best models from manufacturers like LG or Samsung.
The new model is thus placed above the TCL C935U, until now the top of the Chinese manufacturer’s model range. In fact, these models have a lot in common. TCL does a really good job of making intriguing TVs. The TCL C845 and C745 models greatly surprised users and the specialized press. Will the company achieve the same with new soundbars? We’ll put this to the test in our TCL X937U review.
Design
Let’s say right away that the manufacturer adheres to the same trends as in the case of televisions. What we mean is that the TCL X937U sound bar offers better technology at a more reasonable price than the competition. The TCL X937U is not just a soundbar, but a complete high-quality sound system.
We have a main unit with 5 speakers plus 2 overhead speakers, a wireless subwoofer and two rear speakers, which are also complemented by upward-firing speakers. That is, this is a full-fledged system with 7.1.4 channels. But one of the big differences that stands out between this TCL model and soundbars like the LG S95QR is the size of the main unit.
The soundbar itself has dimensions of 105 x 6.5 x 12 cm (Width x Height x Depth), which would allow it to be easily placed between the legs of a 65-inch TV. There will even be plenty of space. The same goes for the rear speakers, which are really compact, measuring 9.6 x 16 x 12 cm. As for the subwoofer, its dimensions are 24 cm wide, 36.5 cm high and 40 cm deep.
Coming back to the TCL X937U soundbar itself, we see a very sleek design with a dark gray acoustic fabric that covers almost the entire body. In the central part we have a row of buttons to control basic functions such as volume or switching source. On the other hand, there is a large LCD screen on the front where we can see the type of sound being played, input, volume and other interesting data.
On the sides of the main unit there are groove-shaped recesses that extend towards the rear, which we will see again in the satellite speakers. This part is made of plastic, but it is quite high-quality plastic, which does not detract one bit from the overall quality. If we talk about the back, all the connectors are placed in a kind of recess located in the center. The design of the subwoofer is nothing unusual. It has the usual black finish with a slightly grainy vinyl covering and rounded corners on the front. The speaker is covered with acoustic fabric. At the rear there is a bass reflex port located in the upper part of the body.
The rear speakers have the same design as the main unit. As we already mentioned, these are very compact speakers that are easy to place almost anywhere. They’re covered in the same acoustic fabric as the TCL X937U’s acoustic panel on the front and top, and at the back we see the same ribbed finish found on the main unit.
These satellites do not operate on batteries, like the JBL Bar 1000, so we will have to draw power to them. And a curious detail: each speaker has a small switch that allows us to indicate whether we have placed this speaker as left or right. Finally, a few lines about the remote control.
This is a compact remote with basic functions and buttons like almost any soundbar. There’s a button to change the input, change sound modes, apply some effects, and select the level of the surround speakers or subwoofer. But what attracts most attention to the remote is, without a doubt, its screen.
At the top there is a small display that, as a visual reinforcement, shows us the functions when we press the corresponding button. That doesn’t mean it’s entirely necessary, since the same information appears on the soundbar’s screen, but it’s an interesting detail that gives the soundbar an extra touch of modernity.
RAY DANZ technology and support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
The X937U soundbar hides some pretty interesting things under the hood. The main one is RAY-DANZ technology, which uses precisely calibrated reflectors and angle converters instead of digital processing. According to the manufacturer, this keeps much of the original sound intact and provides a more natural sound and a wider soundstage.
If we move on to the physical parameters, we can note that the main panel houses 5 of the 7 main channels: 3 regular (left, center, right) and 2 side channels. The soundbar also features dual height speakers for Atmos effects. Surround speakers, on the other hand, have one regular channel and one height speaker. Finally, there is a wireless subwoofer with an 8-inch speaker. In total, the system offers 7.1.4 channels.
In terms of formats, the X937U soundbar supports Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby MAT, DTS and DTS HD Master Audio. It can also play Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, so we can say that no “cinema” format is ignored. If we talk about playing music and audio files, the soundbar plays audio at up to 96 kHz / 24 bit via PlayFi.
Control via smartphone
To control the X937U acoustic panel, you need to install two applications. On the one hand there is the TCL Home application, with which we can manage the settings of the soundbar itself. More precisely, from this application we can see the source being used, control playback and volume, activate IA-Sonic and change audio settings.
On the other hand, as we already mentioned, the TCL X937U soundbar uses the DTS Play-Fi system as a multi-room system. This means that there is no specific TCL platform, but a third-party system used by several manufacturers. That is, we can have a multi-room system with devices from different brands.
Sound quality
Overall the sound is pretty good. The TCL X937U soundbar is capable of easily filling an average living room (about 20 sq.m.) and offers very good dynamics with a relatively balanced sound palette. The subwoofer is not very powerful, but has good pressure. Dialogue is reproduced quite accurately and can also be enhanced using the various modes available.
Dolby Atmos soundtracks have a certain openness to them and cover the room quite well. Perhaps the weakest point of the TCL X937U is the surround sound. Of course, this is the weakest point compared to other models that have rear speakers, as they will always outperform panels that don’t have surround speakers.
There are effects, but it is noticeable that the satellite speakers are very small. Voices coming from behind are much less dynamic than those heard in the main unit, and there’s also some ambiguity noticeable in the mid-high tones. If you activate the Surround Enhanced mode, the sound will improve slightly, but the surround sound effect is slightly worse than that of models such as the Samsung HW-Q990C.
Connections
Another important point of any sound system is its connectivity. The TCL X937U is equipped with two HDMI 2.1 inputs, but these are 18 Gbps. That is, they are compatible with UHD 60p, Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, but not 4K@120Hz or VRR. So again, it’s best to connect your console directly to your TV and send audio to the soundbar via an HDMIeARC connection.
At the wireless level, the panel is equipped with Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth. It is compatible with Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect and works with Google Assistant. But for a more complete streaming audio experience, TCL decided to use the DTS Play-Fi platform. This is a multi-room system used by devices such as the Audiolab Omnia.
Should you buy it?
This is a complete soundbar at a reasonable price. If we talk about official prices and forget about specific offers, we think this TCL model is much more reasonably priced than the Samsung and LG models. And while it’s true that Korean high-end models are slightly superior to TCL in terms of sound quality, the difference is small.
TCL X937U Specifications
| Sound | |
| Audio system | 7.1.4 channels |
| Total system output power | 510 W RMS |
| Subwoofer | 8″ wireless |
| Rear speakers | Yes, wireless, with power connector |
| Supported Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby MAT, DTS HD Master Audio, DTS |
| Upmix | Yes (Dolby Surround and Neural:X) |
| High Definition Audio | 96 kHz/24 bit via PlayFi |
| Streaming | DTS-PlayFi |
| Apple AirPlay | |
| Works with Google Assistant | |
| Spotify Connect | |
| Connections | |
| Possibilities | 2 HDMI 2.1 ports (18 Gbps) |
| 1 HDMI with eARC | |
| 1 optical input | |
| 1 x USB port | |
| Wireless connection | Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth |
| Dimensions | |
| Dimensions | 1040 x 58 x 110 mm (soundbar without rear speakers and subwoofer) |
| 97 x 120 x 161 mm (x2) (rear speakers) | |
| 420 x 240 x 365 mm (subwoofer) |
