The TCL X937U sits at the top of TCL’s soundbar range as a 7.1.4-channel system aimed at users who want a more complete home-cinema layout without assembling a traditional AV receiver and speaker package. Its appeal is not only the number of channels, but the way TCL packages the system: a slim main bar, a wireless subwoofer, separate rear speakers, upward-firing drivers, HDMI eARC, major cinema audio formats and DTS Play-Fi streaming support. For a living room built around a modern television, the X937U is intended to deliver a broader, more flexible sound system while keeping installation relatively straightforward.
A complete soundbar system, not just a front speaker
The most important thing to understand about the TCL X937U is that it is a multi-box system. The main soundbar carries five of the seven horizontal channels, including left, center, right and side channels, while also incorporating two upward-firing height speakers. The supplied rear speakers each add a surround channel and a height channel, and the wireless subwoofer handles low-frequency duties with an 8-inch driver. Together, this creates a documented 7.1.4-channel layout.
That configuration matters because immersive movie and television soundtracks are not built only around left and right sound. They use center-channel information for dialogue, surround information for ambience and rear effects, and height information for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X mixes. By including separate rear speakers and dedicated height channels, the X937U offers a more physically complete approach than a one-piece bar that relies entirely on virtualization.
For prospective owners, this also means the system is designed to suit a room where the television is the main entertainment hub. It avoids the complexity of choosing individual speakers and an AV receiver, but it still gives the user a front soundstage, rear effects, bass support and overhead effects in one matched package.
Slim main-bar design with practical placement in mind
The X937U’s main bar is approximately 104 to 105 cm wide, with a relatively low profile and modest depth. That size is significant because it makes the unit easier to place with large televisions, including around 65-inch sets, without demanding a wide equipment rack or specialized furniture. The soundbar’s dark gray acoustic fabric and restrained industrial design are also in line with a product intended to sit visibly below a screen without drawing attention away from it.
TCL has included basic controls on the main unit, including volume and source switching, which is useful if the remote is not immediately available. A large front display provides information such as input, volume and audio type. That display is a practical addition because soundbars can otherwise be opaque in daily use; knowing whether the unit is receiving the intended source or format can make setup and troubleshooting easier.
The design language extends to the rear speakers, which use similar acoustic fabric and a compact form. Their small dimensions make them easier to position on side tables, shelves or stands than larger surround speakers. They are not battery-powered, however, so each rear speaker requires access to power. That is an important installation detail: the absence of speaker cables back to the soundbar simplifies placement, but the need for mains power still has to be planned.
RAY-DANZ technology and immersive-format support
One of the X937U’s distinctive engineering features is TCL’s RAY-DANZ technology. Rather than relying only on digital processing to create a sense of width, the system uses calibrated reflectors and angled acoustic paths. TCL’s stated approach is to preserve more of the original signal while helping create a wider presentation from the main soundbar. For users, the value of this design is that it attempts to address one of the central challenges of a soundbar: producing a broad front stage from a compact enclosure.
Format support is another strong part of the product’s specification. The X937U supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, alongside Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby MAT, DTS and DTS-HD Master Audio. It also supports upmixing through Dolby Surround and Neural:X. This matters because different sources deliver sound in different ways. Streaming services, Blu-ray players, media boxes and game consoles may output different codecs, and a soundbar with wide format compatibility is less likely to become a bottleneck in a mixed system.
The system can also handle high-definition audio up to 96 kHz/24-bit via Play-Fi. That does not turn the product into a dedicated two-channel hi-fi component, but it does make the X937U more useful for people who expect their living-room audio system to handle both films and music playback.
Connectivity for modern TV-based systems
The TCL X937U includes two HDMI 2.1 inputs rated at 18 Gbps, plus an HDMI eARC connection. The HDMI inputs support UHD 60p, Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, which is useful for users connecting video sources through the bar. However, they do not support 4K at 120 Hz or VRR. That distinction matters particularly for current-generation gaming consoles and gaming PCs, where the most capable connection route may be directly into a compatible television, with audio returned to the soundbar over HDMI eARC.
The presence of eARC is valuable because it allows modern televisions to send higher-bandwidth audio formats back to the soundbar from apps and connected devices, depending on the capabilities of the TV and source. The X937U also includes an optical input and a USB port, giving it additional options for older televisions or simpler audio connections.
Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth. The system supports Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect and Google Assistant compatibility, broadening its role beyond TV sound. For households where the soundbar is likely to be used for casual listening, streaming services and multi-room playback, these wireless features are central to its everyday usefulness.
App control, Play-Fi and a more informative remote
TCL uses two app paths with the X937U. The TCL Home app handles soundbar management, including source visibility, playback and volume control, IA-Sonic activation and audio settings. The use of an app for deeper settings is common in current soundbars, and it can be more convenient than navigating multiple button combinations on a remote.
For multi-room audio, the X937U uses DTS Play-Fi. This is notable because Play-Fi is not limited to TCL devices; it is a third-party platform used by several manufacturers. In practical terms, that gives the soundbar a route into a wider multi-room ecosystem, which may matter to owners who already have compatible products or who prefer not to be locked into a single-brand wireless audio platform.
The supplied remote also has a small display at the top. Since the soundbar itself has a front display, the remote screen is not essential, but it is a thoughtful usability detail. It gives visual feedback when adjusting inputs, sound modes, effects, surround level or subwoofer level. For a system with multiple channels and operating modes, that extra confirmation can reduce guesswork.
Who the TCL X937U is most suitable for
The X937U is best suited to users who want an immersive living-room sound system with real rear speakers, a wireless subwoofer and broad cinema-format support, but who do not want the space, cabling or component matching involved in a separate AV receiver system. It is especially relevant for TV-centered rooms where Dolby Atmos and DTS:X playback, HDMI eARC and streaming convenience are priorities.
It will also appeal to owners of larger televisions who want a main bar that remains visually understated and physically manageable. The compact rear speakers are useful for rooms where full-size surrounds would be intrusive, although the need for power sockets near those speakers should be considered before purchase.
The system is less specifically aimed at users whose main priority is 4K/120 Hz or VRR passthrough from game consoles through the soundbar. In those systems, connecting the console directly to the TV and using eARC for audio is the more appropriate layout. It is also not a substitute for a fully configurable component-based cinema system for users who want to choose every speaker and amplifier separately.
Conclusion
The TCL X937U’s strongest documented qualities are its complete 7.1.4-channel architecture, support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, separate rear speakers with height channels, wireless subwoofer, RAY-DANZ acoustic design, HDMI eARC, DTS Play-Fi streaming and practical control options. It is an especially compelling concept for home-theater users who want a fuller surround layout than a single soundbar can provide, while keeping the system compact, coordinated and relatively simple to integrate with a modern television.
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