Cons
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Sound is bass heavy
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No Wi-Fi
The TCL Q Class 3.1 actually simply must sound higher than the audio system in your TCL TV. And it undoubtedly does.
In regards to the TCL Q Class Q6310
Credit score:
Reviewed / Timothy
The TCL Q6310 contains the soundbar and a subwoofer, however no separate encompass audio system.
- Value: $249.99
- Dimensions (HWD): 2.7 x 35.4 x 3.9 inches (soundbar); 14.4 x 9.8 x 9.7 inches (subwoofer)
- Weight: 5.1 kilos (soundbar); 12.3 kilos (subwoofer)
- Audio system/drivers: 6 whole audio system; one 5.5-inch subwoofer
- Wi-fi connection: Bluetooth 5.2
- Wired connection: One HDMI eARC/ARC, one HDMI enter, one digital optical enter, one 3.5mm auxiliary enter, one 3.5mm stereo enter, one USB enter
- Sound codecs: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital+, DTS Digital:X
- Video assist: 4K HDR/Dolby Imaginative and prescient passthrough
What we like
Fast setup
Credit score:
Reviewed / Timothy
There’s not rather a lot within the field, but it surely’s all you want for a fast setup.
As needs to be anticipated, the TCL Q Class 3.1 comes with every part wanted to unbox, arrange, and begin having fun with the soundbar. That features an HDMI cable, energy cables for each the soundbar and wi-fi subwoofer, and an non-compulsory wall mount package. There’s even AAA batteries for the soundbar’s distant, which isn’t as normal of a courtesy as you may count on.
The marginally costlier TCL Q6510 5.1 system contains two rear audio system that have to be related to the system’s subwoofer. You lose encompass sound with the three.1, however you get to skip the trouble of discovering a spot for these satellite tv for pc audio system to dwell in your room. It’s really a plug-and-play course of which, on this case, is a very engaging perk for TCL’s goal demographic.
It sounds first rate general
Credit score:
Reviewed / Timothy Renzi
Whereas the Q6310 does not ship totally immersive sound, it is nonetheless a pleasant step up from TV audio system.
For $250, the TCL Q Class 3.1 doesn’t have to fret about standing as much as heavy hitters just like the Sonos Arc, Samsung HW-Q990B, or frankly most different choice on our checklist of finest soundbars. It actually simply must sound higher than the audio system within the TCL TV that you just in all probability purchased alongside the soundbar.
The excellent news is, it undoubtedly does. The devoted middle channel driver helps the Q Class 3.1 succeed with sitcoms like Seinfeld and documentaries like Netflix’s Arnold. Motion films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 gained’t blow you away from an audio perspective, however the Q Class 3.1 hits all of the notes. There’s simply element lacking in some areas (primarily the midrange), and a few overcompensation in others just like the bass—however extra on that later.
Music was extra of the identical, with Chris Stapleton’s “Pleasure of My Life,” that doesn’t lean on low finish, sounding considerably higher than ones that do, akin to Kendrick Lamar’s “DNA”. For one thing extra dynamic at an identical worth, the Klipsch Cinema 400 is a compelling choice, although you do lose a middle channel speaker. In any other case, the TCL exhibits as much as class simply sufficient to get a passing grade within the sound division, which is all it actually must do.
It’s easy to regulate
Credit score:
Reviewed / Timothy Renzi
The soundbar may be managed by the included distant.
TCL’s included distant is slick, and it has a couple of buttons that make it simple to execute easy sound changes on the fly. The Degree button permits you to improve or lower bass and treble (do not forget that in a minute) and proper subsequent to it, Mode will customise the sound primarily based on the content material you’re throwing its manner. Voice boosts dialogue in dramas or documentaries, Music optimizes the soundbar for, properly, music, Film tunes it for films…you get the purpose.
To the fitting of Mode is Impact which is considerably just like the previous, however you’ll be able to toggle a number of Impact settings (like Bass Enhance, DTS Digital: X, Dialogue Enhancement) on or off independently.
Lastly, the AI Sonic triggers an computerized room calibration characteristic that’s supposed to regulate the sound to your particular area. I didn’t discover an excessive amount of of a bump with this setting, and the identical goes for DTS Digital:X, which supposedly provides a three-dimensional layer to your sound. Each of those options are particular to the area the soundbar is in, nonetheless, so take this underwhelming take a look at run with a grain of salt.
What we don’t like
The sound is just too bass heavy
Credit score:
Reviewed /
Bass response is usually a bit overbearing and canopy the midrange.
As I’ve alluded to, the TCL Q Class 3.1’s 6.5-inch subwoofer is, for essentially the most half, attempting too laborious to be the star of the present. Too typically, it provides an annoying quantity of bass at inopportune instances, each with streaming content material like films and TV and listening to music.
In the event you’re a bass lover, this might develop into factor. However if you happen to’re on the seek for well-balanced sound, it’s finest to decrease the soundbar’s bass ranges considerably to deliver extra of an emphasis to the “3” of the three.1-channel system.
Bluetooth may be spotty
This isn’t one thing that I expertise fairly often, however the soundbar’s Bluetooth reference to my Google Pixel 6a was, at instances, hit-and-miss. I was capable of simply stream music to my TCL TV by way of Chromecast, so I gained’t knock it an excessive amount of. Nevertheless it was nonetheless a small nuisance to my expertise with the bar general.
There’s no Wi-Fi
Plain and easy, the TCL Q Class 3.1 doesn’t have Wi-Fi. For $250, possibly that’s not an absolute necessity for a soundbar that’s almost certainly related to a sensible TV. However for crying out loud, I’ve a $50 microwave on my Wi-FI community. Together with Wi-Fi in a soundbar, even when just for the aim of occasional software program updates, needs to be a no brainer at this level.
Do you have to purchase the TCL Q Class Q6310?
Credit score:
Reviewed / Timothy Renzi
The TCL Q6310 is a step above sound you may get from TV audio system, however if you happen to’re not a bass lover, you need to have a look at different choices.
Perhaps, if you need bass on a price range
For all intents and functions, the TCL Q Class 3.1 is the system that it must be. It units up immediately, is straightforward to regulate, and sounds first rate for a worth that makes it an accessible accent when shopping for a brand new (in all probability TCL) TV. That’s all TCL constructed it to be, and it’s all you need to ever ask it to be.
In the event you’re asking for extra—say, detailed, balanced sound that doesn’t blast the bass—each the Klipsch Cinema 400 and Vizio V21-H8 can be acceptable options in an identical worth vary, though you lose a devoted middle channel speaker with each choices. In the event you can afford a bump within the price range, the Bose Sensible Soundbar 600 provides nice sound and streaming choices like Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Wi-Fi into the fold.
The gist is that this: If you’d like an inexpensive, secure wager of a soundbar to sit down beneath your model new TCL TV and provides your viewing expertise a lift in audio high quality, the TCL Q Class 3.1 can deal with the gig. However for something exterior of that, it shouldn’t give up its day job.
TCL Q Class 3.1 Soundbar
Carry within the bass with the the Q Class 3.1 Soundbar that comes paired with a wi-fi subwoofer and 6.5” bass speaker for a robust listening expertise.
$180 at Finest Purchase
Meet the tester
Nick Woodard is a tech journalist specializing in all issues associated to house theater and A/V. His background features a strong basis as a sports activities author for a number of day by day newspapers, and he enjoys climbing and mountain biking in his spare time.
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