TCL A65K Soundbar Review: Small Size, Big Sound

All of the power output isn’t bad, though. On “Want Want” by Maggie Rogers, I was struck by the subtle, subtle tone of the sub. On “So Neurotic” by the band Ex-Vöid, I was expecting a full blast when the guitars came through, but it’s loud, jangly, and clear. “Spangled” by Fust’s band had some bone-crushing bass coming through the sub.

Sports, Games, and News

Photo: John Brandon

For video games, the lack of room-filling surround sound was especially noticeable. Similar to movies and TV shows, games Forza Horizon 6 it’s supposed to bombard you with engine noise and exhaust, but it all sounds too thin and not wide enough. Admittedly, the game doesn’t take full advantage of Dolby Atmos, but I wasn’t impressed at all. oomph.

That is until I tried it Halo: Infinite. Laser blasts, strange screeching, and loud explosions seemed to be coming from several directions in the room. I still missed the cacophony of Atmos-powered sound from high-end soundbars like the Sonos Arc.

I switched games for a while, and started watching NBA games using the YouTube TV app. The loudspeakers were easy to hear, but the noise from the crowd was like a low hum, almost like using a noise generator. All you want is to feel like you are at the game and you can hear people screaming and yelling during the broadcast. The news program on my local Fox station sounded clear, however. It’s no surprise because the A65K has enough power and exceptional drivers, even if the ambient noise is so-so.

In the end, I felt that the TCL A65K matched my expectations. It is small enough to fit in the kitchen or next to the small television. It is much cheaper than the cheaper models that provide room-filling house sound. Most of the music I played to test the music sounded pleasant if not too loud and room-filling. If your goal is to save space without paying too much, the TCL A65K is a compact and heavy-duty choice.