Updated 26 Oct 2026
Is the TCL A65K worth it?
Yes — for a smaller room.
The bar is only about 5cm deep and weighs barely 1kg, yet with its wireless sub it plays loud and full, and acoustic music sounds clear. It has up-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, HDMI eARC, Bluetooth and USB, and its AI Sonic setup tunes the sound to your room with your phone. It's too small to fill a big room, overhead and surround effects don't convince, some music sounds muddy, voices can get lost in loud films until you raise the centre channel, and there's no Wi-Fi streaming.
Good to know
- Surround and overhead effects are weak.
- Some music sounds washed out and muddy.
- Voices can drown under film music until you raise the centre level.
- Bluetooth only: no Wi-Fi, and an old USB-A port.
- Very slim bar with a wireless sub
- Real up-firing Atmos drivers, tuned by Bang & Olufsen
- Room tuning with your phone
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Get it if…
- Your room or TV is on the small side.
- You want a slim bar that won't block the screen.
- You mostly watch TV and play music.
Skip it if…
- You want convincing surround and overhead sound.
- You want Wi-Fi or AirPlay streaming.
- Your living room is large.
More on the TCL A65K
How we reached this verdict
WIRED gives it 7/10: compact, light, great with acoustic music and very good at tuning itself to the room, but surround sound is lacking and some music sounds muddy. It won an EISA Award for 2026–2027, where the jury praised its involving sound from a 50mm-deep bar, punchy bass from the sub and easy HDMI eARC setup.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: WIRED, EISA, TCL (specs), RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, What Hi-Fi, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 26 Oct 2026How we decide