Best Buy Cuts 98-inch Hisense QD5 to $999, 57% Off for FIFA World Cup

Q: As streaming services adopt new audio, is this TV the key to unlocking the full IMAX sound experience at home?

Yes — for now, a TV like TCL’s QM8L is one of the key ways to unlock the newest IMAX-style streaming audio at home, but it is not enough by itself to deliver the full experience. The reason is technical. Disney+ and other services are beginning to use DTS:X for Streaming for IMAX Enhanced titles. As of June 2026, TVs are the only playback devices known to transcode that streaming DTS:X format for existing AV receivers and surround processors. That makes an IMAX Enhanced TV unusually important in the signal chain. The QM8L is well positioned for that role. It supports IMAX Enhanced, DTS:X, Dolby Atmos, and eARC, so it can pass high-quality audio to a compatible soundbar or AVR. Its built-in Bang & Olufsen speaker system, Dolby Atmos virtual surround, and FlexConnect features should sound better than typical TV audio, but they still do not replace a dedicated surround setup. So the QM8L can be the gateway to IMAX Enhanced sound from streaming services, especially right now when TV-based transcoding matters. But the “full IMAX sound experience” still depends on the rest of the system: a compatible AVR or soundbar, proper speaker layout, and content actually offered in IMAX Enhanced with DTS:X. In short, the QM8L is a strong enabler — and arguably one of the most practical current options — but the full payoff comes only with external audio gear.

3 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jun 11

$999 buys Best Buy’s 98-inch Hisense QD5 after a $1,300 markdown, positioning the set as a World Cup watch-party deal at the tournament’s kickoff.
The appeal centers on premium-style specs at a budget price: a 144Hz native refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
Hisense also bundles broad smart-home and casting support, including Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri compatibility.
The sale follows another Best Buy TV push earlier Thursday, when it discounted TCL QM8L models by as much as $1,000, underscoring a broader big-screen promotion.