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The TCL Alto 8i is easy to set up and produces dialogue clearly. It’s great if you’re on a budget, have a small space, or aren’t a bass enthusiast. But the poor latency, imbalanced sound profile, and weak Atmos and surround sound hamper immersion.
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Table of Contents
Product Snapshot
Overview
The TCL Alto 8i is an entry-level 2.1-channel soundbar that boasts Dolby Atmos, providing immersive audio. Released in 2021, this system has a number of music enhancement features, including three equalizer presets as well as bass and treble adjustments.
The soundbar doesn’t have a dedicated subwoofer, relying instead on two inferior built-in subwoofers, which unfortunately don’t reproduce the deep extended low bass.
The surround performance is mediocre too, so it doesn’t have a very wide 3D soundstage for directional movie content. Find better surround systems on our list of the top-rated speakers on the market today.
The TCL Alto 8i also has a high latency, so there is some visible delay between the audio and video feeds during dialogue. Although it supports Dolby Atmos, the performance is unfortunately subpar.
It has an incredible range of connectivity options that include HDMI ARC, optical, 3.5 mm, full HDMI In, and USB. However, wireless connectivity options are limited to Bluetooth.
The system gets remarkably loud, achieving a top output of 95.1 dB. Continue reading our TCL Alto 8i review and check out the top soundbars on the market today.
Consensus
our Verdict
The TCL Alto 8i connects without issues and has no unwanted background noises, but despite wired connectivity, the audio sync isn’t seamless.
Latency is poor, so the audio sometimes takes a few seconds to begin after resuming a video. The sound profile is a bit imbalanced, with bass that isn’t thumpy but has balanced mids for clear vocals.
Although the soundstage is wider than the soundbar, it has an average performance. The sounds don’t feel precise, and the Atmos is weak.
The easy-to-use remote also has access to EQ presets, and the soundbar’s primarily-plastic build feels durable. With no additional components, the soundbar’s setup and connection are seamless.
It responds promptly to commands, and the EQ is simple to adjust, but there’s no smartphone integration.
ReasonS to Buy
Hassle-free connection and no odd noises
Clear mids for dialogue clarity
Easy-to-use remote
Sturdy plastic build
Sturdy plastic build
Reason to Avoid
Poor latency
Imabalanced sound profile
Poor surround soundstage
Weak Atmos
Thin fabric on the soundbar
No smartphone integration
TCL Alto 8i Specs
Bluetooth Enabled
Yes
Depth
5"
Dialogue Enhancement Feature
No
Energy Star Certified
No
HDMI ARC
Yes
Height
2.6"
Number of Audio Channels
2.1
Subwoofer
Build-in
Surround Sound Supported
Dolby Atmos
Voice Assistant
na
Wall Mountable
Yes
Weight
6.4 lbs
Width
39.4"
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth
Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity
Yes
Works With
Bluetooth, Remote Control
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Soundbars based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
Low End Roll Off (Hz)
62.586
High End Roll Off (Hz)
18,780.242
Max Volume Test (db)
95.1
Latency (ms)
158
THD @ 80dB
0.61
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The TCL Alto 8i is an entry-level 2.1-channel soundbar that boasts Dolby Atmos, providing immersive audio. Released in 2021, this system has a number of…
The TCL Alto 8i is an entry-level 2.1-channel soundbar that boasts Dolby Atmos, providing immersive audio. Released in 2021, this system has a number of music enhancement features, including three equalizer presets as well as bass and treble adjustments.
The soundbar doesn’t have a dedicated subwoofer, relying instead on two inferior built-in subwoofers, which unfortunately don’t reproduce the deep extended low bass.
The surround performance is mediocre too, so it doesn’t have a very wide 3D soundstage for directional movie content. Find better surround systems on our list of the top-rated speakers on the market today.
The TCL Alto 8i also has a high latency, so there is some visible delay between the audio and video feeds during dialogue. Although it supports Dolby Atmos, the performance is unfortunately subpar.
It has an incredible range of connectivity options that include HDMI ARC, optical, 3.5 mm, full HDMI In, and USB. However, wireless connectivity options are limited to Bluetooth.
The system gets remarkably loud, achieving a top output of 95.1 dB. Continue reading our TCL Alto 8i review and check out the top soundbars on the market today.
With a 3.1 setup and a dedicated subwoofer, the TCL Alto 9+ produces more immersive music and movie content than the TCL Alto 8i, which…
With a 3.1 setup and a dedicated subwoofer, the TCL Alto 9+ produces more immersive music and movie content than the TCL Alto 8i, which has a 2.1 format. It also supports Wi-Fi streaming, unlike the TCL Alto 8i. You can learn more about the 3.1-channel soundbar in our TCL Alto 8+ review now.
With a dialogue enhancement feature, the TCL Alto 8+ is better for TV shows than the TCL Alto 8i, which doesn’t have such a feature….
With a dialogue enhancement feature, the TCL Alto 8+ is better for TV shows than the TCL Alto 8i, which doesn’t have such a feature. It also has a built-in Amazon Fire TV player, which is not available with the TCL Alto 8i. On the other hand, the TCL Alto 8i supports Dolby Atmos and offers for 4K pass-through, unlike the TCL Alto 8+. If you need to learn more about the Amazon Fire TV streamer-equipped device, check out our TCL Alto 9+ review today.
Supporting Dolby Atmos, The TCL Alto 8i is better for movies than the Vizio M-Series m21d-H8R, which doesn’t support Dolby Atmos. On the other hand,…
Supporting Dolby Atmos, The TCL Alto 8i is better for movies than the Vizio M-Series m21d-H8R, which doesn’t support Dolby Atmos. On the other hand, the Vizio M-Series m21d-H8R features better build quality.
