The TCL Alto 3 is a 2.0 setup with a small, compact design. It's Bluetooth-compatible, so you can stream audio from your phone or tablet to the bar wirelessly. However, it doesn't have a very versatile performance. It doesn't support Dolby Atmos, and it doesn't have a lot of physical inputs or customization features. Although it's light on extra features and offers an uneven sound profile pretty lacking in low-bass, it's an affordable choice that's best-suited for vocal-centric content.
Our Verdict
The TCL Alto 3 is bad for mixed usage. Its uneven sound profile is lacking a lot of low bass, but its balanced mid-range is suitable for vocal-centric content like TV shows. Due to its small size, it doesn't get very loud. It also doesn't support Atmos content, and it downmixes surround content into stereo, which isn't as immersive.
- Three EQ presets.
- Doesn't support Atmos.
- Downmixes surround into stereo.
- Lacks low-bass.
- Doesn't get very loud.
The TCL Alto 3 is poor for dialogue and TV shows. This 2.0 setup has a phantom center channel, which doesn't sound as clear or real as a dedicated center channel. On the upside, its balanced mid-range is suitable for dialogue-centric content, and its TV preset doubles as a dialogue enhancement feature. While you can wirelessly stream audio from your phone to the bar over Bluetooth, unfortunately, the bar doesn't get very loud.
- Three EQ presets.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- No auto-volume mode.
The TCL Alto 3 is poor for music. Its sound profile isn't very balanced. It's lacking a lot of low bass, which is disappointing for fans of bass-heavy music genres like EDM. Also, its underemphasized treble hurts the detail and clarity of vocals and lead instruments. However, its balanced mid-range is suitable for vocal-centric content. It also has a few EQ presets to help you customize its sound.
- Three EQ presets.
- Lacks low-bass.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- No graphic EQ.
The TCL Alto 3 is bad for movies. It doesn't support Dolby Atmos content, and it has to downmix surround content into stereo, which doesn't sound as immersive. Its sound profile isn't very balanced, either, as it's lacking a lot of low-bass, and action-packed scenes don't feel very thumpy or punchy as a result. Also, it doesn't get very loud, likely due to its small size.
- Three EQ presets.
- Doesn't support Atmos.
- Downmixes surround into stereo.
- Doesn't get very loud.
Changelog
- Updated Jan 25, 2024: Added market comparison with the Creative Stage to the Sound Enhancement Features box.
- Updated Jan 12, 2024: Added market comparison for the TCL Alto 6 in the Stereo Frequency Response box.
- Updated Apr 02, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Nov 30, 2020: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The TCL Alto 3 comes in one color variant: 'Black'. You can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version of this soundbar, let us know in the discussions.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The TCL Alto 3 is a cheap 2.0 soundbar with a small, compact design. It's Bluetooth-compatible, and its balanced mid-range makes it ideal for listening to vocal-centric content like podcasts and TV shows. However, its overall sound profile is uneven, and it lacks a lot of low-bass. It doesn't have built-in support for Roku TVs like other soundbars from TCL's 2020 lineup, either.
See also our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best soundbars under $100, and the best small soundbars.
The Bose TV Speaker is a better soundbar than the TCL Alto 3. The Bose is better built, and its sound profile is more neutral and balanced, making it suitable for a wider range of audio content. However, the TCL has a few EQ presets, which the Bose lacks.
The BOMAKER Odine II is a better soundbar than the TCL Alto 3. The BOMAKER gets louder, and it has a better-balanced sound profile, though both bars have a dark sound that's lacking low-bass. However, the TCL is better-built, and unlike the BOMAKER, it can play surround content, though it has to downmix it to stereo.
The TCL Alto 5 is a better soundbar than the TCL Alto 3. The Alto 5 is better-built, and it has a wider soundstage. It also has a more balanced sound profile, though both soundbars are lacking low-bass. However, neither soundbar supports Dolby Atmos or has a lot of physical inputs or sound enhancement features.
The TCL Alto 9+ is a better soundbar than the TCL Alto 3. The Alto 9+ comes with a dedicated subwoofer, and it has a better-balanced sound profile. As a 3.1 setup, the Alto 9+ comes with a dedicated center channel, unlike the 2.0 Alto 3, and it supports Atmos content. It also has a Full HDMI In port, and it supports more wireless playback options.
Test Results
