The TCL Alto 5 is a very budget-friendly stereo 2.0 soundbar. It's quite similar to the TCL Alto 5+; however, it doesn't have a subwoofer. This results in a lack of low-bass and it can't really reproduce deep thump and rumble, which is quite sub-par but expected. There's also a bit of compression when pushing the bar to its maximum volume, especially in the bass range. On the upside, it can still get decently loud without distorting and the rest of its sound signature is fairly well-balanced. It's also quite surprisingly well-built for its affordable price point.
Our Verdict
The TCL Alto 5 is a mediocre soundbar. This 2.0 stereo system is pretty barebones and doesn't offer great performance overall. It lacks a subwoofer, so its bass performance isn't the best. It also doesn't support any height channels so it can't play Atmos movies. On the upside, it can play surround files, although it downmixes it back to stereo to be able to play it. It's also very well-built for its cheap price point, which is a pretty good option if you just want to upgrade from your TV speakers.
- Good build quality; surprising for the price.
- Decently well-balanced sound profile.
- Lacks bass due to no subwoofer.
- Not a lot of customization options.
The TCL Alto 5 is a good soundbar for dialogue-oriented content and TV shows. The mid-range is very well-balanced, so voices are clearly reproduced and they aren't drowned out by the bass as this soundbar lacks a subwoofer. You can also use the News EQ preset to enhance even more dialogue.
- Good build quality; surprising for the price.
- Decently well-balanced sound profile.
- Dialogue enhancement feature with the News EQ preset.
- Not a lot of customization options.
The TCL Alto 5 is a mediocre soundbar for music. It lacks a lot of bass, so it won't be ideal for bass-heavy content and might sound a bit too thin for some. Also, objects aren't separated well in the stereo soundstage; everything seems to be coming from the center of the bar rather than from the left and right speakers. On the upside, the overall sound profile is fairly well-balanced, which can be good for other music genres. You can also easily stream your music via Bluetooth, which is useful.
- Good build quality; surprising for the price.
- Decently well-balanced sound profile.
- Bluetooth compatibility.
- Lacks bass due to no subwoofer.
- Not a lot of customization options.
The TCL Alto 5 is a pretty bad soundbar for movies, although it's not designed for this use. It's a 2.0 system that downmixes surround content to stereo and that doesn't support Atmos. On the upside, the sound profile is well-balanced, but action movies may feel a bit dull to the poor bass performance of the bar.
- Good build quality; surprising for the price.
- Decently well-balanced sound profile.
- Lacks bass due to no subwoofer.
- Lacks Atmos support.
- Not a lot of customization options.
- Poor surround sound performance.
Changelog
- Updated Apr 09, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Sep 21, 2020: The Dynamics tests have been reconducted due to a value input bug.
- Updated Jun 11, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Jun 08, 2020: Early access published.
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Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The TCL Alto 5 is a very straightforward stereo soundbar that's very affordable. It stands out for its good build quality for such an affordable price point. It may not have the same amount of bass as the TCL Alto 5+, but this is to be expected since it doesn't have a subwoofer. Overall, it's a versatile option if you're on a tight budget as it can play surround files, which some soundbars around the same price can't do, like the Vizio SB2020n-G6. For more options, see our recommendations for the best budget soundbars, the best soundbars overall, and if you want something for movies, check out the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.
The TCL Alto 5 is a better stereo 2.0 soundbar than the Vizio SB2020n-G6. It supports surround channels while the Vizio can't, which makes a big difference for movie watchers. It's also slightly better built. On the other hand, if you only want to watch some stereo content, the Vizio has a better-balanced bass, although its overall sound profile lacks a bit of detail in higher frequencies.
The Bose Solo 5 and the TCL Alto 5 perform quite similarly, but the Bose has a bit more bass and is easier to fit in most setups due to its smaller size. On the other hand, the TCL has a few EQ presets, unlike the Bose.
The TCL Alto 5 and the TCL Alto 5+ are pretty much the same soundbar, but the 5+ comes with a powerful wireless subwoofer. Therefore, it has a much more present bass, although it's overdone a bit and the overall sound profile is very boomy and cluttered. If you listen to a lot of bass-heavy content, go with the Alto 5+, but if you're on a tighter budget and mainly want to upgrade your TV speakers for stereo TV shows or the news, the Alto 5 is a better option.
The Sony HT-S100F may be a better option for most people over the TCL Alto 5. The Sony has an HDMI ARC port, which makes it a bit more versatile to plug-in devices, while the TCL only supports surround content via optical. The Sony also gets noticeably louder than the TCL. However, the TCL soundbar feels a bit more premium, thanks to the front grille covering the speakers, and it even comes with wall-mounting brackets, which the Sony doesn't have.
Test Results
