Our Verdict
Okay for mixed usage. This soundbar will perform better with stereo content like audiobooks, podcasts, and some music genres. However, it lacks a bit of sub-bass, meaning it doesn’t perform well with bass-heavy music. Movies might be a bit disappointing too due to the lack of punch, but also since the bar doesn’t have height channels and doesn’t support Atmos. Overall, the Alto 7 Plus will do better on stereo content that doesn’t have too much bass thanks to a relatively neutral audio reproduction.
- Good overall sound profile.
- Good for dialogue content.
- Well-built design.
- No DTS support.
- Lacks bass.
- Doesn't perform that well at max volume.
Decent for dialogue. This soundbar has a fairly neutral audio reproduction but lacks a bit of bass. This won’t impact the accurate and clean reproduction of voices and dialogue in movies. The bar can also get pretty loud and you can stream audio content like audiobooks and podcasts easily thanks to its Bluetooth compatibility. You can also use the News Mode, which acts as a dialogue enhancement feature to make voices even clearer.
Okay for music. The Alto 7 Plus has a decent overall sound profile, but it lacks a bit of bass, which means it won’t be the best option for bass-heavy genres like EDM, dubstep, and hip-hop. The bar can also get pretty loud, but there are some compression artifacts, especially in the bass range. Also, the soundstage is pretty narrow and there’s no way to customize the bar's sound profile, which is disappointing. On the upside, you can easily stream music via Bluetooth.
Sub-par for movies. This bar lacks bass and won't give you an immersive feel as it doesn't do well with surround channels. The soundstage is also fairly narrow and it doesn't have height channels. All 5.1 content will be downmixed to stereo due to its 2.1 configuration. It also lacks a room correction feature, so it might perform differently depending on your room. On the upside, the bar can get loud with stereo content, but there’s audible compression in the bass range.
Changelog
- Updated Apr 08, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Sep 27, 2019: Review published.
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Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The TCL Alto 7+ is a decent budget soundbar that is surprisingly well-built for its price range. It has a fairly neutral sound profile and can get pretty loud, but compresses at max volume, especially in the bass range. This setup comes with a wireless subwoofer, which is rarer at this price point. See our recommendations for the best soundbars under $300, the best budget soundbars, and the best soundbars under $200.
The Yamaha YAS-207 is better than the TCL Alto 7+. Its audio reproduction is more accurate and great, and it performs better at max volume, although it is a bit quieter than the TCL. It has a Full HDMI In port and supports DTS as well, which the TCL lacks. On the other hand, the TCL is surprisingly well-built and doesn't have any fabric on the bar.
The TCL Alto 7+ is a better soundbar than the TCL Alto 5+. They're quite similar in design, although the 7+ is a bit bigger. Even if the Alto 5+ has a smaller sub, it gives you a lot of bass, resulting in a more dark sound profile than the 7+. The 7+ also gets louder, but compresses a lot at max volume, which the 5+ doesn't do. The Alto 7+ has an HDMI ARC port, which the 5+ lacks.
The overall performance of the TCL Alto 7+ is very similar to that of the Yamaha YAS-108/ATS-1080. Both lack a bit of sub-bass, even if the Yamaha has two built-in subs and the 7+ has a dedicated wireless subwoofer. The TCL gets louder but you get more compression artifacts at max volume. On the other hand, the Yamaha has better connectivity options and supports DTS, on top of having a Full HDMI In port, which the TCL doesn't have.
Even without a wireless subwoofer, the Sonos Playbar is a better option than the TCL Alto 7+. The bass performance isn't impacted much by the lack of subwoofer, and the general sound profile is well-balanced. It also doesn't compress as much as the TCL and has a great and wide soundstage. The Sonos also has a 3.0 configuration, which means it has a dedicated center channel for clearer voices and dialogue. On the other hand, the TCL has an HDMI ARC port and supports Bluetooth, while the Sonos can only play content wirelessly via Wi-Fi.
Test Results
