The TCL Alto 8+ Fire TV Edition is a 2.1 setup with a built-in subwoofer. It gives you access to the Amazon Fire TV 4k streaming media player, which organizes your streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Now into one place via your TV. Thanks to its balanced mid-range, it's ideal for listening to dialogue-heavy content like podcasts and TV shows. However, it doesn't support Atmos content or 4k passthrough, and it downmixes surround content into stereo. On the upside, once it's connected to your TV, you can use this soundbar to access sound customization options like a dialogue enhancement feature, an auto-volume mode, and EQ presets.
Note: It seems that TCL has discontinued this version of the TCL 8+. In 2021, the manufacturer released the TCL Alto 8+ (TS8212), which is a 2.1.2 setup, and the TCL Alto 8+ (TS813), which is a 3.1.2 setup. Our results aren't representative for these setups.
Our Verdict
The TCL Alto 8+ is mediocre for mixed usage. Out-of-the-box, it has a well-balanced and neutral mid-range that makes it ideal for reproducing dialogue-heavy content like TV shows and podcasts. This soundbar supports surround content, though it downmixes it to stereo, and it doesn't support Atmos content, which isn't ideal if you watch a lot of movies. However, it has some sound customization features, including dialogue enhancement and three EQ presets to help you adjust the sound to your liking.
- Three EQ presets.
- Bluetooth compatible.
- Doesn't support Atmos.
- Lacking low-bass.
- Compression artifacts at max volume.
The TCL Alto 8+ is decent for dialogue and TV shows. It's very neutral and balanced in the mid-range, which is ideal for reproducing voices and dialogue clearly and accurately. There's even a dialogue enhancement feature to help make voices sound more clear and crisp. You can also stream your favorite podcasts and audiobooks to the bar using Bluetooth. It can get reasonably loud, though there are some compression artifacts present at max volume. Unfortunately, this 2.1 soundbar doesn't have a dedicated center channel, so its phantom center doesn't sound quite as clear and real as a discrete setup.
- Dialogue enhancement feature.
- Bluetooth compatible.
- Compression artifacts at max volume.
- Not Wi-Fi compatible.
The TCL Alto 8+ is acceptable for music. Out-of-the-box, its sound profile is a bit punchy and boomy, but it's still suitable for many music genres. That said, though it has a subwoofer integrated into the bar, it lacks low-bass, so fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop may be disappointed by the lack of thump in the mix. On the upside, it has some sound enhancement features to help you customize the sound to your liking, including three EQ presets.
- Three EQ presets.
- Balanced, neutral mid and treble ranges.
- Bluetooth compatible.
- Lacking low-bass.
- No bass or treble adjustment features.
- Compression artifacts at max volume.
The TCL Alto 8+ is sub-par for movies. It has a slightly punchy and boomy overall sound profile out-of-the-box, and it's lacking low-bass, so you won't feel the deep thumps and rumbles from movie scores and action-packed scenes. This bar can get reasonably loud, but there are some compression artifacts when it's played at max volume. While it supports surround content, it has to downmix it into stereo to play it, which isn't as immersive. It also doesn't support Atmos content.
- Doesn't support Atmos.
- Downmixes surround content to stereo.
- Lacking low-bass.
- Compression artifacts at max volume.
Changelog
- Updated Jan 29, 2024: Updated text in Stereo Dynamics, Audio Latency: ARC, and Audio Latency: Optical boxes with new methodology from TBU 1.3. Some updates to the usages as well.
- Updated Jan 29, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench Update 1.3. If applicable, we've retested stereo sound based on the manufacturer's recommendations. Additionally, we've expanded our audio latency tests to the following boxes: Audio Latency: ARC, Audio Latency: HDMI In, and Audio Latency: Optical. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Jun 19, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.2. Updated the results for audio format support via ARC/eARC, HDMI In, and Optical. Added Video Passthrough to TV results as well.
- Updated Mar 20, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The TCL Alto 8+ comes in 'Black', and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
Our results represent the 2020 model of this soundbar. However, since then, it appears that TCL has discontinued this setup. They've since released two additional versions of the TCL Alto 8+, including the TS8212 2.1.2 channel setup, and the TS813 3.1.2 channel setup. Unlike the model we tested, both of these soundbars support Dolby Atmos content.
If you come across another version of this soundbar, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The TCL Alto 8+ Fire TV Edition is a 2.1 setup with an integrated subwoofer. Like the Roku Smart Soundbar, it also comes with an integrated media streamer. Once you connect it to your TV, you can use this soundbar to access the Amazon Fire TV 4k media streamer, which gathers all of your favorite streaming platforms into one place. This soundbar can also play surround content, but it doesn't support Dolby Atmos.
If you're looking for more soundbars, check out our recommendations for the best soundbars under $200, the best soundbars under $300, and the best soundbars for dialogue.
The TCL S55H is an improvement on the TCL Alto 8+ in most aspects. While both soundbars feature a 2.1 setup, the S55H features a more balanced default sound that's less dominated by bass frequencies. It can also get louder with less compression as you crank the volume, and its center and surrounds performances are a step up. Furthermore, the S55H also features Atmos compatibility and AI Sonic-Adaptation, which tunes the sound to your room's acoustics. The only thing in favor of the Alto 8+ is a slightly wider stereo soundstage.
The TCL Alto 9+ is a bit better for mixed usage than the TCL Alto 8+. The 9+ is a 3.1 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It's better built, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. It also has a better center channel performance. That said, the 8+ has a better soundstage.
The TCL Alto 8+ and the TCL Alto 8i have similar overall performances, and depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The 8+ is better for dialogue-centric content because it has a dialogue enhancement feature. It also offers built-in access to the Amazon Fire TV player. However, the 8i is better built and better for movies because it supports Dolby Atmos content. The 8i also supports 4k passthrough.
The Roku Smart Soundbar is a better overall soundbar than the TCL Alto 8+, though both bars perform very similarly. Neither bar supports Dolby Atmos content. However, they both give you access to a media streaming player - the Roku media player for the Roku bar and the Amazon Fire TV 4k media streamer for the TCL. The Roku supports Wi-Fi streaming and it has a companion app, unlike the TCL. The Roku also has a better-balanced sound when playing content through both its center channel and when downmixing surround content into stereo. However, the TCL has a more focused soundstage.
Test Results
