The TCL Alto 8i is a 2.1 setup advertised as Roku TV Ready, so it should be easy to pair it with your Roku TV. You can use it to play Dolby Atmos content, and it gets pretty loud, although there are some compression artifacts present at max volume. While it has dual subwoofers integrated into the bar, it lacks low-bass, which might disappoint fans of bass-heavy music genres. Fortunately, it offers a few sound customization features, including three EQ presets and bass/treble adjustments.
The TCL Alto 8i is okay for mixed usage. Its sound profile is a bit dark and boomy due to the extra warmth in the bass and the recessed treble. Vocals and lead instruments are still reproduced pretty clearly, though, making it suitable for most types of content. Despite its 2.1 setup, it supports Dolby Atmos content. However, its surround performance isn't the most impressive.
The TCL Alto 8i is fair for vocal-centric content like TV shows. Voices are reproduced pretty clearly, though they can also sound a bit dark due to the recessed treble. However, due to its 2.1 configuration, it lacks a discrete center channel, so voices aren't anchored to a pinpoint location in the soundstage. There's no dialogue enhancement feature, but the manufacturer recommends using 'TV mode' when watching dialogue-heavy content.
The TCL Alto 8i 2.1 is decent for music. Its sound profile is a bit dark and boomy due to the extra warmth in the bass and the recessed treble. Vocals and lead instruments are still reproduced pretty clearly, though. You can also use its bass and treble adjustments to customize its sound. Unfortunately, despite the two subwoofers integrated into the bar, it still struggles to reproduce the low thump and rumble in bass-heavy genres like EDM.
The TCL Alto 8i 2.1 is alright for movies. Unlike many 2.1 setups, it supports Dolby Atmos content. It also supports surround content, though it has to downmix it to stereo to play it, which doesn't sound very immersive. Dialogue is reproduced quite clearly, but unfortunately, you don't feel the deep rumble in the bass during action-heavy scenes.
This setup doesn't have a dedicated subwoofer. Instead, there are two subs built into the bar.
The TCL Alto 8i 2.1 has a decent build quality. It's mostly made of plastic, which feels quite solid. However, the fabric wrapping around the bar could easily collect dust. For a better built soundbar, see the Hisense HS218.
The TCL Alto 8i has a decent stereo frequency response. It has a somewhat dark and boomy sound profile due to the extra bass and the recessed treble range. Vocals and lead instruments are reproduced pretty clearly, but there's a little extra warmth in the bass range. Higher-pitched vocals can also sound a bit veiled due to the recessed treble. That said, it struggles to reproduce an extended low-bass, so you don't feel the thump and rumble in bass-heavy audio. There are some bass and treble adjustments to help you customize its sound, though.
With calibration, this setup has a satisfactory stereo frequency response. You can set its bass to '-2' and its treble to '3', resulting in a pretty neutral, balanced sound profile that's suitable for lots of different types of audio content. It still struggles to reproduce a very extended low-bass, though, so you don't feel the deep rumble in action-packed movies.
The stereo soundstage is decent. It sounds wider than our testing table, which is wider than the bar itself. While it sounds a bit overprocessed, it's still pleasing to the ear. However, the focus of the soundstage doesn't make it seem like objects are coming from a more accurate pinpoint location. Instead, sound seems to move in chunks, and it's scattered towards the far edges of the soundstage.
The TCL Alto 8i has a decent stereo total harmonic distortion performance. At normal listening volumes, you get a clean and pure sound reproduction. However, there's a small jump in THD across the range when you play it at max volume. This may be difficult to hear with real-life content.
This soundbar has a passable center performance. Due to its 2.1 configuration, it doesn't have a dedicated center speaker, so it uses the left and right speakers to create a sound in the center. Unfortunately, this can sound more diffused and less clear than a discrete center channel.
This soundbar has a poor surrounds performance. It uses its left and right speakers to downmix this content into stereo, which doesn't result in accurate and clear localization of surround objects in the soundstage. It doesn't get very loud, and its sound profile is quite muddy and boomy.
The TCL Alto 8i has a disappointing height performance. It uses front-firing speakers on the bar to bounce audio off the ceiling and back down to the listener to simulate down-firing speakers, but this doesn't sound as immersive. Also, its sound profile is quite boomy and muddy, which may be overwhelming for some listeners.
The TCL Alto 8i has a poor selection of sound enhancement features. It comes with three EQ presets: Music, Movie, and TV, as well as bass and treble adjustments so you can customize its sound profile. There's also a Dolby Virtual Surround mode to enhance your movie-watching experience. However, there isn't a room correction feature, so it may sound a bit different depending on the acoustic characteristics of your room.
The TCL Alto 8i has a lot of physical inputs. Thanks to its HDMI ports, you can use it as a hub between your devices, like your TV and PC. There's also a 3.5mm AUX port for connecting to your phone over a wired connection.
The TCL Alto 8i supports some of the more common audio formats over its ARC port. It supports Dolby Digital and DTS content, which are commonly found on Blu-ray discs and streaming platforms. It also supports Dolby Atmos content.
The TCL Alto 8i supports Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos content via its Full HDMI In port, which are commonly found on Blu-ray discs and streaming platforms.
We expected this bar to play Dolby TrueHD content. While audio played from the bar, we couldn't confirm it was playing the TrueHD file, as the bar displayed Dolby 5.1. We can't confirm if the audio was downmixed.
Via its Optical port, the TCL Alto 8i can decode Dolby Digital surround sound, though it has to downmix it to stereo to play it. However, it doesn't support DTS content, which is usually the fallback for the higher quality DTS-HD MA found on many Blu-ray discs but isn't commonly found on its own.
The TCL Alto 8i has a disappointing latency performance. It has high latency, so you may notice a delay between the audio you hear and the video you see. When watching YouTube videos via ARC and Optical, there's a small inaudible pause that's quite noticeable, especially when watching dialogue-heavy content without a lot of background noise like speeches. As a result, it may not be suitable for watching movies and videos over these connections. That said, some TVs and apps compensate for latency differently, so your real-world experience may vary.
The TCL Alto 8i only supports Bluetooth. While you can connect your phone or tablet wirelessly to the bar over this connection, it doesn't support Wi-Fi, Chromecast, or Apple AirPlay.
This soundbar can passthrough the highest bandwidth signals. Text looks clear and crisp if you plug the soundbar between your PC and TV.
The bar has a simple, 5-character LED display. It shows the volume level, EQ, input, and bass and treble adjustments. It also displays the audio format that's detected. Also, there's a solid white dot on the display when the bar is in STANDBY mode. The white dot flashes when the bar is in SLEEP mode.
The TCL Alto 8i comes with a simple remote that lets you control all of the bar's functions. You can change the EQ preset and the input or adjust the bass and treble. The Night button sets the dim setting on the bar's display, and when you long-press it, it activates the Night Mode sound setting that balances the volume across different programs.
The TCL Alto 8i doesn't automatically turn off. You can manually set it to STANDBY when you long-press power on the remote, and you can set it to SLEEP when you short-press the power button. On the upside, it supports HDMI CEC, meaning you can control some of the bar's functions using your TV remote.
The TCL Alto 8i 2.1 comes in 'Black'. It's also known as the TS8111. You can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another variant, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
The TCL Alto 8i is a 2.1 soundbar with dual built-in subwoofers. Unlike many other 2.1 setups, it supports Dolby Atmos content, though its performance is poor. It's advertised as Roku TV Ready, so you should be able to easily connect it to your Roku TV. However, it lacks a lot of low-bass, and its uneven sound profile may not be suitable for all listeners.
See also our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best soundbars under $200, and the best budget soundbars.
The TCL Alto 9+ is a better soundbar than the TCL Alto 8i. The 9+ is a 3.1 setup with a dedicated subwoofer, and its default sound profile is better-balanced. It also has more wireless playback options and a better center channel performance. However, the 2.1 8i has a better soundstage.
The Sonos Arc is better than the TCL Alto 8i. The Sonos is a better built 5.0.2 setup with built-in voice assistant support. It also has better soundstage, center, surround, and Atmos performances. That said, it doesn't come with a Full HDMI In port like the TCL.
The TCL Alto 8i is a bit better than the Vizio M-Series M21d-H8R. The TCL has a lot less compression when you play it at max volume, and it also supports Dolby Atmos content. However, the Vizio is better built.
The TCL Alto 8i is better than the TCL Alto 6+. The 8i has a better soundstage performance, and it comes with more sound enhancement features like bass and treble adjustments. Unlike the 6+, it supports Dolby Atmos content and has a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough.
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 Amazon Fire TV player. However, the 8i is better built, and it's better for movies because it supports Dolby Atmos content. The 8i also supports 4k passthrough.
The Sony HT-X8500 and the TCL Alto 8i are both 2.1 soundbars that support Dolby Atmos, but the Sony has a better performance. The Sony has a more balanced sound profile, and its center, surrounds, and height channels perform better. It also comes with a dialogue enhancement feature and supports DTS content, unlike the TCL. However, the TCL has a better soundstage performance.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the TCL Alto 8i or the Samsung HW-A450. The Samsung comes with a dedicated sub that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also has a few more sound enhancement features, like a graphic EQ. However, the TCL may be better for users who want a standalone bar. Unlike the Samsung, it supports Dolby Atmos content and has HDMI inputs. It's also better built with a better center channel performance.
The Samsung HW-S60A is better than the TCL Alto 8i for most uses. The Samsung is a better built 5.0 setup. It has better soundstage, surround, and center performances. Also, it comes with more sound enhancement features, like a graphic EQ. However, it doesn't support Atmos content like the 2.1 TCL.
The Vizio V Series V21-H8 is a bit better for mixed usage than the TCL Alto 8i. The Vizio comes with a dedicated subwoofer that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also comes with more sound enhancement features, like dialogue enhancement. However, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content like the TCL. Some listeners may also prefer the TCL's standalone design.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the TCL Alto 8i or the Hisense HS218. The Hisense is better built and comes with a dedicated subwoofer. It also has a better surrounds performance. However, the TCL has a better soundstage. Unlike the Hisense, it supports Dolby Atmos content and has a Full HDMI In port.
The Samsung HW-Q70T is a better soundbar than the TCL Alto 8i. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup, unlike the 2.1 TCL, and it comes with a dedicated subwoofer. The Samsung is better built, and it has a more balanced default sound profile. It's also more customizable thanks to its graphic EQ.
The TCL Alto 7+ and the TCL Alto 8i are very similar-performing 2.1 soundbars, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The 7+ is better built and comes with a dedicated subwoofer. Its sound profile is more neutral, though it also lacks low-bass. However, the 8i has a better soundstage. It also supports Dolby Atmos content and supports 4k passthrough thanks to its Full HDMI In port.
The TCL Alto 8i is a better soundbar than the TCL Alto 5+. The 8i has a better soundstage, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. Also, it has more physical inputs, including a Full HDMI In port that supports 4k passthrough. However, the 5+ comes with a dedicated sub, and it's better built.