Nathan Rizzuti, dedicated to Gadget Review for over 4 years, specializes in home entertainment technology and purchasing decisions. Outside of work, Nathan finds solace in playing bluegrass. With 50 months of consistent contributions at GadgetReview, Nathan’s expertise lies in navigating the realms of home entertainment technology and aiding purchasing decisions. His insightful articles, such as “Oh Ballers of Pittsburgh, Where Art Thou,” reflect a unique perspective that resonates with readers.
The TCL Alto 3 Bluetooth Soundbar is an upgrade from built-in TV audio, but connection limitations and setup complexities should be considered before purchase. Overall, it’s a budget-friendly solution but won’t satisfy those who want true audio enhancement.
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Table of Contents
Product Snapshot
Overview
Released in 2020, the TCL Alto 3 is an entry-level soundbar that boasts a loud stereo soundstage to fill large living rooms. Similar to the best speakers out there, it touts a flat frequency response slope that helps deliver crystal-clear dialogues, vocals, and high-pitched notes with a balanced and neutral sound profile. But unlike the most popular soundbars, the Alto 3 does not feature any dedicated subwoofer unit for thumping low bass.
And unlike the best wireless soundbars, this model does not support the more advanced lossless audio codecs like Dolby Atmos or DTS: X for a wider soundstage, as it only supports Dolby Digital over optical audio. But if you need PCM support, check out our Vizio SB2020n-G6 review. It does not come with a built-in microphone for voice assistants to double as a smart speaker.
In terms of wireless connectivity, this soundbar only features Bluetooth but lacks Wi-Fi, Chromecast, or Apple AirPlay. And its wired connectivity options only consist of an optical port, a 3.5 mm auxiliary audio jack, and a USB port.The audio latency over optical is also just okay, which isn’t great for gamers.
Consensus
our Verdict
The TCL Alto 3 Bluetooth Soundbar only supports Bluetooth connections, was tested to have subpar latency, and doesn’t provide the option for Chromecast, Apple Airplay, or WiFi connections.
The soundbar offers better sound than the quality of built-in TV speakers, but it has weak bass that disappoints both for movie effects and bass-heavy music genres. However, its balanced mid-range suits vocal-centric content, benefiting TV shows and podcasts. The inclusion of EQ presets allows for sound customization.
Ultimately, the soundbar falls short regarding soundstage, volume, and support for advanced formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS. There are also complexities in setup, limited controls, and the need for manual AUX cord reconnection, which hinder user experience. In terms of build quality, the soundbar is sturdy plastic, but the fabric can rip easily.
ReasonS to Buy
Bluetooth compatibility for wireless audio streaming
Sturdy build quality
Balanced mid-range suitable for vocals
EQ presets for sound adjustment
Simple interface and remote control
Affordable price
Supports Dolby Digital over optical
Compact design for small spaces
Enhances sound quality compared to built-in TV speakers
Bluetooth connectivity for wireless playlist access
Reason to Avoid
Lacks low bass
Limited soundstage
Doesn’t support Dolby Atmos or DTS
Doesn’t get very loud
Bluetooth setup complexities
Requires manual reconnection of AUX cord
No automatic power-on
Not ideal for Roku TV users due to Bluetooth issues
Additional remote control needed
Limited improvement for movie content
TCL Alto 3 Specs
Bluetooth Enabled
Yes
Depth
3.7"
Dialogue Enhancement Feature
Yes
Energy Star Certified
No
HDMI ARC
No
Height
2.4"
Number of Audio Channels
2.0
Subwoofer
No
Surround Sound Supported
Dolby Digital, Virtual Surround
Voice Assistant
No
Wall Mountable
No
Weight
3.7 lbs
Width
23.6"
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth
Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity
Yes
Works With
Bluetooth, Remote Control
All Specs
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Released in 2020, the TCL Alto 3 is an entry-level soundbar that boasts a loud stereo soundstage to fill large living rooms. Similar to the…
Released in 2020, the TCL Alto 3 is an entry-level soundbar that boasts a loud stereo soundstage to fill large living rooms. Similar to the best speakers out there, it touts a flat frequency response slope that helps deliver crystal-clear dialogues, vocals, and high-pitched notes with a balanced and neutral sound profile. But unlike the most popular soundbars, the Alto 3 does not feature any dedicated subwoofer unit for thumping low bass.
And unlike the best wireless soundbars, this model does not support the more advanced lossless audio codecs like Dolby Atmos or DTS: X for a wider soundstage, as it only supports Dolby Digital over optical audio. But if you need PCM support, check out our Vizio SB2020n-G6 review. It does not come with a built-in microphone for voice assistants to double as a smart speaker.
In terms of wireless connectivity, this soundbar only features Bluetooth but lacks Wi-Fi, Chromecast, or Apple AirPlay. And its wired connectivity options only consist of an optical port, a 3.5 mm auxiliary audio jack, and a USB port.The audio latency over optical is also just okay, which isn’t great for gamers.
The TCL Alto 3 soundbar and the TCL Alto 5 both feature a 2.0 channel speaker setup, and as a result, both have remarkably similar…
The TCL Alto 3 soundbar and the TCL Alto 5 both feature a 2.0 channel speaker setup, and as a result, both have remarkably similar performance in almost all aspects. However, the TCL Alto 5 does have a slightly better build quality, and it boasts a marginally wider stereo soundstage than the Alto 3 soundbar. To learn more about the TCL Alto 5 soundbar, visit our TCL Alto 5 review today.
Both the TCL Alto 3 and the TaoTronics TT-SK026 soundbar feature a 2.0 channel speaker setup and perform similarly in all regards. But the Alto…
Both the TCL Alto 3 and the TaoTronics TT-SK026 soundbar feature a 2.0 channel speaker setup and perform similarly in all regards. But the Alto 3 soundbar does have a slightly tighter frequency response slope than the TT-SK026, which results in clearer vocals and dialogues. On the other hand, the TaoTronics model can get a lot louder than the Alto 3 soundbar. We’ve delved deeper into the TT-SK026 soundbar in our TaoTronics TT-SK026 review.
The TCL Alto 3 and the Sonos Ray soundbar both feature a 2.0 channel speaker setup, resulting in similar stereo soundstage performance. While the Alto…
The TCL Alto 3 and the Sonos Ray soundbar both feature a 2.0 channel speaker setup, resulting in similar stereo soundstage performance. While the Alto 3 only touts Bluetooth for wireless streaming, the Sonos Ray soundbar has both Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay 2.0 with Spotify Connect. But the Alto 3 gets the upper hand in terms of audio latency. We’ve covered the Sonos Ray soundbar in more detail in our Sonos Ray review.
