Customers find value in the Alto 8i 2.1 Channel Home Theater Sound Bar for its impressive sound quality, especially with Atmos content, and its easy setup process with clear instructions. While some customers have concerns about the reliability of the Bluetooth connectivity and whether the product truly supports Dolby Atmos, many are pleased with the crystal clear dialogue and overall sound experience.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 3 Showing 41-48 of 48 reviews
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great soundbar
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is one of the best sound bars I have ever purchased.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
Sound cuts oout
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
sound cut out every 20-30 seconds
Terrible.
Bad listening experience
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from TCLExpert
Posted .
Hi Mark,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. We're sorry to hear that you may be experiencing some trouble with your soundbar. We would love the opportunity to look into this for you to see if we can assist you. We'd like to gather more information to see if we can isolate what is occurring. Please reach out to us at [email protected] with your contact information and a description of what you need help with. Someone will get back to you as soon as they can.
Thank you,
Sara TCL Customer Support
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Sound bar bad
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The sound bar mutes and starts up staticky. There are times I have to turn the tv off then back on to restsrt vilume
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from TCLExpert
Posted .
Hi Michele,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. We're sorry to hear that you may be experiencing some trouble with your soundbar. We would love the opportunity to look into this for you to see if we can assist you. We'd like to gather more information to see if we can isolate what is occurring. Please reach out to us at [email protected] with your contact information and a description of what you need help with. Someone will get back to you as soon as they can.
Thank you,
Sara TCL Customer Support
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Noisy soundbar
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Clicking sound like connections arent right. Sound cuts out or becomes garbled
Randomly shuts completely off and needs unplugged to reboot.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from TCLExpert
Posted .
Hi Cindy,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. We're sorry to hear that you may be experiencing some trouble with your TV. We would love the opportunity to look into this for you to see if we can assist you. We'd like to gather more information to see if we can isolate what is occurring. Please reach out to us at [email protected] with your contact information and a description of what you need help with. Someone will get back to you as soon as they can.
Thank you,
Sara TCL Customer Support
Cons mentioned:
Connectivity, Dolby atmos
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Already looking for a replacement.
Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Sounds great when its working, but disconnects are an issue, weak bass, and Atmos is a joke. It plays Atmos "content," it just doesn't provide any Atmos experience... at all.
I found the problem with disconnects, use a 2.2 compliant high speed HDMI cable and the problem is solved. You will also hear the difference immediately and if you attempt to play Atmos content on Disney+ you will get an HDCP error if you're using the supplied cable. Also if you're using a Roku device both video/audio cables must be of the high speed type and I found this to be the case.
eARC setup was automatic but go through TV settings and tick "Dolby Digital Plus" to get the most out of the soundbar. There is a 2 second delay on volume adjustments either with the TV or TCL remote and this is a pain.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from TCLExpert
Posted .
Hi Ghenghy,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. We're sorry to hear that you may be experiencing some trouble with your soundbar. We would love the opportunity to look into this for you to see if we can assist you. We'd like to gather more information to see if we can isolate what is occurring. Please reach out to us at [email protected] with your contact information and a description of what you need help with. Someone will get back to you as soon as they can.
Thank you,
Sara TCL Customer Support
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Great sound. Terrible latency/drag with Apple TV.
Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I owned the Alto 8i for about 2 weeks, and for about a week of that time, it was great. I had just purchased the Sony A8H OLED and new Apple TV 4K, and wanted to beef up the sound quality without breaking the bank. Was attracted to this soundbar because of the Atmos feature.
The good first: the sound quality for the price is fantastic. For having a built-in subwoofer, it really gives you that theater feel with good rumble and soundstage. I have zero complaints about the sound quality. Is it equal to a $500+ sound system/soundbar? No. But it is excellent quality for the price.
Unfortunately, it has one, unforgivable flaw. Latency/audio drag. The video and audio simply will not sync with my setup, making on-screen dialog completely unbearable.
My setup is:
Apple TV -> TV
TV via ARC -> Soundbar
The issue, I believe, is between the Apple TV and the Soundbar. Using the native Netflix app on the TV, no latency/drag. Turn off the soundbar and use the TV’s speakers, no latency/drag. But combine those 2, and it’s unbearable and unfixable. I’ve calibrated the AppleTV. Adjusted settings on the TV itself. Set to pass-through. No luck. I’ve tinkered with it for a week and I don’t see an acceptable solution. PCM will kill your sound quality. Optical cable will cost you Atmos.
My theory is that the internal processor simply isn’t of a high enough quality to handle Atmos via the AppleTV, ie it takes too long to interpret the sound file. As it turns out, this is a known issue. RTings has this ranked as the 2nd worst latency of all soundbars via ARC.
One other minor issue: lots of “blipping” while in Atmos with the volume turned up. The audio will just cut out for a second and the LED display with light up and flash “Dolby Atmos” is if it was just turned on. It did this about every 2-5 minutes while screening Rouge One. Not sure if the vibrating is causing a brief disconnect, but it’s annoying.
I wanted this soundbar to work. Unfortunate.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from TCLExpert
Posted .
Hi thefins,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. We're truly sorry to hear about your experience as this does not sound normal for one of our soundbars. We would love the opportunity to look into this for you to see if we can assist you. We'd like to gather more information to see if we can isolate what is occurring. Please reach out to us at [email protected] with your contact information and a description of what you need help with. Someone will get back to you as soon as they can.
Thank you,
Sara TCL Customer Support
Cons mentioned:
Dolby atmos, Not worth price
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
NEED THE OUTSIDE SUBWOFFER
Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
JUST RETURNED BACK
DONT FEEL THE ATMOS FEATURE
I GET NOTHING GOOD FOR THE PRICE
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from TCLExpert
Posted .
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that you are not having the same great experience that the majority of our customers report having. We hope that you reconsider us in the future! We will continue to work hard to provide our customers with the best experience and support possible. Best of luck!
Thank you,
Sara TCL Customer Support
Cons mentioned:
Connectivity
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
hard pass
Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This soundbar has given me nothing but problems. I think there is supposed to be a display indicating when it is on but it doesn't work. It randomly stops working. it connects and disconnects to Bluetooth randomly. I think the sound is ok when it randomly works, but it is a mess and I'm returning it. I wasted an entire Saturday.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from TCLExpert
Posted .
Hi aea1969,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. We're sorry to hear that you may be experiencing some trouble with your soundbar. We would love the opportunity to look into this for you to see if we can assist you. We'd like to gather more information to see if we can isolate what is occurring. Please reach out to us at [email protected] with your contact information and a description of what you need help with. Someone will get back to you as soon as they can.