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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Audio Latency: ARC
    6. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    7. Audio Latency: Optical
    8. Video Passthrough To TV
    9. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

Sony HT-S100F vs TCL Alto 6

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Sony HT-S100F
TCL Alto 6

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Nov 13, 2024 07:59 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jun 03, 2024 08:34 PM

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Sony HT-S100F Picture
TCL Alto 6 Picture

Variants

  • HT-S100F (Black)
  • Alto 6 (Black)

Our Verdict

Sony HT-S100F

TCL Alto 6

The Sony HT-S100F and the TCL Alto 6 are both budget-friendly standalone soundbars, and the Sony is a bit better overall. The Sony offers a better low-frequency extension, so you get a little more bass in the mix. Also, it comes with an auto-volume mode, which the TCL lacks. That said, the TCL's stereo soundstage is a little better.

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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.2
6.1

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
No

Surround 5.1 
 

2.2
4.1

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Sony HT-S100F Style photo - bar
TCL Alto 6 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Sony HT-S100F Style photo - sub
TCL Alto 6 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
No

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Sony HT-S100F Style photo - satellites
TCL Alto 6 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Sony HT-S100F Dimensions photo - bar
TCL Alto 6 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

35.4" (90.0 cm)
31.5" (80.0 cm)

Height  

2.5" (6.3 cm)
2.4" (6.2 cm)

Depth  

3.5" (8.8 cm)
4.1" (10.5 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Sony HT-S100F Dimensions photo - sub
TCL Alto 6 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Sony HT-S100F Dimensions photo - satellites
TCL Alto 6 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sony HT-S100F Bar Mounting Holes
TCL Alto 6 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sony HT-S100F Satellite Mounting Holes
TCL Alto 6 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

7.0
7.0

Build quality photo  

Sony HT-S100F Build quality photo
TCL Alto 6 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Sony HT-S100F In The Box photo
TCL Alto 6 In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

6.6
6.6

Stereo Setup  

Sony HT-S100F Stereo Setup
TCL Alto 6 Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Channels 
 

2.0
2.0

Tested Preset 
 

Standard
Music

Slope 
 

-0.07
-0.01

Standard Error 
 

3.87 dB
2.94 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

64.4 Hz
76.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

18.8 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

6.6
6.6

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
Music

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

N/A
N/A

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
N/A

Slope 
 

-0.07
-0.01

Standard Error 
 

3.87 dB
2.94 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

64.4 Hz
76.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

18.8 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.0
6.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.76 dB
2.46 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.3
8.0

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

94.5 dB SPL
94.1 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

0.29 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

1.50 dB
1.32 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.0

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.34

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.32
Show Text 

Center 
 

6.5
6.5

Center Setup  

Sony HT-S100F Center Setup
TCL Alto 6 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom
Phantom

Slope 
 

-0.36
-0.50

Std. Err. 
 

3.61 dB
3.37 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.9 dB SPL
91.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.46
0.79

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.34
1.77
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

2.2
4.1

Surround Setup  

Sony HT-S100F Surround Setup
TCL Alto 6 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

0.78
-0.52

Std. Err. 
 

8.55 dB
3.37 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

90.8 dB SPL
91.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

2.56
0.57

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

4.56
1.80

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
0.0

Height Setup  

Sony HT-S100F Height Setup
TCL Alto 6 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Sony HT-S100F H Frequency Response
TCL Alto 6 H Frequency Response

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Slope 
 

N/A
N/A

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
N/A

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

4.1
2.7

Room Correction 
 

No
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
No

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

No
No

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
No

EQ 
 

Presets
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Sony HT-S100F Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
TCL Alto 6 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Sony HT-S100F Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
TCL Alto 6 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI Out 
 

ARC
ARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No
No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
1

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

1
1

Ethernet 
 

No
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

4.8
4.8

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

6.5
6.5

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

9.7

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

69 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

69 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

58 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

0.0
5.5

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

140 ms

Optical 
 

130 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

7.3

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

136 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

198 ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No
No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No
No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No
No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No
No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No
No

Wireless Playback 
 

6.0
6.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

No
No

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
No

Spotify Connect 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Sony HT-S100F Interface photo
TCL Alto 6 Interface photo

Display 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Sony HT-S100F Controls photo
TCL Alto 6 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Sony HT-S100F Remote photo
TCL Alto 6 Remote photo
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Check Price

Sony HT-S100F

TCL Alto 6

Comments

  1. Comparison

Sony HT-S100F vs TCL Alto 6: Main Discussion

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