Soundbar
Products
In The Lab
Forums
Newsletters
 Insider access
Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
Best
Soundbars Budget Subwoofer Samsung Dolby Atmos Bose LG All-In-One Sonos Music Under $200 Small Under $500 Vizio Dialogue Sony 5.1 Under $300 Under $100 Movies
Tools
Compare Table Review List Review Index Graph Custom Ratings
Popular
Samsung HW-Q990D Hisense AX5125H Samsung HW-Q800D Samsung HW-Q930D Samsung HW-B750D Sonos Arc Ultra Samsung HW-Q600C/Q60CC Sonos Beam (Gen 2) LG S95TR Samsung HW-S60D LG S90TR Samsung HW-B650 LG S80TR Samsung HW-Q990C JBL Bar 500 Sonos Arc LG SC9S Bose Smart Soundbar Sony HT-S400 Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc Ultra
219
Soundbars bought and tested
Supported by you via insider access, and when you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Driven by data, run by a passionate team of engineers, testers, technical writers, developers, and more.
We are hiring!
  1. Home
  2. Soundbar
  3. Compare
  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. Latency
    6. Video Passthrough To TV
    7. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

TCL Alto 6+ vs Hisense HS218

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

TCL Alto 6+
Hisense HS218

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Apr 17, 2024 02:45 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Apr 17, 2024 03:01 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
TCL Alto 6+ Picture
Hisense HS218 Picture
Channels
2.1
Channels
2.1

Variants

  • Alto 6+ (Black)
  • HS218 (Black)

Review

See TCL Alto 6+ Review
See Hisense HS218 Review
0 
0 

Our Verdict

TCL Alto 6+

Hisense HS218

The Hisense HS218 is better than the TCL Alto 6+. The Hisense is a better built 2.1 setup with a more extended low-bass to help you feel more rumble in your audio. It has a better surrounds performance, too. There are also more sound enhancement features available, like bass and treble adjustments.

0 

Check Price

Black
Alto 6+
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
HS218
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Alto 6+
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
HS218
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
HS218
SEARCH
B&H
 
Black
HS218
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
Read more

Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.5
6.7

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.3
7.6

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.2
7.1

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

TCL Alto 6+ Style photo - bar
Hisense HS218 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

TCL Alto 6+ Style photo - sub
Hisense HS218 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

TCL Alto 6+ Style photo - satellites
Hisense HS218 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

TCL Alto 6+ Dimensions photo - bar
Hisense HS218 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

31.5" (80.0 cm)
37.8" (96.0 cm)

Height  

2.4" (6.2 cm)
2.4" (6.0 cm)

Depth  

4.2" (10.6 cm)
3.6" (9.2 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

TCL Alto 6+ Dimensions photo - sub
Hisense HS218 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

8.0" (20.2 cm)
6.7" (17.0 cm)

Height  

12.8" (32.4 cm)
13.5" (34.3 cm)

Depth  

8.0" (20.2 cm)
13.1" (33.4 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

TCL Alto 6+ Dimensions photo - satellites
Hisense HS218 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

TCL Alto 6+ Bar Mounting Holes
Hisense HS218 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

TCL Alto 6+ Satellite Mounting Holes
Hisense HS218 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

7.0
7.5

Build quality photo  

TCL Alto 6+ Build quality photo
Hisense HS218 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

TCL Alto 6+ In The Box photo
Hisense HS218 In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.3
7.6

Stereo Setup  

TCL Alto 6+ Stereo Setup
Hisense HS218 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

Tested Preset 
 

Music
Music

Slope 
 

-0.69
-0.88

Std. Err. 
 

3.40 dB
3.10 dB

Channels 
 

2.1
2.1

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

48.3 Hz
40.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
17.7 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.3
7.7

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Music
Music

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

N/A
-3

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
4

Slope 
 

-0.69
-0.04

Std. Err. 
 

3.40 dB
2.58 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

48.3 Hz
43.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.5
6.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.55 dB
2.52 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.2
7.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

96.1 dB SPL
95.7 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

1.35 dB
3.43 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.9
8.0

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.39
0.35

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.21
1.23
Show Text 

Center 
 

6.2
6.6

Center Setup  

TCL Alto 6+ Center Setup
Hisense HS218 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom
Phantom

Slope 
 

-1.61
-0.57

Std. Err. 
 

4.05 dB
3.47 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

89.1 dB SPL
93.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.73
0.39

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.76
1.24
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

3.7
4.2

Surround Setup  

TCL Alto 6+ Surround Setup
Hisense HS218 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

-1.64
-0.63

Std. Err. 
 

4.10 dB
3.44 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

88.9 dB SPL
93.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.70
0.40

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.30
1.18

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
0.0

Height Setup  

TCL Alto 6+ Height Setup
Hisense HS218 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

TCL Alto 6+ H Frequency Response
Hisense HS218 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 
 

2.7
4.1

Room Correction 
 

No
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
No

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

TCL Alto 6+ Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Hisense HS218 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

TCL Alto 6+ Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Hisense HS218 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1

HDMI Out 
 

ARC
No

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
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
6.1

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

eARC 
 

No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM 
 

No

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

6.5
6.0

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show Text 

Latency 
 

8.3
9.0

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

37 ms
32 ms

Optical 
 

69 ms
24 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

No
Show Text 

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  

TCL Alto 6+ Interface photo
Hisense HS218 Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

TCL Alto 6+ Controls photo
Hisense HS218 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

TCL Alto 6+ Remote photo
Hisense HS218 Remote photo
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
No

Check Price

Black
Alto 6+
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
HS218
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Alto 6+
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
HS218
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
HS218
SEARCH
B&H
 
Black
HS218
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
Back to Top

TCL Alto 6+

Hisense HS218

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

TCL Alto 6+ vs Hisense HS218: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

Follow Discussion0 followingSee All Soundbars & Speakers DiscussionsCopy link
0 
PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones
We make money directly from you via insider access (which gives you access to extra features) and when you buy a product after clicking a link to a retailer. Learn more about how we work.
We buy our own products, just like you, mostly from the United States. When a product is discontinued or no longer popular, we sell the review units locally. You can see what products we currently have for sale here.
© 2025 9298-5266 Quebec Inc. All Rights Reserved. Visit our corporate site.