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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. Back - Bar
    8. Back - Subwoofer
    9. Back - Satellites
    10. Build Quality
    11. 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. Physical Inputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support - ARC
    3. Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support - Optical
    5. Latency
    6. Wireless Playback
    7. Other Input Specifications
    8. Connectivity - Subwoofer
    9. Connectivity - Satellites
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
    5. App
    6. Other Features
  8. Comments

TCL Alto 7+ vs TCL Alto 9+

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

TCL Alto 7+
TCL Alto 9+

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Apr 17, 2024 02:54 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Apr 17, 2024 02:44 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
TCL Alto 7+ Picture
TCL Alto 9+ Picture

Variants

  • Alto 7 Plus
  • Alto 9+ (Black)

Our Verdict

TCL Alto 7+

TCL Alto 9+

The TCL Alto 9+ is a better soundbar than the TCL Alto 7+. The 9+ is a 3.1 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content, and it has more wireless playback options and physical inputs. Thanks to its Full HDMI In port, it supports 4k passthrough, too. However, the 7+ is a 2.1 setup that's better-built, has a better soundstage, and gets louder.

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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.4
6.5

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
3.6

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.5
5.0

Center 
 

6.7
8.1

Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In 
 

0.0
8.7

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

TCL Alto 7+ Style photo - bar
TCL Alto 9+ Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

TCL Alto 7+ Style photo - sub
TCL Alto 9+ Style photo - sub
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

TCL Alto 7+ Style photo - satellites
TCL Alto 9+ Style photo - satellites
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

TCL Alto 7+ Dimensions photo - bar
TCL Alto 9+ Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

36.1" (91.6 cm)
41.3" (105.0 cm)

Height  

2.5" (6.3 cm)
2.3" (5.9 cm)

Depth  

3.7" (9.5 cm)
4.4" (11.2 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

TCL Alto 7+ Dimensions photo - sub
TCL Alto 9+ Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

8.3" (21.1 cm)
9.5" (24.1 cm)

Height  

12.9" (32.7 cm)
16.3" (41.4 cm)

Depth  

9.8" (25.0 cm)
9.5" (24.1 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

TCL Alto 7+ Dimensions photo - satellites
TCL Alto 9+ Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Back - Bar  

Back photo - bar  

TCL Alto 7+ Back photo - bar
TCL Alto 9+ Back photo - bar

Bar Mounting 
 

Universal (holes on back)
Proprietary
Show Text 

Back - Subwoofer  

Back photo - sub  

TCL Alto 7+ Back photo - sub
TCL Alto 9+ Back photo - sub

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported
Show Text 

Back - Satellites  

Back photo - satellites  

TCL Alto 7+ Back photo - satellites
TCL Alto 9+ Back photo - satellites

Mounting 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

7.5
7.0

Build quality photo  

TCL Alto 7+ Build quality photo
TCL Alto 9+ Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

TCL Alto 7+ In The Box photo
TCL Alto 9+ In The Box photo

HDMI Cable Length 
 

1.5 m (4.9 ft)
1.5 m (4.9 ft)

Digital Optical Cable Length 
 

1.5 m (4.9 ft)
1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.1
6.9

Stereo Setup  

TCL Alto 7+ Stereo Setup
TCL Alto 9+ 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 
 

0.51
-0.45

Std. Err. 
 

3.26 dB
3.06 dB

Channels 
 

2.1
3.1

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

55.0 Hz
49.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
4.2 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.1
6.9

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Music
Music

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

N/A
0

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
0

Slope 
 

0.51
-0.45

Std. Err. 
 

3.26 dB
3.06 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

55.0 Hz
49.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
4.2 kHz

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.5
5.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.69 dB
2.09 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

6.7
7.0

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

99.6 dB SPL
88.1 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

5.30 dB
2.02 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.0
7.0

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.31
0.70

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.92
2.56
Show Text 

Center 
 

6.7
8.1

Center Setup  

TCL Alto 7+ Center Setup
TCL Alto 9+ Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.43
-0.25

Std. Err. 
 

3.06 dB
2.89 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

94.2 dB SPL
85.8 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.49
1.33

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.18
3.13
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

4.2
3.7

Surround Setup  

TCL Alto 7+ Surround Setup
TCL Alto 9+ Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

-0.50
-1.19

Std. Err. 
 

3.20 dB
3.76 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

91.6 dB SPL
85.8 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.74
0.97

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.90
3.42

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
3.6

Height Setup  

TCL Alto 7+ Height Setup
TCL Alto 9+ Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

TCL Alto 7+ H Frequency Response
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

N/A
-1.61

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
4.18 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
84.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
0.38

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
2.26
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

1.8
3.0

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

Physical Inputs - Bar 
 

Physical inputs bar photo 1  

TCL Alto 7+ Physical inputs bar photo 1
TCL Alto 9+ Physical inputs bar photo 1

Physical inputs bar photo 2  

TCL Alto 7+ Physical inputs bar photo 2
TCL Alto 9+ Physical inputs bar photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1
1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

No
1 (shared)

Full HDMI In 
 

No
1

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
1

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

1
1

Ethernet 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support - ARC 
 

6.1
7.4

eARC 
 

No
No

Dolby Atmos 
 

No
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

No
Yes

DTS 
 

No
No

DTS:X (eARC only) 
 

No
No

Dolby TrueHD (eARC only) 
 

No
No

DTS-HD MA (eARC only) 
 

No
No

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In 
 

0.0
8.7

Dolby Atmos 
 

No
Yes

DTS:X 
 

No
No

Dolby Digital 
 

No
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

No
Yes

DTS 
 

No
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

No
Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

No
No

5.1 PCM 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support - Optical 
 

6.0
6.0

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Yes

DTS 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Latency 
 

7.7
6.0

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

62 ms
136 ms

Optical 
 

76 ms
134 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
83 ms

Wireless Playback 
 

6.0
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi 
 

No
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Other Input Specifications 
 

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Connectivity - Subwoofer 
 

Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1  

TCL Alto 7+ Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1
TCL Alto 9+ Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1

Physical controls subwoofer photo 1  

TCL Alto 7+ Physical controls subwoofer photo 1
TCL Alto 9+ Physical controls subwoofer photo 1

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Connectivity - Satellites 
 

Physical inputs satellites photo 1  

TCL Alto 7+ Physical inputs satellites photo 1
TCL Alto 9+ Physical inputs satellites photo 1

Physical controls satellites photo 1  

TCL Alto 7+ Physical controls satellites photo 1
TCL Alto 9+ Physical controls satellites photo 1

Sat Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

TCL Alto 7+ Interface photo
TCL Alto 9+ Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

TCL Alto 7+ Controls photo
TCL Alto 9+ Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote 
 

Remote photo  

TCL Alto 7+ Remote photo
TCL Alto 9+ Remote photo

Universal Remote 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No
Show Text 

App 
 

App image  

TCL Alto 7+ App image
TCL Alto 9+ App image

App Name  

No App
No App

iOS  

No
No

Android  

No
No

Acts As A Remote 
 

No
No

Controls Soundbar's Settings 
 

No
No

Casts Device Files 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Other Features 
 

Power Saving 
 

Standby
No

HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control) 
 

Limited Support
Yes
Show Text 

TCL Alto 7+

TCL Alto 9+

Comments

  1. Comparison

TCL Alto 7+ vs TCL Alto 9+: Main Discussion

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