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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. 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

Vizio V Series V21-H8 vs TCL Alto 8i

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Vizio V Series V21-H8
TCL Alto 8i

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Apr 17, 2024 02:36 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Sep 24, 2024 02:05 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Vizio V Series V21-H8 Picture
TCL Alto 8i Picture
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Vizio

Variants

  • V21 H8 (Black)
  • V21 H8R (Black)
  • Alto 8i (Black)

Our Verdict

Vizio V Series V21-H8

TCL Alto 8i

The Vizio V Series V21-H8 is a bit better for mixed usage than the TCL Alto 8i. The Vizio has a dedicated subwoofer that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also comes with more sound enhancement features, like dialogue enhancement. However, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content like the TCL. Some listeners may also prefer the TCL's standalone design.

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Alto 8i
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Alto 8i
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Alto 8i
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Alto 8i
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.0
6.8

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
3.1

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.6
7.3

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
8.6

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Style photo - bar
TCL Alto 8i Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Style photo - sub
TCL Alto 8i Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
No

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Integrated
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Style photo - satellites
TCL Alto 8i Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Dimensions photo - bar
TCL Alto 8i Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

36.0" (91.5 cm)
39.0" (99.0 cm)

Height  

2.3" (5.8 cm)
2.6" (6.5 cm)

Depth  

3.2" (8.2 cm)
5.2" (13.3 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Dimensions photo - sub
TCL Alto 8i Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

8.3" (21.2 cm)
N/A

Height  

9.8" (25.0 cm)
N/A

Depth  

8.3" (21.2 cm)
N/A
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Dimensions photo - satellites
TCL Alto 8i Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Bar Mounting Holes
TCL Alto 8i Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Satellite Mounting Holes
TCL Alto 8i 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
7.0

Build quality photo  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Build quality photo
TCL Alto 8i Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Vizio V Series V21-H8 In The Box photo
TCL Alto 8i In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.6
7.3

Stereo Setup  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Stereo Setup
TCL Alto 8i 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 
 

-0.86
-1.25

Std. Err. 
 

4.28 dB
3.29 dB

Channels 
 

2.1
2.1

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

34.1 Hz
49.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

16.5 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.5
7.4

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Music
Music

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

-4
-2

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

0
3

Slope 
 

-0.09
-0.15

Std. Err. 
 

2.81 dB
2.67 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

43.0 Hz
50.4 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

16.0 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
7.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.99 dB
2.82 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.5
7.3

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.8 dB SPL
95.1 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

2.88 dB
3.03 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.7
7.2

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.45
0.61

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.78
2.64
Show Text 

Center 
 

6.4
6.2

Center Setup  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Center Setup
TCL Alto 8i Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom
Phantom

Slope 
 

-0.83
-1.55

Std. Err. 
 

4.33 dB
3.96 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.8 dB SPL
89.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.43
0.46

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.79
2.89
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

3.9
3.4

Surround Setup  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Surround Setup
TCL Alto 8i Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

0.79
-2.24

Std. Err. 
 

3.62 dB
4.75 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

88.2 dB SPL
87.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.90
0.63

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.51
2.77

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
3.1

Height Setup  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Height Setup
TCL Alto 8i Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 H Frequency Response
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

N/A
-2.55

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
5.08 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
81.5 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
1.81

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
0.97
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

6.8
3.8

Room Correction 
 

No
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
No

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
TCL Alto 8i Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
TCL Alto 8i Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

ARC
1 (shared)

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

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

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.3
7.4

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS 
 

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
8.6

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Yes

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 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
6.0

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show Text 

Latency 
 

8.1
5.4

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

59 ms
158 ms

Optical 
 

52 ms
147 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
94 ms
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
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Yes

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Yes
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  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Interface photo
TCL Alto 8i Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Controls photo
TCL Alto 8i Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Remote photo
TCL Alto 8i 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

Black
Alto 8i
B&H
 
Black
Alto 8i
BestBuy.com
 
Black
Alto 8i
Samsung.com
 
Black
Alto 8i
Walmart.com

Vizio V Series V21-H8

TCL Alto 8i

Comments

  1. Comparison

Vizio V Series V21-H8 vs TCL Alto 8i: Main Discussion

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