Skip to main content

TCL’s latest soundbars go fully wireless at CES 2021

Last week, ahead of CES 2021, Roku announced that it had created a reference design for a wireless soundbar that could be used with the Roku TV Ready platform. The key innovation here is Roku’s elimination of the HDMI cable (or optical cable) that is normally a requirement when connecting a soundbar to a TV. Roku said that it expected TCL to be the first company to introduce one of these wireless speakers, and today, that’s what TCL has done.

TCL Alto R1 wireless Roku TV Ready Soundbar
TCL USA

The TCL Alto R1 is the first soundbar to make use of Roku’s proprietary Wi-Fi Audio streaming technology. Instead of connecting the Alto R1 to a TCL Roku TV directly, you simply plug it into a wall outlet for power, and the TV will automatically detect the speaker and prompt you with an on-screen setup guide.

From there, all of the Alto R1’s settings can be adjusted using the Roku TV remote, making for a very simple experience. TCL claims that the Alto R1 will also benefit from regular and automatic software updates, and “impressive” audio/video synchronization. The R1 sports a Bluetooth connection for streaming music from a smartphone, but TCL has been shy about sharing the R1’s full specs, price, and release date.

While TCL chose to put its primary focus on the Alto R1, it has other soundbar models in store for 2021.  The Alto 82i is a Dolby Atmos-capable model that doubles as a smart speaker, with your choice of Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, and reminds us very much of the Sonos Arc. It has dual built-in subwoofers and supports Apple AirPlay, and TCL expects it to launch in the third quarter of 2021.

TCL Alto R1 wireless Roku TV Ready Soundbar
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Alto 8e sports a Dolby Atmos-capable 3.2.1 configuration and includes a wireless subwoofer and up-firing speakers. It’s compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, and works with Apple Airplay devices and Spotify Connect. TCL says the 8e will appear in the second quarter of 2021.

Mysteriously, TCL says that there will be a fourth new soundbar in its 2021 lineup, but referred to it as simply “another premium soundbar with Dolby Atmos.”

Hopefully, it won’t be long before we get more details for these new TCL soundbars, like their internal components, prices, and release dates.

Simon Cohen
Simon Cohen covers a variety of consumer technologies, but has a special interest in audio and video products, like spatial…
At CES 2021, TCL put all other TV makers on notice: We’re just getting started
TCL Mini LED

I'd like to take a moment, now that CES 2021 is heading into its final hours, to acknowledge TCL.

Ten years ago, I attended CES 2011. Among the enormous booths from TV titans like Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, and LG was a smaller booth from a brand I had never heard of. Yep, it was TCL. Looking around that booth and taking in the sights of the many TVs TCL was showing off, I had only one thought: Man, what bunch of junk.

Read more
The 15 coolest gadgets at CES 2021
Brink Bionics device

Even in a virtual environment, CES 2021 remains ground zero for innovation, with exhibitors, enthusiasts, and media opting for virtual press briefings over cramped convention halls and casinos for the first time ever. It's an online-only affair, sure, but with more than 1,000 virtual exhibits and 150,000 online attendees, there's still going to be a ton of product announcements and plenty of tech for us to sink our teeth into from afar.

Whether you're into TVs, gaming, 5G, robots, EVs, or new wearables, we've assembled some of the best gadgets and gizmos from the online trenches of CES 2021. We'll keep updating it as we go, so check back often.

Read more
The best new headphones of CES 2021
Earin A-3 true wireless earbuds

In years past, CES has been wall-to-wall with new headphones and true wireless earbuds, but the all-digital CES 2021 was a quieter affair, with fewer announcements. Still, the headphones that did take the virtual stage were a varied group, and some of them were especially noteworthy. Here are the best headphones from CES 2021.

V-Moda M-200 ANC
V-Moda's M-200 studio-oriented headphones arrived in late 2019 to strong reviews based on to their incredibly precise sound and superb craftsmanship. But as a wired-only set of cans, they excluded themselves from a variety of scenarios outside of the home or studio. The company's newest model, the $500 M-200 ANC addresses this shortcoming by adding wireless capabilities (while preserving the wired option).

Read more