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Vegass

Vegass March 23, 2025, 8:09 p.m.

Help me pick best soundbar for TCL tv! Built-in audio driving me INSANE

Just dropped serious cash on a TCL 65" 6-Series (R646) last month and while the picture is absolutely mind-blowing, I'm ready to throw this remote through the screen every time someone talks in a movie. Can barely understand dialogue, explosions sound like someone crinkling paper, and music scenes make me want to mute the whole thing.

I need suggestions for best soundbar for TCL tv that won't completely wreck my bank account after this TV purchase. My situation:

  • Small-ish apartment living room (16x14 ft)
  • Mainly watch action movies, some gaming, occasional Spotify
  • Need WAY clearer dialogue above all else
  • Want decent bass without separate huge subwoofer
  • Hoping to stay under $300
  • Must play nice with TCL's CEC/remote setup

Never bought audio equipment before and completely lost. What's actually worked for y'all with TCL sets? Real-world experiences only please!

***с

***с March 23, 2025, 11:43 p.m.

don't fall for the "same brand" trap... bought matching tcl soundbar thinking it'd pair perfectly

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unsonelesydon

unsonelesydon March 24, 2025, 11:13 a.m.

fyi that 6-series has incredibly picky hdmi-arc port. borrowed 3 different bars from friends before finding one that connected without static/dropouts. Make sure whatever you buy has good return policy

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Dogman98

Dogman98 March 24, 2025, 9:45 p.m.

Yooo snagged that TCL Alto 8i on prime day after skipping lunches to save up lol. Deadass shocked it actually slaps?? Can finally hear wtf people saying in movies + bass hits decent enough. Not gonna win any awards but def worth the $$$

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darkking

darkking March 25, 2025, 5:09 p.m.

dawg check your tv connection options first!

newer tcls support earc which handles better audio formats but only through hdmi 1

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rhodium

rhodium March 25, 2025, 10:22 p.m.

This saved me so much headache! Had my bar plugged into regular hdmi for weeks wondering why everything sounded flat. Switched to earc port and suddenly dolby working

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Benitto

Benitto March 26, 2025, 7:47 p.m.

Stopped looking at soundbars after three disappointing purchases. Secret winner? Playstation headset. Weird solution but bear with me - PS5 3D pulse connects to tv directly, costs $99, and dialogue sounds crystal clear without disturbing neighbors. Use it nightly for movies now

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alf1210

alf1210 March 27, 2025, 11:16 p.m.

Weirdest tcl quirk nobody mentions: if using streaming apps directly on tv (netflix/hulu/etc), audio processed differently than external devices. Soundbar that sounds great with ps5/cable box might sound terrible with built-in apps. Test ALL your sources during return window

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8145

8145 March 28, 2025, 9:59 p.m.

Vegass my apartment setup identical to yours - ended up with PHEANOO 2.1 CH Soundbar after trying friend's recommendation. Perfect size for medium rooms and dialogue enhancement mode actually works unlike other "features" that do nothing. Still using it 8 months later

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Broked

Broked March 29, 2025, 4 p.m.

Prepare for disappointment in that price range tbh. Spent months trying sub-$300 options before giving up and saving longer. Entry price for soundbars that don't suck starts around $425 unless catching crazy sale

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???xxx

???xxx April 6, 2025, 4:51 p.m.

Rewatched Tenet last weekend and finally understood what everyone was saying!! Literally impossible with tv speakers. Found open-box JBL Bar 2.1 at Best Buy ($220) that saved my sanity. Dedicated center channel makes MASSIVE difference for mumbly Nolan films

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