Soundbars / LG S95AR vs TCL S55H
LG S95AR vs TCL S55H
LG S95AR
A complete 9.1.5 system with rears and sub in the box — the LG OLED match.
Wins overall by 2.4 points
Quick Verdict
A 2.4-point gap makes the LG S95AR the straightforward choice here. A complete 9.1.5 system with rears and sub in the box — the LG OLED match.
The LG S95AR and TCL S55H are both closely matched soundbar models, and the TCL S55H is $1,560 cheaper than the LG S95AR ($139 vs $1,699). On Connectivity, the LG S95AR leads (9.0 vs 4.5/10) — HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support. On Surround & Height, the LG S95AR leads (9.5 vs 5.5/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio. On Features, the LG S95AR leads (9.0 vs 6.0/10) — room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability. Overall, the LG S95AR scores 8.8/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.4/10 for the TCL S55H. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | LG S95AR | TCL S55H |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1699.00 | $139.00 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2024 |
| Channels | 9.1.5 (17 drivers, five up-firing including a centre height channel) | 2.1 |
| Total Power (W) | 810✓ | 220 |
| Subwoofer | Included (wireless), 8-inch driver in a 20-litre cabinet, extending to 27.1Hz | Included (wireless), 120W |
| Rear Speakers | Included — six-channel true wireless rears with up-firing drivers | None |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| DTS:X | Yes | TCL's own specification lists DTS Virtual:X; some retail listings claim full DTS:X, which is unconfirmed |
| HDMI Ports (ports) | 2✓ | 1 |
| HDMI Passthrough | 4K/120Hz with VRR and ALLM, HDCP 2.3, HDR10 and Dolby Vision | None — eARC output only |
| eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi & Streaming | Yes — AirPlay 2, Google Cast and Spotify Connect all supported | App control via TCL Home, but no Wi-Fi streaming protocols are listed |
| Bluetooth | Not published by the manufacturer | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Voice Assistant | Works with Alexa and Google Home; whether either is built in is not confirmed by LG. The built-in microphone is documented for room calibration | None |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.5 — a 2.5-point margin on overall tonal balance, clarity and detail. If that is what you are buying for, the TCL S55H does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.0 — a 2.0-point margin on low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer. If that is what you are buying for, the TCL S55H does not close the gap elsewhere.
Dialogue Clarity
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-point margin on how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack. If that is what you are buying for, the TCL S55H does not close the gap elsewhere.
Surround & Height
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 9.5 against 5.5 — a 4.0-point margin on dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio. If that is what you are buying for, the TCL S55H does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 9.0 against 4.5 — a 4.5-point margin on HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support. If that is what you are buying for, the TCL S55H does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.0 — a 3.0-point margin on room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability. If that is what you are buying for, the TCL S55H does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-point margin on finish, size relative to a TV, and how well it fits a living room. If that is what you are buying for, the TCL S55H does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The TCL S55H leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the LG S95AR does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the LG S95AR if…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the LG S95AR scores 9.0/10 here (HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support).
- • Surround & Height matters most to you — the LG S95AR scores 9.5/10 here (dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio).
- • Features matters most to you — the LG S95AR scores 9.0/10 here (room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the LG S95AR scores 9.0/10 here (overall tonal balance, clarity and detail).
- • Bass matters most to you — the LG S95AR scores 9.0/10 here (low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer).
Choose the TCL S55H if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $1,560 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is tv-upgrade or compact.
Pros & Cons
LG S95AR
Pros
- +Rear speakers and subwoofer both included, so it is a complete system out of the box
- +The only bar here with a centre up-firing height channel
- +810W published power and full 4K/120Hz VRR pass-through
- +WOW Orchestra and WOWCAST make it the natural match for an LG OLED
Cons
- −LG does not publish the Bluetooth version
- −Whether Alexa or Google Assistant is genuinely built in is unclear from LG's own materials
- −Large footprint — the bar, sub and two rears need real space
- −2025 hardware, and LG has announced a modular Sound Suite successor with no price or date
TCL S55H
Pros
- +Automatic room calibration is genuinely rare under $200
- +220W with a wireless subwoofer included
- +eARC rather than plain ARC
- +Works as one system with TCL and Roku TVs
Cons
- −TCL's own spec sheet says DTS Virtual:X while retail listings claim DTS:X — treat full DTS:X as unconfirmed
- −No HDMI input
- −TCL does not publish the Bluetooth version
- −Atmos is virtualised, with no up-firing drivers
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the LG S95AR or TCL S55H better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the LG S95AR comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Connectivity, the LG S95AR or the TCL S55H?+
The LG S95AR scores higher on Connectivity (9.0/10 vs 4.5/10) — HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support.
Which is better for Surround & Height, the LG S95AR or the TCL S55H?+
The LG S95AR scores higher on Surround & Height (9.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio.
Which is better for Features, the LG S95AR or the TCL S55H?+
The LG S95AR scores higher on Features (9.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability.
Which is better for Sound Quality, the LG S95AR or the TCL S55H?+
The LG S95AR scores higher on Sound Quality (9.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — overall tonal balance, clarity and detail.
Is the LG S95AR worth the price difference over the TCL S55H?+
The TCL S55H is the cheaper option at $139 versus $1,699. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Connectivity.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The LG S95AR is the better fit if you mainly care about home-theater or gaming. The TCL S55H is the better fit for tv-upgrade or compact.
What's the warranty on the LG S95AR vs the TCL S55H?+
The LG S95AR ships with a 12-month warranty; the TCL S55H ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Hisense HS2100 — $129.99
Premium Option
Samsung HW-Q990H — $1999.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.