Soundbars / Polk Audio Signa S4 vs Hisense HS2100
Polk Audio Signa S4 vs Hisense HS2100
Polk Audio Signa S4
Real up-firing Atmos drivers under $450 — no smarts, just height.
Wins overall by 1.0 points
Quick Verdict
The Polk Audio Signa S4 is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 1.0 points. Real up-firing Atmos drivers under $450 — no smarts, just height.
The Polk Audio Signa S4 and Hisense HS2100 are both closely matched soundbar models, and the Hisense HS2100 is $319 cheaper than the Polk Audio Signa S4 ($129.99 vs $449). On Surround & Height, the Polk Audio Signa S4 leads (7.0 vs 4.0/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio. On Sound Quality, the Polk Audio Signa S4 leads (7.5 vs 6.0/10) — overall tonal balance, clarity and detail. On Dialogue Clarity, the Polk Audio Signa S4 leads (8.0 vs 6.5/10) — how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack. Overall, the Polk Audio Signa S4 scores 6.8/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 5.8/10 for the Hisense HS2100. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Polk Audio Signa S4 | Hisense HS2100 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.00 | $129.99 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2023 |
| Channels | 3.1.2 | 2.1 |
| Total Power (W) | Not published by the manufacturer | 240 |
| Subwoofer | Included (wireless), 5.9-inch driver | Included (wireless), 120W, 11cm slim cabinet |
| Rear Speakers | None — Polk's SR2 wireless surrounds pair with the MagniFi range, not the Signa S4 | None |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | No |
| DTS:X | No | No |
| HDMI Ports (ports) | 1 | 1 |
| HDMI Passthrough | None — eARC output only | None |
| eARC | Yes | No |
| Wi-Fi & Streaming | None | None |
| Bluetooth | Not published by the manufacturer | 5.3 |
| Voice Assistant | None | None |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.0 — a 1.5-point margin on overall tonal balance, clarity and detail. If that is what you are buying for, the Hisense HS2100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-point margin on low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer. If that is what you are buying for, the Hisense HS2100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Dialogue Clarity
The Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-point margin on how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack. If that is what you are buying for, the Hisense HS2100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Surround & Height
The Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 7.0 against 4.0 — a 3.0-point margin on dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio. If that is what you are buying for, the Hisense HS2100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 4.5 against 4.0 — a 0.5-point margin on HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support. If that is what you are buying for, the Hisense HS2100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 5.5 against 4.5 — a 1.0-point margin on room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability. If that is what you are buying for, the Hisense HS2100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The Polk Audio Signa S4 and Hisense HS2100 are level here, at 6.5/10 each. finish, size relative to a TV, and how well it fits a living room is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The Hisense HS2100 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Polk Audio Signa S4 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Polk Audio Signa S4 if…
- • Surround & Height matters most to you — the Polk Audio Signa S4 scores 7.0/10 here (dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the Polk Audio Signa S4 scores 7.5/10 here (overall tonal balance, clarity and detail).
- • Dialogue Clarity matters most to you — the Polk Audio Signa S4 scores 8.0/10 here (how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack).
- • Features matters most to you — the Polk Audio Signa S4 scores 5.5/10 here (room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability).
- • Bass matters most to you — the Polk Audio Signa S4 scores 7.5/10 here (low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer).
Choose the Hisense HS2100 if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $319 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is compact.
Pros & Cons
Polk Audio Signa S4
Pros
- +True up-firing height drivers rather than virtualised Atmos, which most bars at this price lack
- +VoiceAdjust genuinely helps with mumbled dialogue
- +Dolby Atmos Certified
- +Included wireless subwoofer
Cons
- −No Wi-Fi or smart features of any kind
- −No DTS:X support
- −Cannot be expanded with rear speakers
- −2022 hardware still selling at a 2022 price
- −42 inches wide, so it needs a wide TV stand
Hisense HS2100
Pros
- +240W published power is a lot for the money
- +The slim subwoofer actually fits under a sofa or cabinet
- +Roku TV Ready means one remote controls everything on a Roku TV
- +Bluetooth 5.3
Cons
- −No Dolby Atmos — Dolby Digital only
- −DTS Virtual:X is a virtualiser, not true DTS:X
- −Plain ARC rather than eARC, which limits the audio formats a TV can send it
- −No Wi-Fi
- −It announces itself audibly at startup with no way to disable it
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Polk Audio Signa S4 or Hisense HS2100 better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Polk Audio Signa S4 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 Surround & Height, the Polk Audio Signa S4 or the Hisense HS2100?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 scores higher on Surround & Height (7.0/10 vs 4.0/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio.
Which is better for Sound Quality, the Polk Audio Signa S4 or the Hisense HS2100?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 scores higher on Sound Quality (7.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — overall tonal balance, clarity and detail.
Which is better for Dialogue Clarity, the Polk Audio Signa S4 or the Hisense HS2100?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 scores higher on Dialogue Clarity (8.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack.
Which is better for Features, the Polk Audio Signa S4 or the Hisense HS2100?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 scores higher on Features (5.5/10 vs 4.5/10) — room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability.
Is the Polk Audio Signa S4 worth the price difference over the Hisense HS2100?+
The Hisense HS2100 is the cheaper option at $129.99 versus $449. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Surround & Height.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 is the better fit if you mainly care about dolby-atmos or home-theater. The Hisense HS2100 is the better fit for compact.
What's the warranty on the Polk Audio Signa S4 vs the Hisense HS2100?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Hisense HS2100 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.
Premium Option
Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) — $499.95
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.