Soundbars / TCL S55H vs Hisense HS2100
TCL S55H vs Hisense HS2100
TCL S55H
Room calibration and 220W for $139 — the most feature-dense budget bar.
Wins overall by 0.6 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.6-point gap makes the TCL S55H the straightforward choice here. Room calibration and 220W for $139 — the most feature-dense budget bar.
The TCL S55H and Hisense HS2100 are both closely matched soundbar models, and the Hisense HS2100 is $9 cheaper than the TCL S55H ($129.99 vs $139). On Surround & Height, the TCL S55H leads (5.5 vs 4.0/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio. On Features, the TCL S55H leads (6.0 vs 4.5/10) — room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability. On Sound Quality, the TCL S55H leads (6.5 vs 6.0/10) — overall tonal balance, clarity and detail. Overall, the TCL S55H scores 6.4/10 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 | TCL S55H | Hisense HS2100 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.00 | $129.99 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2023 |
| Channels | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Total Power (W) | 220 | 240✓ |
| Subwoofer | Included (wireless), 120W | Included (wireless), 120W, 11cm slim cabinet |
| Rear Speakers | None | None |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | No |
| DTS:X | TCL's own specification lists DTS Virtual:X; some retail listings claim full DTS:X, which is unconfirmed | No |
| HDMI Ports (ports) | 1 | 1 |
| HDMI Passthrough | None — eARC output only | None |
| eARC | Yes | No |
| Wi-Fi & Streaming | App control via TCL Home, but no Wi-Fi streaming protocols are listed | 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 TCL S55H leads clearly here, 6.5 against 6.0 — a 0.5-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 TCL S55H and Hisense HS2100 are level here, at 7.0/10 each. low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Dialogue Clarity
The TCL S55H and Hisense HS2100 are level here, at 6.5/10 each. how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Surround & Height
The TCL S55H leads clearly here, 5.5 against 4.0 — a 1.5-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 TCL S55H 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 TCL S55H leads clearly here, 6.0 against 4.5 — a 1.5-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 TCL S55H 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 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 Hisense HS2100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the TCL S55H if…
- • Surround & Height matters most to you — the TCL S55H scores 5.5/10 here (dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio).
- • Features matters most to you — the TCL S55H scores 6.0/10 here (room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the TCL S55H scores 6.5/10 here (overall tonal balance, clarity and detail).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the TCL S55H scores 4.5/10 here (HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support).
- • Value matters most to you — the TCL S55H scores 8.5/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
Pros & Cons
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
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 TCL S55H or Hisense HS2100 better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the TCL S55H 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 TCL S55H or the Hisense HS2100?+
The TCL S55H scores higher on Surround & Height (5.5/10 vs 4.0/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio.
Which is better for Features, the TCL S55H or the Hisense HS2100?+
The TCL S55H scores higher on Features (6.0/10 vs 4.5/10) — room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability.
Which is better for Sound Quality, the TCL S55H or the Hisense HS2100?+
The TCL S55H scores higher on Sound Quality (6.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — overall tonal balance, clarity and detail.
Which is better for Connectivity, the TCL S55H or the Hisense HS2100?+
The TCL S55H scores higher on Connectivity (4.5/10 vs 4.0/10) — HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support.
Is the TCL S55H worth the price difference over the Hisense HS2100?+
The Hisense HS2100 is the cheaper option at $129.99 versus $139. 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 TCL S55H is the better fit if you mainly care about dolby-atmos. The Hisense HS2100 is the better fit for tv-upgrade or compact.
What's the warranty on the TCL S55H vs the Hisense HS2100?+
The TCL S55H 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
VIZIO SV210M-08 — $170.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.