Soundbars / TCL S55H vs Polk Audio Signa S4
TCL S55H vs Polk Audio Signa S4
Polk Audio Signa S4
Real up-firing Atmos drivers under $450 — no smarts, just height.
Wins overall by 0.4 points
Quick Verdict
The Polk Audio Signa S4 is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 0.4 points. Real up-firing Atmos drivers under $450 — no smarts, just height.
The TCL S55H and Polk Audio Signa S4 are both closely matched soundbar models, and the TCL S55H is $310 cheaper than the Polk Audio Signa S4 ($139 vs $449). On Dialogue Clarity, the Polk Audio Signa S4 leads (8.0 vs 6.5/10) — how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack. On Surround & Height, the Polk Audio Signa S4 leads (7.0 vs 5.5/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio. On Sound Quality, the Polk Audio Signa S4 leads (7.5 vs 6.5/10) — overall tonal balance, clarity and detail. Overall, the Polk Audio Signa S4 scores 6.8/10 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 | TCL S55H | Polk Audio Signa S4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.00 | $449.00 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2022 |
| Channels | 2.1 | 3.1.2 |
| Total Power (W) | 220 | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Subwoofer | Included (wireless), 120W | Included (wireless), 5.9-inch driver |
| Rear Speakers | None | None — Polk's SR2 wireless surrounds pair with the MagniFi range, not the Signa S4 |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 output only |
| eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi & Streaming | App control via TCL Home, but no Wi-Fi streaming protocols are listed | None |
| Bluetooth | Not published by the manufacturer | Not published by the manufacturer |
| 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 6.5 — a 1.0-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 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 TCL S55H 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 TCL S55H does not close the gap elsewhere.
Surround & Height
The Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 7.0 against 5.5 — 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 TCL S55H does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The TCL S55H and Polk Audio Signa S4 are level here, at 4.5/10 each. HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Features
The TCL S55H leads clearly here, 6.0 against 5.5 — a 0.5-point margin on room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability. If that is what you are buying for, the Polk Audio Signa S4 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The TCL S55H and Polk Audio Signa S4 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 7.5 — a 1.0-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 TCL S55H if…
- • Value matters most to you — the TCL S55H scores 8.5/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $310 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is compact.
Choose the Polk Audio Signa S4 if…
- • Dialogue Clarity matters most to you — the Polk Audio Signa S4 scores 8.0/10 here (how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack).
- • 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).
- • 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).
- • Your main use case is home-theater.
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
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
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the TCL S55H or Polk Audio Signa S4 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 Dialogue Clarity, the TCL S55H or the Polk Audio Signa S4?+
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 Surround & Height, the TCL S55H or the Polk Audio Signa S4?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 scores higher on Surround & Height (7.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio.
Which is better for Sound Quality, the TCL S55H or the Polk Audio Signa S4?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 scores higher on Sound Quality (7.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — overall tonal balance, clarity and detail.
Which is better for Value, the TCL S55H or the Polk Audio Signa S4?+
The TCL S55H scores higher on Value (8.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — performance and features relative to price.
Is the TCL S55H worth the price difference over the Polk Audio Signa S4?+
The TCL S55H is the cheaper option at $139 versus $449. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Dialogue Clarity.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The TCL S55H is the better fit if you mainly care about compact. The Polk Audio Signa S4 is the better fit for home-theater.
What's the warranty on the TCL S55H vs the Polk Audio Signa S4?+
The TCL S55H ships with a 12-month warranty; the Polk Audio Signa S4 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
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.