Soundbars / TCL S55H vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)
TCL S55H vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)
TCL S55H
Room calibration and 220W for $139 — the most feature-dense budget bar.
Wins overall by 0.1 points
Quick Verdict
This is close. The TCL S55H edges ahead by 0.1 points, but that margin is inside the noise — the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) is a defensible pick on its own terms. Sony's new 2026 entry bar — clear dialogue, but the Atmos is barely there.
The TCL S55H and Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) are both closely matched soundbar models, and the TCL S55H is $211 cheaper than the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) ($139 vs $349.99). On Value, the TCL S55H leads (8.5 vs 6.5/10) — performance and features relative to price. On Dialogue Clarity, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) leads (7.5 vs 6.5/10) — how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack. On Features, the TCL S55H leads (6.0 vs 5.0/10) — room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability. Overall, the TCL S55H scores 6.4/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.3/10 for the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. 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 | Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.00 | $349.99 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2026 |
| Channels | 2.1 | 3.1 |
| Total Power (W) | 220 | Sony publishes power consumption only (bar 30W, subwoofer 20W), not system output |
| Subwoofer | Included (wireless), 120W | Included (wireless), model SA-WB500 |
| Rear Speakers | None | None — Sony has published no compatible wireless rear kit for this model |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| DTS:X | TCL's own specification lists DTS Virtual:X; some retail listings claim full DTS:X, which is unconfirmed | Yes |
| HDMI Ports (ports) | 1 | 1 |
| HDMI Passthrough | None — eARC output only | None — there is no HDMI input, only eARC out |
| eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi & Streaming | App control via TCL Home, but no Wi-Fi streaming protocols are listed | None — no AirPlay, Chromecast or Spotify Connect |
| 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 Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.5 — a 0.5-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 TCL S55H leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.5 — 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 Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Dialogue Clarity
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-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 TCL S55H and Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) are level here, at 5.5/10 each. dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Connectivity
The TCL S55H and Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) 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 5.0 — a 1.0-point margin on room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-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 6.5 — a 2.0-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) 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).
- • Features matters most to you — the TCL S55H scores 6.0/10 here (room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability).
- • You want to spend less — it's $211 cheaper.
Choose the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) if…
- • Dialogue Clarity matters most to you — the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) scores 7.5/10 here (how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack).
- • Design & Build matters most to you — the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) scores 7.5/10 here (finish, size relative to a TV, and how well it fits a living room).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) scores 7.0/10 here (overall tonal balance, clarity and detail).
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
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)
Pros
- +A genuine 2026 model rather than old stock
- +Dedicated centre channel makes dialogue noticeably clearer than a 2.1 bar
- +Slim profile designed to fit under a BRAVIA without blocking the screen
- +Both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
Cons
- −Reviewers report almost no sense of overhead height despite the Atmos badge
- −No room calibration
- −No Wi-Fi streaming of any kind
- −No HDMI input
- −Only a power button on the unit itself, so you depend entirely on the remote
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the TCL S55H or Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) 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 Value, the TCL S55H or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The TCL S55H scores higher on Value (8.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — performance and features relative to price.
Which is better for Dialogue Clarity, the TCL S55H or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) scores higher on Dialogue Clarity (7.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack.
Which is better for Features, the TCL S55H or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The TCL S55H scores higher on Features (6.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability.
Which is better for Design & Build, the TCL S55H or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) scores higher on Design & Build (7.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — finish, size relative to a TV, and how well it fits a living room.
Is the TCL S55H worth the price difference over the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The TCL S55H is the cheaper option at $139 versus $349.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Value.
What's the warranty on the TCL S55H vs the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The TCL S55H ships with a 12-month warranty; the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) 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
TCL S55H — $139.00
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.