Soundbars / Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) vs TCL S55H
Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) vs TCL S55H
Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A)
Its subwoofer detaches and works as a portable Bluetooth speaker.
Wins overall by 1.1 points
Quick Verdict
A 1.1-point gap makes the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) the straightforward choice here. Its subwoofer detaches and works as a portable Bluetooth speaker.
The Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) and TCL S55H are both closely matched soundbar models, and the TCL S55H is $361 cheaper than the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) ($139 vs $499.95). On Connectivity, the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) leads (7.5 vs 4.5/10) — HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support. On Features, the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) leads (8.0 vs 6.0/10) — room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability. On Surround & Height, the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) leads (7.0 vs 5.5/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio. Overall, the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) scores 7.5/10 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 | Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) | TCL S55H |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.95 | $139.00 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2024 |
| Channels | 2.1.2 | 2.1 |
| Total Power (W) | 280✓ | 220 |
| Subwoofer | Both — dual built-in woofers plus an included 100W wireless True X Sub 100A | Included (wireless), 120W |
| Rear Speakers | Optional add-on — Yamaha TRUE X SPEAKER 1A wireless surrounds | None |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| DTS:X | No | 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 pass-through; Yamaha does not specify a refresh rate, so assume 4K/60 | None — eARC output only |
| eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi & Streaming | Wi-Fi 5 with AirPlay 2; Chromecast is not supported | App control via TCL Home, but no Wi-Fi streaming protocols are listed |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Voice Assistant | Retailer listings claim built-in Alexa, but Yamaha's own specification does not list it for this model | None |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) 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 Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) 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 Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) 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 Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) 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 Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 4.5 — a 3.0-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 Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.0 — a 2.0-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 Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) 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 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) if…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) scores 7.5/10 here (HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support).
- • Features matters most to you — the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) scores 8.0/10 here (room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability).
- • Surround & Height matters most to you — the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) scores 7.0/10 here (dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) scores 7.5/10 here (overall tonal balance, clarity and detail).
- • Dialogue Clarity matters most to you — the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) scores 7.5/10 here (how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack).
Choose the TCL S55H if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $361 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is compact.
Pros & Cons
Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A)
Pros
- +The detachable subwoofer working as a portable Bluetooth speaker is genuinely useful and unique here
- +280W published power, plus a real HDMI input
- +A clear upgrade path to true wireless surrounds
- +AirPlay 2 built in
Cons
- −No DTS support at all — not DTS:X, not even DTS Digital Surround
- −Bluetooth 5.0 is dated
- −Yamaha does not confirm whether Alexa is actually built in
- −Pass-through refresh rate is unspecified, so gamers should assume 4K/60
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 Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) or TCL S55H better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) 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 Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) or the TCL S55H?+
The Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) scores higher on Connectivity (7.5/10 vs 4.5/10) — HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support.
Which is better for Features, the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) or the TCL S55H?+
The Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) scores higher on Features (8.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability.
Which is better for Surround & Height, the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) or the TCL S55H?+
The Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) 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 Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) or the TCL S55H?+
The Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) scores higher on Sound Quality (7.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — overall tonal balance, clarity and detail.
Is the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) worth the price difference over the TCL S55H?+
The TCL S55H is the cheaper option at $139 versus $499.95. 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 Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) is the better fit if you mainly care about home-theater. The TCL S55H is the better fit for compact.
What's the warranty on the Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) vs the TCL S55H?+
The Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) 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
Bose Smart Soundbar — $549.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.