Can a cheap soundbar actually sound good? The TCL S55H S Class 2.1 and the Hisense HS2100 2.1 soundbars prove the answer is yes — both pack Dolby Atmos (and/or DTS Virtual:X) and a wireless subwoofer, features you’d normally expect to pay twice as much for.
They’re not perfect, though. Hundreds of Amazon and Reddit reviews reveal the classic budget trade-off: impressive performance for the price, but occasional bugs and reliability quirks you have to live with.
We’ve sifted through the real-user feedback so you don’t have to. Here’s everything you need to decide which one deserves a spot under your TV.
What Are Budget Soundbars Best For? (Ideal Use Cases)
Both the TCL S55H and Hisense HS2100 shine when cost and space matter most. They deliver a huge leap over built-in TV speakers without breaking the bank or turning your living room into a wiring nightmare.
Perfect for:
- Small apartments, bedrooms, RVs, patios, or garages — the sound easily fills compact spaces
- Secondary TVs in guest rooms, kids’ rooms, home offices, gyms, or man caves
- Renters, college students, or anyone who might move soon
- Elderly or non-tech-savvy users who just want something simple that works with their existing TV remote
- Anyone saving up for a high-end setup — these give you surprisingly good sound (and even Atmos on the TCL) while you wait
Performance: Loudness, Bass, and Dialogue Clarity
Overall Volume & Soundstage
- TCL: Comfortably fills 250–300 sq ft rooms; virtual Atmos creates believable overhead effects for movies and shows.
- Hisense: 240 W total power pushes slightly louder — great for open-plan homes — but the soundstage feels narrower and less immersive.
Both are dramatically louder and clearer than any flat-panel TV, but the TCL pulls ahead in the category most people care about: dialogue.
| Feature | TCL S55H | Hisense HS2100 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Value | Exceptional sound for the price. Praised as “unreal” value. | Great entry-level performance. Provides powerful loudness. | Tie |
| Dialogue Clarity | Features an effective Voice Enhancement mode. Highly praised for making words clear over loud effects. | Weak. Several users find voice clarity “terrible” and rely on subtitles. | TCL S55H |
| Bass Impact | Surprising bass. “More than adequate” thump for apartment living. | Deep & Rumbly. Many users note they had to turn down the bass. | Hisense HS2100 |
| Advanced Sound | Features AI Sonic Room Calibration via app (once setup works). | Its Dynamic Range Compression (DRC) is praised for preventing sudden loud commercials. | TCL S55H (Due to the customization via calibration) |
Bottom line on sound: If you mainly want to hear dialogue clearly without cranking the volume, choose the TCL S55H. If you crave deep, chest-thumping bass for music or action scenes, the Hisense HS2100 hits harder.
Who Are These Soundbars For? (Customer Profiles)
| Customer Profile | Best Fit | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| The TCL TV Owner | TCL S55H | The seamless setup via HDMI eARC and the ability to use one remote for both devices is a major usability win, especially for non-tech-savvy users. |
| The Movie & Dialogue Focused | TCL S55H | The Voice Enhancement feature is effective at solving the core problem of loud music drowning out conversation. |
| The Apartment Dweller | TCL S55H | Needs a unit that won’t wake the neighbors (avoiding the Hisense’s loud announcements) but still provides clear sound. |
| The Bass Head on a Budget | Hisense HS2100 | If you are purely after the biggest, rumbliest bass possible at the absolute lowest price, the Hisense sub delivers. |
| The Secondary TV/Office | TCL S55H | The S55H is less disruptive for a bedroom or office. Avoid the Hisense in any quiet space. |
The Deal-Breaker Flaws: Usability and Reliability
This is where the budget reality bites.
TCL S55H: “Blind and Jumpy” Volume
- No visible display or useful LED feedback — you’re adjusting volume completely blind from the couch.
- Volume steps are erratic; it often jumps from whisper-quiet to way-too-loud.
- The TCL Home app (needed for room calibration) confuses some users during setup.
Hisense HS2100: The Yelling Soundbar
- Every power-on loudly announces: “POWER ON! HDMI! SUBWOOFER CONNECTED!”
- There is no way to disable or lower these voice prompts (confirmed by Hisense support).
- For late-night viewing, bedrooms, or apartments with thin walls, this is an instant deal-breaker.
- A noticeable number of users also report persistent audio-video lag that makes movies unwatchable.
The Reliability Lottery
Both models suffer from higher-than-average failure rates — most commonly the wireless subwoofer dropping connection or dying within the first year. Hisense owners additionally complain that replacement parts are unavailable, leaving them stuck buying a whole new unit.
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
Winner: TCL S55H
The TCL S55H is the safer, more enjoyable daily driver. Superior dialogue clarity solves the #1 reason people buy a soundbar in the first place, and its flaws (while annoying) are far less disruptive than the Hisense’s shouting voice prompts and higher risk of A/V lag.
Unless you live in a constantly noisy environment and never watch TV quietly, the Hisense HS2100’s unavoidable announcements make it impossible to recommend for most people.
Quick Specs Comparison
| Feature | TCL S55H (2.1 ch) | Hisense HS2100 (2.1 ch) |
|---|---|---|
| Street Price | See Amazon for price | See Amazon for price |
| Channels | 2.1 + wireless sub | 2.1 + wireless sub |
| Power | 220 W (bar + sub) | 240 W (bar + sub) |
| Dimensions (bar) | 31.89″(W) x 3.86″(D) x 2.36″(H) | 31.5″(W) x 3.54″(D) x 2.36″(H) |
| Subwoofer | 12.87″(W) x 34.45″(D) x 10.12″(H) | 4.33″(W) x 11.81″(D) x 13.78″(H) |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X | Dolby Audio, DTS Virtual:X |
| Connections | HDMI eARC, Optical, AUX, USB, Bluetooth 5.3 | HDMI ARC, Optical, AUX, USB, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Remote | Full IR + batteries | Full IR + batteries |
| Wall-mount kit | Yes | Yes |
Related: TCL S45H Soundbar Review: Best Value Dolby Atmos Upgrade