The Hisense HS218 is a budget-friendly 2.1 soundbar. Out-of-the-box, it has a pretty neutral sound profile suitable for most types of audio content, though it can also sound a bit dark. While it comes with a dedicated subwoofer, it doesn't reproduce a very extended low-bass, so you don't feel the deep thump and rumble in bass-heavy music and action-filled movies. That said, there are some basic sound enhancement features available, like dialogue enhancement and EQ presets to customize its sound.
Our Verdict
The Hisense HS218 is adequate for mixed usage. Out-of-the-box, this soundbar has a pretty neutral, though slightly dark, sound profile that's still suitable for listening to most types of audio content. There are also some sound customization features to help you get a more neutral sound if you prefer. While it supports surround content, unfortunately, it doesn't provide a very immersive listening experience. It doesn't reproduce a very extended low-bass, disappointing for fans of bass-heavy music and action movies.
- EQ presets available.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Dialogue enhancement feature.
- No Atmos support.
- Downmixes surround content into stereo.
- Lacks low-bass.
The Hisense HS218 is satisfactory for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. Out-of-the-box, its balanced mid-range reproduces voices clearly and with detail. There's even a dialogue enhancement mode available to help make them more crisp. However, due to its 2.1 setup, it lacks a discrete center channel. As a result, voices aren't accurately localized to a pinpoint location within the sound image, resulting in less immersive listening experience.
- Bluetooth support.
- Dialogue enhancement feature.
- Phantom center channel.
- No auto-volume mode.
The Hisense HS218 is decent for music. Out-of-the-box, it has a pretty neutral sound profile that can reproduce vocals and lead instruments clearly, though they can also sound a bit dark. Fortunately, you can use its bass and treble adjustments as well as its EQ presets to customize its sound. That said, it still struggles to reproduce an extended low-bass, so you don't feel the deep rumble in bass-heavy genres like EDM.
- EQ presets available.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Lacks low-bass.
- Some compression at max volume.
The Hisense HS218 is mediocre for movies. Thanks to its balanced mid-range, this soundbar can reproduce dialogue clearly. While it supports surround content, it has to downmix it into stereo to play it, which doesn't sound as immersive. It doesn't support Dolby Atmos content. It also struggles to reproduce a thumpy, rumbling low-bass, which might disappoint fans of action-packed movies.
- EQ presets available.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- No Atmos support.
- Downmixes surround content into stereo.
Changelog
- Updated Apr 06, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Apr 05, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.1. With this update, we've added a Mounting test and added information aboutSubwoofer Output, Spotify Connect, and Microphone Mute.
- Updated Sep 29, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Sep 24, 2021: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Hisense HS218 soundbar comes in 'Black', and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version of this soundbar, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Hisense HS218 soundbar is a straightforward budget-friendly setup. It has some basic sound enhancement features like EQ presets and dialogue enhancement, but it lacks more premium features like room correction. Also, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content.
See our recommendations for the best budget soundbars, the best soundbars under $200, and the best soundbars for dialogue.
The standalone Sonos Arc is better than the Hisense HS218. The Sonos is a 5.0.2 setup that's better built. Unlike the Hisense, it supports Atmos content and has built-in voice assistant capabilities. It also offers better soundstage, center, and surround performances. It even has some more sound enhancement features, like room correction.
The Sonos Beam is better than the Hisense HS218. The Sonos is a 3.0 setup that's better built and comes with built-in voice assistant support. It has better center and soundstage performances, too. Also, it comes with some more sound enhancement features, like room correction. However, the Hisense has a dedicated sub, which helps reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass.
The JBL Bar 9.1 is better than the Hisense HS218. The JBL is a 5.1.4 setup with discrete satellites. It's better built, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. Also, it offers better soundstage, center, and surround performances. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass. Also, it has some more sound enhancement features, like room correction.
The Hisense HS218 is a better 2.1 soundbar than the Sony HT-S200F. The Hisense is better-built, and unlike the Sony, it comes with a dedicated subwoofer. While it doesn't reproduce a more extended low-bass than some more premium models we've tested, it does have a more extended bass than the Sony. Also, it has better soundstage and surround performances.
Test Results
