The TCL S55H is a budget 2.1 soundbar released in 2024 that's compatible with Dolby Atmos. It comes with a subwoofer that connects wirelessly, which the manufacturer claims will combine with the 'dual horn echo chambers' in the bar itself to enhance bass performance. The bar also features some technologies that are more commonly found in higher-end bars, like AI Sonic-Adaption, which tunes the output to your room's acoustics, and 'Tutti Choral,' which works with compatible TCL TVs to utilize the TV's speakers as a center channel that supposedly improves Atmos performance.
Our Verdict
The TCL S55H is decent for mixed usage. It has a reasonably balanced default sound, with some thump in the bass range, courtesy of the dedicated subwoofer. However, there's some roll-off in the highs that can cause sibilants, like S and T sounds, to sound muffled in dialogue. Its height, surround, and soundstage performances leave something to be desired, too, as the overall sound isn't too immersive. Thankfully, this bar is capable of getting quite loud without compressing. There are also a few sound enhancement options, like the AI Sonic-Adaptation room correction tool and 'Tutti Choral,' which lets you sync a compatible TCL TV's speakers to use as a center channel.
- Can get quite loud with minimal compression.
- Dolby Atmos-compatible.
- AI Sonic-Adaptation room correction tool.
- Disappointing height performance with Atmos content.
- No Full HDMI In.
- Downmixes surround sound content.
The TCL S55H soundbar is good for dialogue and TV shows. Its mid-range output is mostly balanced, resulting in the smooth reproduction of dialogue and voices. It can also get quite loud without compressing, resulting in a relatively natural reproduction of speech, even when it's competing with blaring bass sounds. There's also a dialogue enhancement mode to add further clarity. Sadly, the center performance isn't the best, as this bar lacks a discrete center channel. This can mean that it's harder to pinpoint voices during busier scenes and detracts from their intelligibility. Latency is also high when using an HDMI eARC connection, which can cause lip-sync issues between the audio and video. Unfortunately, there's no AV sync function to manually adjust for this either.
- Can get quite loud with minimal compression.
- AI Sonic-Adaptation room correction tool.
- High HDMI latency, no AV Sync feature.
The TCL S55H soundbar is good for music. It has a pretty balanced default sound profile that can be refined with some bass and treble adjustments. There's a decent amount of bass on top thanks to the dedicated subwoofer, and the balanced mid-range renders vocals and lead instruments with detail. The treble range is somewhat recessed, though, resulting in sibilants, like cymbals, sounding a little muffled. The stereo soundstage also isn't the most immersive sounding. That said, it's capable of getting quite loud with minimal compression, and you can take advantage of the AI Sonic-Adaptation feature to tune the sound to your room or pick from one of the many EQ presets.
- Can get quite loud with minimal compression.
- AI Sonic-Adaptation room correction tool.
- Downmixes surround sound content.
The TCL S55H soundbar is okay for movies. Its relatively balanced stereo frequency response means that revving engines in chase sequences sound vivid, but there are some inconsistencies in the treble range that can rob sibilants of presence. Thankfully, the balanced mid-range ensures that dialogue and vocals remain clear and accurate. This bar is also capable of outputting plenty of volume without compressing too much, which is great for larger watch parties. That said, its surround and height performances with Atmos aren't the best, so dimensional audio lacks the immersive quality of setups with discrete satellite speakers. Latency is also quite high when using an HDMI eARC connection, which can result in sync issues between the audio and video. Sadly, there's no AV sync function to manually adjust for this either.
- Can get quite loud with minimal compression.
- Dolby Atmos-compatible.
- AI Sonic-Adaptation room correction tool.
- High HDMI latency, no AV Sync feature.
- Disappointing height performance with Atmos content.
- Downmixes surround sound content.
Changelog
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Updated Jul 09, 2025:
The Surround 5.1 box was updated to mention the 5.1 Hisense HS5100.
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Updated Feb 14, 2025:
The TCL Q85H has been added to the Compared box.
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Updated Nov 11, 2024:
This review originally described the soundbar as being made of aluminum, but it's plastic, which has been corrected throughout the review. The text in Audio Format Support: Optical has been corrected to state that it supports DTS and Dolby Digital. The all-in-one TCL S45H is also mentioned in Style - Bar.
- Updated Sep 24, 2024: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The TCL S55H comes in just one color variant: 'Black' (here's its label). You can also purchase the TCL S45H, which is a very similar soundbar without the wireless sub. You might also see the TCL S55H referred to as the S5XH, which is another designation for the same model.
If you come across another variant, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The TCL S55H is a 2.1 Atmos-compatible soundbar released in 2024. It boasts features like AI Sonic-Adaptation (a room correction tool) and 'Tutti Choral' (which lets you use a compatible TCL TV's speakers as part of the sound field) that are quite rare to find at the budget price point. The Hisense HS2100, for example, comes in at a similar price point but lacks Atmos compatibility and any kind of room correction feature. That said, it has a more balanced default frequency response and lower latency via an HDMI connection. Still, compared to the higher tier TCL Q Class soundbars, like the TCL Q85H, the S55H lacks up-firing speakers and satellites for a more immersive experience.
See also our recommendations for the best budget soundbars, the best soundbars under $200, and the best small soundbars.
The Hisense HS2100 and the TCL S55H are both budget-minded 2.1 soundbar setups. However, depending on your preferences, these two bars have contrasting strengths. The Hisense has a more balanced default frequency response, a slightly wider soundstage, and significantly lower latency via HDMI ARC, meaning there's less chance of running into AV sync issues that can detract from dialogue-heavy content. That said, the TCL comes with more premium features, like AI Sonic-Adaptation room correction and Atmos compatibility. It can also get louder while compressing less, and owners of compatible TCL TVs can benefit from 'Tutti Choral,' which incorporates your TV's speakers into the sound field. The deciding factor for many users will be the TCL's Atmos compatibility. That said, there's an argument to be made that the lack of satellite speakers and convincing height performance nullifies this somewhat.
Whether the TCL S55H or TCL S45H is better depends more on whether you have room for a subwoofer more than on their performances. Their performances and capabilities are nearly identical, except that, unsurprisingly, the TCL S55H, with its dedicated subwoofer, sounds better with a fuller bass response.
The Samsung HW-B650 and the TCL S55H both fall into the budget soundbar category but fulfill slightly different purposes. The Samsung's 3.1 setup comes with a discrete center channel, which makes all the difference when compared to the TCL's simulated phantom center. It also has a more balanced default sound profile and a better dynamics performance, which makes it a great fit for those who value clear and detailed dialogue. It also has lower latency via HDMI and comes with an HDMI In port, meaning it can function as a hub between your console and TV. That said, the TCL is Atmos-compatible and comes with a better suite of sound enhancement features, like AI Sonic-Adaptation, which tunes the sound to your room's unique acoustic characteristics.
Both the TCL S55H and Hisense HS5100 are budget-oriented soundbars with outboard subs. However, the Hisense also includes satellites. They share some similarities, so it depends on your needs, but one advantage of the Hisense is its 5.1 configuration (rather than the TCL's 2.1). It sports a slightly wider soundstage, much better surround sound, and a clearer discrete center channel. On the other hand, the TCL supports a few more audio formats like Dolby Atmos, but it downmixes to stereo anyway. The upside is that it takes up less space in your home, gets plenty loud, and has virtually identical wired ports and wireless connectivity as the Hisense.
Test Results
