Soundbar with wireless subwoofer under 3 thousand! TCL S55HE also supports Dolby Atmos

A soundbar with a wireless subwoofer and Dolby Atmos under 3 thousand – that usually means compromises at every turn. The TCL S55HE for 2,799 CZK, however, according to 65 customers on Alza, delivers more than one would expect for this money. A rating of 4.8/5 with over a thousand units sold and a return rate of 0.63% speaks volumes – and reviews are repeatedly full of surprise at how well it performs for the given price.

Quick summary:
✅ Makes sense if you want significantly better sound than from your TV and don’t want to spend 5+ thousand – for 2,799 CZK you get a 2.1 setup with a wireless subwoofer, Dolby Atmos, and eARC.
⚠️ Consider if you expect true surround sound from multiple speakers – it’s a 2.1 system, so Dolby Atmos works virtually, not from dedicated height channels. And the voice guide when changing settings bothers some customers (it can be muted/turned off).
💡 For 2,799 CZK you get 220W output, a wireless subwoofer, Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X, HDMI eARC, and AI sound tuning.

Why this soundbar

In the category under 3 thousand CZK, most soundbars come without a subwoofer – you only get a bar that plays better than the TV, but lacks bass. The TCL S55HE includes a wireless active subwoofer with 120 W output, which connects to the soundbar automatically. In combination with the 100W soundbar, this gives a total of 220 W RMS. The subwoofer is compact (19.5 × 19.5 × 32 cm), but customers repeatedly write that it delivers bass beyond expectations – “literally a shock how much bass it produces for its size,” summarizes one reviewer from Plzeň.

The soundbar itself measures 81 × 6 × 9.8 cm and weighs only 2.1 kg – it fits under most TVs from 43″ upwards. The brushed finish with fingerprint protection looks elegant.

Sound, Dolby Atmos, and AI Tuning

Support for Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X at this price is not a given. This is virtual surround sound – you don’t have height speakers, so the “sound from above” effect is simulated – but when watching movies and series with an Atmos soundtrack, the difference compared to stereo sound from the TV is significant. Specialized sound modes (movie, music, games, night mode) allow for quick switching between profiles. Night mode mutes the subwoofer – practical if you’re watching late and don’t want to wake the neighbors.

The AI Sonic-Adaption feature, via the TCL Home app, analyzes room acoustics and adapts the sound. Several customers confirm that “AI tuning really works” and that after setup via the app, the sound significantly improved. The Bass Enhancement System combines hardware and software bass optimization – a low-frequency algorithm increases peak acoustic pressure by 4 dB in the 60–90 Hz range. If you have a TCL TV, Tutti Choral support connects the soundbar and TV speakers together for at least a 2.1.2 channel output.

Connectivity and Control

Connectivity: HDMI with eARC (connects to the TV with a single cable, and you control the volume directly with the TV remote), optical digital input, 3.5mm jack, AUX, Bluetooth, and 2× USB. Connecting via eARC is the ideal option – customers confirm that a single remote is then sufficient. Bluetooth serves for streaming music from a phone.

Control: remote control included or touch buttons on the soundbar body (beware – they are not backlit, so in dim light, you’re pressing blindly, warns a customer from Brno). The TCL Home app (Android, iOS) allows for more detailed settings – AI tuning, mode selection, sweet spot personalization. Firmware updates require registration in TCL Home and location permission – this surprised some customers, but updates are said to further improve the sound.

What Customers Say – and What They Dislike

Positive reviews echo the same sentiment: “incredible sound for the money,” “the subwoofer surprised me,” “AI setup is great,” “your neighbors won’t like you.” A customer from Jihlava writes about “one of the best home theater audio setups” with a price/performance ratio clearly favoring the purchase. Another describes how the soundbar replaced a Logitech Z906 5.1 system and “impressed him so much that he’s keeping it.”

Complaints: The voice guide when changing settings is annoying and too loud even at the lowest volume – after a firmware update, it can be muted or completely turned off. One customer from Modřice rated the soundbar as “a complete flop, no bass” – but this is an isolated experience (1 out of 65 ratings). Occasional HDMI connection dropouts are mentioned by two customers – solvable with a firmware update. A display is missing on the soundbar – without the app, you can’t see the set volume or mode. Mid-range tones cannot be adjusted – only bass and treble.

Verdict

The TCL S55HE for 2,799 CZK is a soundbar that has no real competition at this price point if you want a 2.1 setup with a wireless subwoofer and Dolby Atmos. 220 W total output, eARC, Bluetooth, AI sound tuning, and a compact design – all for a price at which you would otherwise buy a soundbar without a subwoofer. A rating of 4.8/5 with over a thousand units sold and a return rate of 0.63% speaks for itself. After a firmware update and a bit of tweaking with the settings in the app, you’ll get sound that your TV alone could never achieve.

If you’re looking for other TV accessories, check out the current Alza Days.

Do you use a soundbar with your TV, or are the built-in speakers enough for you?