The best soundbar for 2.5 thousand! TCL S55HE supports Dolby Atmos and cost over 7 thousand last year

Black Friday brings an interesting discount on the TCL S55HE soundbar, which has dropped to 2,490 CZK on Alza.cz. This is a significant drop – last year, upon its market launch, it cost 7,490 CZK, and this year the price settled around 5 thousand CZK. Now it’s cheaper than ever. It’s not a top-tier product, but if you’re annoyed by the sound from your TV speakers and don’t want to spend tens of thousands, this is a fair offer.

Price dropped by 67%, it won’t get any better

The TCL S55HE entered the Czech market last year with a price of 7,490 CZK. Gradually, the price decreased and this year settled around 5 thousand CZK, which was already a decent value. However, the current Black Friday discount to 2,490 CZK is something else – it’s a 67% drop compared to the original price and historically the lowest offer. For this amount, it’s simply hard to find competition with similar features.

At the regular price of 5 thousand CZK, it would be an average choice. But for half the price? That’s an interesting price-performance ratio, especially if you’re looking for a basic TV sound upgrade without high ambitions.

What you actually get for 2,490 CZK

The TCL S55HE is a 2.1 system – a soundbar with a total output of 100 W and a wireless subwoofer with an output of 120 W. This is a key advantage over TV speakers, where bass is practically non-existent. According to user reviews, the subwoofer is surprisingly good for its size, even if it’s not an acoustic powerhouse.

The soundbar supports Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, which sounds impressive, but the reality is simpler – it’s virtual surround sound from a 2.1 system, not physical height speakers. Does it work? Yes, better than stereo from a TV. Is it like being in a cinema? No. And that’s fine, no one expects that at this price.

Connectivity is handled via HDMI 2.0 with eARC, which means control with a single remote and automatic soundbar power-on when the TV is turned on. Alternatively, an optical cable or Bluetooth can be used for streaming music from a phone. In the TCL Home app, you can adjust bass, treble, and select sound modes according to content (movies, music, games).

Who it makes sense for

The TCL S55HE is not for audiophiles. If you’re looking for reference sound, you’ll have to aim higher – and much higher in price. This is a soundbar for people who:

• Want significantly better sound than from a TV, but don’t have a budget of 10-20 thousand
• Appreciate easy setup and control (HDMI eARC is key here)
• Don’t need perfection, a solid improvement for movies and series is enough for them
• Have a small to medium living room (users mention it works well for 30 m²)

According to reviews on Alza.cz, customers are rather hesitant at the original price of 5-7 thousand, but significantly more satisfied at sale prices around 3 thousand. One user aptly summarized it: “For almost 8k, I would really expect a little more. However, the overall sound is clear.” For 2,490 CZK, this argument is invalid – you simply won’t find a better ratio in this segment.vize.

Verdict: better than TV speakers, worse than more expensive soundbars

The TCL S55HE for 2,490 CZK is a typical compromise. You won’t get perfect sound, bass, or premium craftsmanship. However, you will get a functional 2.1 system with a wireless subwoofer, Dolby Atmos support, and easy control, which is significantly better than any TV speakers (unless we’re talking about a TV costing tens of thousands).

The Black Friday discount is valid on Alza.cz, where the soundbar has hundreds of reviews with an average rating of around 4.5 stars. If you’re hesitant, read the user experiences there – people write quite honestly, including the negatives.

What do you think of this soundbar?