Our verdict
The Hisense HS2100 is a soundbar with a separate wireless subwoofer for £81. It is a 2.1-channel design: two channels for the left and right sound, plus a dedicated bass speaker, which is the ".1". Hisense quotes 240W peak and 120W RMS power (RMS is the steadier figure). AVForums reviewed it and described the sound as big, with dialogue that stayed intelligible and a subwoofer that blended well with the bar. It supports Dolby Digital and DTS Virtual:X, a processing effect that widens the sound, and connects by HDMI, optical, USB, 3.5mm cable or Bluetooth 5.3. It has no Wi-Fi, so it is not for streaming from apps. It will not create true surround sound, and room shape affects results.
Buy it if
- You want a low-cost bass upgrade for a TV with weak built-in speakers
- You want a wireless subwoofer without running a cable to it
- You want a simple setup using HDMI or optical
Skip it if
- You want Dolby Atmos or Wi-Fi music streaming
- You need several HDMI inputs for consoles and players
- You want real rear-surround effects
Featured in
How it would fit your home
Everyday TV and streaming
Connect by HDMI or optical and dialogue in soaps, news and dramas should sound fuller and easier to follow than through TV speakers.
Films with more bass
The wireless 5-inch subwoofer adds weight to explosions and music scores. Place it on the floor near the TV and adjust it if it overpowers speech.
Music from a phone
Bluetooth 5.3 lets you play music from a phone, but there is no Wi-Fi, so no built-in streaming services.
The details, in plain English
Sound and dialogue
AVForums found the HS2100 sound bigger than its size suggests, with clean treble and speech that stayed intelligible even in busy scenes. The soundbar is 2.1 channels, so it plays left, right and bass rather than real rear or height sounds. The reviewer noted that deep male voices could seem to sit inside the bar rather than line up with the action on screen. For a bar at this price, that is a fair trade.
Bass and power
The subwoofer is wireless and has a five-inch driver, and it pairs with the bar without cables apart from its power lead. Hisense claims 240W of total power (240W peak and 120W RMS in our recorded specification). AVForums said the sub integrated tightly with the bar and did not rattle or drop out. Whether the bass is deep enough for you depends on your room and taste.
Connections
AVForums lists one HDMI input with no loop-through, an optical digital input, a USB port, a 3.5mm auxiliary input and Bluetooth 5.3. There is no Wi-Fi. One HDMI input means the bar connects to one device or the TV, and other devices should plug into the TV instead. Check your TV's output, which is usually HDMI or optical, before you buy.
Formats and surround
The bar supports Dolby Digital and DTS Virtual:X. Dolby Digital is the common surround format on streaming and broadcast TV. DTS Virtual:X uses processing to make the sound seem wider and taller than the bar. It does not support Dolby Atmos. Room shape and TV placement affect how convincing virtual surround sounds.
Strengths and drawbacks
What it does well
- 2.1 channels with a wireless subwoofer: more bass than a TV's own speakers, with no cable between bar and sub
- AVForums found dialogue stayed intelligible and the subwoofer blended with the bar
- Hisense quotes 240W peak and 120W RMS power, enough for a normal living room
- HDMI, optical, USB, 3.5mm and Bluetooth 5.3 inputs, so most TVs and phones connect
- Dolby Digital and DTS Virtual:X support for wider-sounding films
What to watch out for
- Virtual surround from a bar in front of you cannot match speakers behind you, and room shape and TV placement affect the effect
- No Dolby Atmos and no Wi-Fi, so no built-in music streaming
- AVForums noted deep male voices could sound trapped inside the soundbar rather than tied to the screen
- Only one HDMI input, with no pass-through for other devices
- Marketing channel counts do not guarantee clear dialogue
At £81 the HS2100 competes with other budget 2.1 soundbars. Compare the number of HDMI inputs, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support and sub size, and whether dialogue modes are offered, since these differ between budget models.
Alternatives we have reviewed
| Product | Our verdict | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Hisense HS2100 (this one) | A cheap way to add bass and clearer TV sound, provided your TV can connect by HDMI or optical and you do not expect true surround sound. | £81Standard retail package, Price recorded 1 Aug 2026 | Check price |
 Hisense HS3100 | A practical low-cost step up from thin TV speakers if you have room and a spare socket for the included wireless subwoofer. | £95Standard retail package, Price recorded 20 Sept 2026 | Check price |
 LG SQM1 | A cheap, compact way to make TV speech clearer, provided your TV has an optical output and you do not need HDMI, surround sound or deep bass. | £49.99Standard retail package, Price recorded 1 Aug 2026 | Check price |
 LG US40T | A sensible budget step up from TV speakers if you want a wireless subwoofer for fuller films and do not need Dolby Atmos or Wi-Fi. | £159Standard retail package, Price recorded 1 Aug 2026 | Check price |
Not sure it is the right one for you?
We email three options and one clear recommendation, around your budget and home, within three working days.
Worth reading next
Where our findings come from
Research-based review: we did not test this soundbar. Specifications and findings come from AVForums' review and Hisense UK's product range, which we checked for the model. Comments on sound quality and the subwoofer are AVForums', not ours.