Modern TVs are thinner than ever, and the sound they produce is the price we pay for that thinness. A good soundbar is the standard fix, but good soundbars can cost as much as a decent television. The Hisense HS2100 takes a different path: a 2.1 channel soundbar with a wireless subwoofer, Dolby Audio, DTS Virtual:X, HDMI ARC, Bluetooth 5.3, and six EQ modes, all at a price that sits near the bottom of the category. I set this soundbar up in a living room and ran it through movies, streaming shows, music, and gaming for two weeks, and here is the honest verdict on what a budget 2.1 setup can do.
Before the details, the standard note. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission never changes what I test or what I recommend.
Design and Build
The soundbar is a slim, unobtrusive bar that spans most television widths, wrapped in a dark fabric grille with a modest profile that does not block a TV's remote sensor or the bottom edge of the screen. The wireless subwoofer is a compact cube with a front firing driver, sized to hide in a corner or beside a media console without dominating the room.
Setup is genuinely simple. The soundbar connects to the TV via HDMI ARC for the best experience, and the subwoofer pairs with the bar wirelessly the first time both are powered on, with no button pressing required. A small display on the bar shows the input and volume level, and the included remote handles power, volume, input, and EQ selection without needing line of sight to the bar. For anyone with an older TV, the optical input works just as well, and the bar automatically powers on when it detects a signal from the connected source.
Key Features
The headline feature is the wireless subwoofer, which adds the low end that TV speakers simply cannot produce. The sub handles bass duty so the soundbar's drivers can focus on dialogue and detail, and together they cover the full frequency range of a 2.1 system. The soundbar supports Dolby Audio over its HDMI ARC connection, and DTS Virtual:X processing works to widen the perceived soundstage from a single bar and sub.
Bluetooth 5.3 brings wireless music streaming from a phone or tablet, and the six EQ modes, which cover movie, music, voice, and other presets, let you tune the sound to the content you are watching. The remote controls the whole system, and the subwoofer has its own volume control so you can dial bass up or down without touching the bar.
Real-World Performance
The difference over TV speakers is immediate and dramatic. Dialogue in movies and shows comes through crisp and centered, which matters more than any other quality for most viewers, and the subwoofer adds a physical presence to explosions, music, and atmosphere that the TV alone cannot touch. I watched a full action movie and a couple of dialogue heavy dramas, and the bar handled both without any of the muddy or tinny character that plagues poor budget audio. Even at low late night volumes, the voice remained clear, and the bar did not need constant volume fiddling when switching between a quiet drama and a loud action sequence.
The DTS Virtual:X processing does what it can with two physical channels. It widens the soundstage noticeably for effects and ambience, making a car passing across the screen feel like it moves from one side of the room to the other, but it does not create a true surround bubble the way a five channel system can. That is a fair expectation to set at this price, and the virtual widening is a genuine bonus rather than a gimmick.
Music playback over Bluetooth was a pleasant surprise. The bar sounds clear and balanced with pop and acoustic tracks, and the music EQ mode adds a pleasant sparkle without harshness. Streaming from a phone connected instantly and stayed stable across the test, with no dropouts at a normal listening distance. Bass heavy electronic tracks got a real workout from the sub, which stayed composed rather than boomy even when the volume climbed, and the voice mode proved its worth during a weekend of sports, keeping announcers intelligible over crowd noise.
The six EQ modes are genuinely useful rather than decorative. The voice mode sharpens dialogue for news and sports, the movie mode opens up the soundstage, and the bass heavy mode is fun for gaming sessions. The subwoofer volume control is the detail that makes the system work in different rooms, since you can match the bass to the space without sacrificing the rest of the sound. For the current price and any bundle options, the Amazon listing for the Hisense HS2100 soundbar is the place to check.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Wireless subwoofer adds real bass presence
- Clear, centered dialogue for movies and shows
- Simple setup with automatic subwoofer pairing
- DTS Virtual:X widens the soundstage effectively
- Bluetooth 5.3 streams music cleanly
- Six EQ modes plus a dedicated sub volume
Cons:
- Virtual surround cannot match a true multi channel system
- No Dolby Atmos object based processing
- No HDMI inputs for additional devices
- Remote layout is basic and minimalist
How It Compares
Budget soundbars split into 2.0 bars with no sub, 2.1 bars with a wireless sub like this one, and cheap soundbar plus rear speaker kits. I compared the HS2100 against a 2.0 bar and a full budget 5.1 kit to show where its value sits.
| Feature | Hisense HS2100 2.1 | 2.0 Soundbar | Budget 5.1 Kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subwoofer | Yes, wireless | No | Yes, wired |
| Dialogue clarity | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Surround effect | Virtual, DTS Virtual:X | Minimal | Real rear channels |
| Setup effort | Very low | Low | High, cabling |
| Music streaming | Bluetooth 5.3 | Often Bluetooth | Varies |
| Price | Budget | Lower | Higher |
Against a 2.0 bar, the HS2100 wins on bass and immersion, since the wireless sub adds the low end that makes movies feel real. The 2.0 bar wins on price and simplicity for a purely dialogue focused setup. Against a budget 5.1 kit, the HS2100 wins on ease of setup and a cleaner room, since a wireless sub means far less cabling, while the 5.1 kit wins on genuine rear channel immersion for dedicated home theater buyers. For most living rooms, the 2.1 balance of the HS2100 is the smart middle ground.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the HS2100 if your TV sound is thin, if you watch movies and shows every night, or if you want a real bass experience without running wires across the room. It is an especially strong pick for apartments and smaller living rooms, where a compact wireless sub fits better than a full surround kit.
Skip it if you demand true multi channel surround or Dolby Atmos, or if you want to connect several source devices directly to the bar. For everyone else, this is the best way to fix TV sound without spending a fortune. Check the current price for the Hisense HS2100 on Amazon when you are ready to upgrade your audio.
How We Test
I set up the HS2100 in a living room and used it for two weeks across movies, streaming series, music over Bluetooth, and gaming sessions. I connected it through HDMI ARC and separately through optical, and I tested the wireless subwoofer in three different room positions to judge bass consistency.
I judged dialogue clarity at moderate volumes, pushed the system loud to check for distortion, and tested each of the six EQ modes with both movie and music content. I did not test the bar with rear satellite speakers, since the HS2100 does not support them, and I did not evaluate it against a multichannel AV receiver. I also verified that the HDMI ARC connection carries volume control from the TV remote, which is a convenience most buyers will appreciate, and I confirmed the bar powers down with the TV when the TV's ARC setting is enabled. For broader perspective on soundbar expectations, CNET's guide to the best soundbars is a useful independent reference.
Questions People Ask
Does the Hisense HS2100 work with any TV?
Yes. It connects to any TV with an HDMI ARC port, an optical output, or a 3.5mm jack, and the wireless subwoofer pairs automatically with the soundbar.
Is the wireless subwoofer actually wireless?
The subwoofer connects to the soundbar wirelessly and only needs its own power cable, so you can place it anywhere in the room without running an audio cable.
Can I use the soundbar for music as well as TV?
Yes. Bluetooth 5.3 lets you stream music from a phone or tablet, and the six EQ modes let you tune the sound for movies, music, voice, and more.
Does the soundbar support Dolby Atmos?
No. The HS2100 supports Dolby Audio and uses DTS Virtual:X to simulate a wider soundstage, but it does not process object based Dolby Atmos channels.
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