Hisense HS2100 Review (2.1 CH Soundbar)

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Introduction

When you see a ridiculously cheap soundbar it usually comes from a relatively questionable brand. So when we started our Hisense HS2100 review we were surprised to see this soundbar-subwoofer combo costing just $125, which is an unusual price even for a Hisense product.

The HS2100 is a new offering from Hisense that was released towards the end of 2023 across all markets. Along with the AX5125H and AX3125H soundbars the HS2100 is part of Hisense’s soundbar lineup for 2024 and is basically their most low cost soundbar in their refreshed lineup.

Such a low price certainly makes you question its performance and quality. So let’s see real quick what this is all about. The Hisense HS2100 is a 2.1 channels soundbar-subwoofer combo, that comes with a pretty compact design. It can output 240 watts of power and supports Dolby Digital and DTS Virtual:X. As for extra features you will not find much. There is Bluetooth and support for High Resolution Audio but that’s all.

Obviously when you see such a low price in a soundbar the first thing that comes to mind is how it sounds, and not without reason. Can the HS2100 be a good low cost audio upgrade over your TV’s audio? We tested it and have all the answers for you. So keep reading to find out.

Specifications and Features

Design

Dimensions

When you unpack the HS2100 two things will immediately make an impression. The first is how small the soundbar is, although we have seen a few others with similar dimensions.

And the second how lightweight this unit is. Especially its weight made a huge impression to us as its 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) weight makes it feel like it is empty inside.

The main unit measures just 31.5 x 2.4 x 3.5 inches (800mm x 60mm x 90mm) and in combination to its extremely light weight makes it very easy to handle or place on a wall.

Equally small is the included subwoofer that measures 4.3 x 11.8 x 13.8 Inches (110mm X 300mm×350mm) and weights about 7.49 lbs (3.4 kg).

Layout

The main unit comes with a boxy chassis that has straight lines and sharp corners. Plastic is obviously the main material you will see but Hisense tried different textures to break the monotony a bit.

The entire front side of the soundbar is covered by a black felt grille while the top has a characteristic black vinyl looking texture. At the back we find all the connection ports but more on these on our dedicated section below. There are also a couple of holes for hanging the unit on the wall.

Moving on to the subwoofer, this follows the same design elements of the main unit. This is a side-firing subwoofer with the entire side covered in a felt grille protecting the driver. There is also an air port at the back along with a single Pair button.

Colors & Quality of Materials

The Hisense HS2100 seems to be available in a single color. We didn’t notice any defects which is certainly good for this price. And although the unit felt extremely light the materials used were satisfactory. Nothing that will wow you but surely there was nothing bad to say about the overall quality we saw.

Display Type

One thing we pay a lot of attention with soundbar designs is the display. Unfortunately the low cost nature of the HS2100 does not allow for much hope here. All that you get is 7 LED indicators that you will see on the top left corner of the front face.

These indicators will show you the level of volume but other than that they cannot provide much else in terms of visual clues on the soundbar’s functions.

Internal Hardware

Next we will talk about the soundbar’s internals and what Hisense used in this one to make it work.

Configuration & Power Distribution

The soundbar is rated as a 2.1 channels system with a total of 240 watts of power, which is surprisingly high for the price. Power distribution is unfortunately unknown as Hisense does not specify how this power is divided between the main unit and the subwoofer.

Channels Analysis

The main unit is using only two channels, left and right. Both channels use a single full range driver each while the subwoofer features a single 5.25″ cone.

Connectivity

Physical Ports

The inset at the back of the unit includes a single HDMI port, one USB Type-A, a digital optical audio input and a 3.5mm stereo analog input.

With one HDMI input the Hisense HS2100 cannot be used in pass-through mode. As such your only option is to use the HDMI’s ARC function. This means that you can pass audio from your TV directly to the soundbar itself.

As for the USB port, this supports playback of any external storage devices you connect to it and can also be used for updating the system.

Wireless Capabilities

The only type of wireless communication the soundbar offers is Bluetooth. Surprisingly we get Bluetooth v5.3 which is one of the newer versions.

Control Options

Next we will be looking at the ways you can control this unit.

Remote

Hisense has created a very nice remote for this soundbar, which by the way is exactly the same as the one we used in our Hisense AX5125H review.

It may be relatively simple but has all the buttons you will ever need to handle the system properly. The HS2100 does not have many extra features anyway. So a remote cluttered with buttons was not necessary.

All buttons on the remote have enough distance between them and are made of a nice rubber material pleasant to the touch. Unfortunately there is no backlight available so using it in a completely dark environment is definitely problematic.

At the middle of the remote you will find the usual navigation controls. Above them Hisense included some sound management options like EQ and Surround, input selection and Bluetooth. At the bottom you will find some sound adjusting options including Bass and Treble. There is also a Dimmer option for the display and a mute button at the very bottom.

Overall a very nice and yet simple design. It matches the soundbar’s look and it is easy to memorize the function of each button.

Built-in Controls

As most soundbars, there are a few built-in buttons available. From left to right there is a power button, source selection and volume controls. A pretty standard configuration here.

Mobile App

There is no app available in this one. So the remote and the built-in buttons are the only means of controlling the HS2100.

Extra Features and Services

At this price you shouldn’t expect to get a plethora of features. Most standard features we see in mid-tier releases are completely missing here. And this mostly has to do with the fact that the HS2100 does not have WiFi that would allow it to include online functionality.

The only feature available, is its ability to playback audio files from the USB Type-A. From the USB port the device can playback WAV, MP3 and WMA files. It also supports FLAC files for High Resolution Audio.

Lastly we should not forget to mention that the unit is Roku Ready which means if you have a Roku TV, integrating it with the soundbar should be really easy.

Audio Formats & Technologies

Let’s move on and see what sound formats the soundbar can actually playback. The HS2100 supports Dolby Audio including Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus along with PCM and multichannel PCM.

Although there is no DTS decoder in this one, the HS2100 does have DTS Virtual:X in order to create a more immersive output.

DTS Virtual: X is a virtual mode capable of creating sounds that originate from virtual created speakers around your room where there are no physical speakers present. Obviously such virtual tech is not as good as the real deal, but for a cheap model like this one it’s the best you can have.

Sound Management

In terms of sound management the HS2100 is relatively simple. There is no sound calibration system that can adjust the soundbar’s output to your room’s acoustics. So you will have to somewhat compensate for that manually with the limited options available.

The soundbar offers bass and treble adjustment. Also its EQ settings are fairly simple. There is no individual frequency adjustment and you will only find several presets that are ideal for specific content.

Sound Modes

The EQ presets available are 6 in total. These are Music, Movie, News, Sport, Night and Game. Most of them are obvious what they are meant for. What is interesting is that the HS2100 is missing the additional AI EQ that was present in the Hisense AX5125H soundbar.

The only other available option is to turn the surround sound off and on. This can be particularly handy if you want to hear stereo sound and don’t want to use the soundbar’s DTS Virtual:X technology.

Initial Setup

Chose How to Connect

Connectivity options with the HS2100 are rather limited. If HDMI is your prefered way then you have to use ARC when connecting it to the TV. If your TV does not have one then the optical port is your alternative. In both cases you can get the maximum capabilities of the soundbar as even Dolby Digital Plus can be transmitted through the optical port.

Further Steps & Calibration

Since there is no app available, after you make all connections there are very few things you have to do. Choose the appropriate sound mode and decide if you want to use DTS Virtual:X or not. That’s all there is. It cannot get more simple than that!

Movies and TV

It’s time for our real life testing and for this review we chose Oblivion and Batman vs Superman Dawn of Justice. In both cases the core Dolby Digital mix was what we used as the soundbar does not support anything better.

Front Soundstage

To be honest when we first tried the HS2100 we were not expecting much. To our surprise the soundbar created a spacious and immersive front soundstage, throwing us in the action of the screen.

Despite its compact size, the soundbar delivered a surprisingly wide soundstage that extended beyond its physical dimensions. You will definitely appreciate the sense of depth and realism as sound effects and dialogue are accurately placed within the virtual space.

Dialog

Dialog clarity was really good on the Hisense HS2100, ensuring that every word was delivered with precision and intelligibility. Even during fast-paced scenes or when competing with background noise, dialog remained clear and distinct, allowing us to follow conversations without any difficulty.

The soundbar’s attention to detail ensured that subtle nuances in speech were preserved to the best of its abilities, enhancing the overall immersion and enjoyment of the movies we tried.

Bass

The subwoofer complemented the soundbar’s performance by adding depth and impact to low-frequency sounds. With its well-defined bass response, this small subwoofer delivered powerful yet controlled bass that added weight to explosions and rumble to action scenes.

You will definitely appreciate the immersive quality of the bass the HS2100 can produce, which enhances the overall cinematic experience without overpowering other frequencies.

Obviously this is not the chest punching experience of some high tier subwoofers. But it is far better than many single soundbar units that cannot go deep without a dedicated subwoofer.

DTS Virtual:X

Since DTS Virtual:X is the only way to get any meaningful surround audio out of the HS2100 we opted to try it out.

When enabled the soundstage surely felt a bit more expansive, creating a more immersive audio experience without the need for additional speakers. By simulating surround sound through advanced processing, the soundbar tried to fill the room with multidimensional audio.

The result is a bit of a mixed bag and heavily depends on the content. We did sense the audio closer to our viewing position. And we even felt a slight elevation in some of the effects. But we can say with certainty is that there was no behind-the-shoulder activity. And this was to be expected.

The downside is that some times sounds will feel like coming from a direction they shouldn’t. Since this is heavily processed sound the virtualizer is not entirely perfect and cannot always position audio accurately in space. This is why we said this is a hit or miss situation. And surely this is not going to replace a true surround system any time soon.

Maximum Volume

The Hisense HS2100 exceled in delivering impressive volume levels without sacrificing much in terms of sound quality or clarity. Even at maximum volume, the sound remained clean enough with only a bit of audible distortion. This allowed us to enjoy our favorite content without much compromise.

Music

The device offers multiple ways to stream music. You can do that through the USB and through Bluetooth obviously. You can also connect a media player through HDMI or optical port and playback music that way. For our review we opted the last option as we used our trusted Zidoo Z9X media player which we connected to our TV and from that to the soundbar through the ARC connection.

Fidelity & Overall Quality

When it comes to music playback, the HS2100 delivered surprising fidelity and overall audio quality that exceeded expectations. And we say this because for $125 our expectations were rightfully rock bottom. But with its above average audio reproduction and balanced sound profile, the soundbar faithfully reproduced the nuances of each musical instrument and vocal performance.

You will definitely appreciate the clarity of highs, linear mids, and depth of lows, resulting in a truly enjoyable listening experience. Something that we were not expecting to say for a dirty cheap product like this one.

Different Content

Obviously the Hisense HS2100 is not meant to be of HiFi stature. But for a soundbar of its category it can adapt effortlessly to different types of music content, delivering a versatile performance that suits various genres and styles.

Whether it’s classical compositions, rock anthems, or electronic beats, the soundbar handled each genre with finesse. It managed to preserve, as much as its hardware allowed, the integrity of the original recordings while adding its own touch of refinement.

You can expect a consistent and enjoyable listening experience across a wide range of musical content, making this soundbar the perfect low cost companion for music fans of all tastes.

Compared to other Systems

Trying to find some alternatives in this price range is surely a difficult task to begin with. But we do have some suggestions from the list of soundbars we had tried in the past.

At almost the same price we find the Roku Streambar. This soundbar is a 2.0 channels single unit system so from the start the Hisense has the advantage there. The HS2100 also supports DTS Virtual:X which the Roku does not. But the Streambar has a few interesting features the Hisense is missing. It comes with WiFi meaning online functionality and the ability to add a subwoofer and surround speakers for creating a full surround system.

At a very similar price, $149 to be precise, we have the Yamaha ATS-1090. The Yamaha is a 2.2 channels single soundbar. It may not include a subwoofer which gives the edge to the HS2100 but has other extras the Hisense is missing like WiFi, DTS support and HDMI pass-through.

Last in our comparison is the slightly more expensive Bose TV Speaker. This is another single soundbar unit and for $229 you get a more or less similar feature list to the Hisense. It may not have a subwoofer out of the box like the HS2100. But the Bose does support DTS and can expand to a full surround system with a subwoofer and rear speakers if you deem necessary.

Final Thoughts

Hisense is known for their aggressive pricing policy which is mostly evident with their TV releases. But from the looks of it they follow the same philosophy with their soundbars and the Hisense HS2100 does seem to benefit from that.

Its notable strengths include an easy to setup and to use system and a soundbar that sounds much better than what its price may show. Having a subwoofer does help boost the low end considerably as most soundbars in this price are missing one making action heavy content to feel dull and uninspiring. And obviously the price is one for the books. You can hardly find a soundbar with the HS2100’s performance costing the same.

Obvious the low price does show in certain aspects of the soundbar’s performance and overall quality. Build quality was ok but it is indicative of what you pay. The soundbar is completely forward oriented with no surround activity even with the DTS Virtual:X enabled. And obviously missing WiFi means that there is a whole list of online features completely missing.

We reached the end of our Hisense HS2100 review and what we can say is that this soundbar has a definite advantage over the competition. If you definitely want a subwoofer with your soundbar in order to get better bass, there is no other unit out there at this crazy low price. For a soundbar-subwoofer combo Hisense managed to create a system that can make your money well worth. Highly recommended.

For more reviews you can check our dedicated Soundbar-subwoofer combo reviews section or even look at our Product Reviews Table where you can find the brand and specific product you are looking for.

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