TCL S55H S Class Sound Bar vs Samsung HW-Q990H Soundbar

The TCL S55H is the sensible pick for a small-to-mid room and a tight budget: it adds a wireless subwoofer, Dolby Atmos decoding and DTS Virtual:X, and owners rate it well for the money. The Samsung HW-Q990H is a different class of product: a true 11.1.4 system with rear wireless speakers, a dual 8-inch subwoofer and Wi-Fi streaming, and it earns higher owner ratings. The TCL fakes height and rear effects from one bar; the Samsung actually places speakers behind and above you. If you want real surround and have the space, step up to the Samsung.

• Choose the TCL S55H if you have a smaller room, want a separate subwoofer without running speaker wire, and prefer a simple one-bar setup.
• Choose the Samsung HW-Q990H if you want genuine rear and height channels, a bigger subwoofer, and Wi-Fi streaming for a dedicated movie room.