TCL S55H vs Sonos Ray
Get the TCL S55H. Unless clear voices matter more than bass, or you use an iPhone: then the Sonos Ray.
TCL S55H
A cheap bar and wireless sub that makes TV much louder and fuller. Atmos is in name only.
Sonos Ray
A small, cheap bar that makes TV voices far clearer. No HDMI, no Atmos and not much deep bass.
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The S55H's wireless sub gives the bass and volume a small bar can't, for less than the Ray. The Ray is more refined, with crisp voices and AirPlay, but has little deep bass and connects by optical only.
- —You want bass for films and sport.
- —You want to spend less.
- —You want clearer voices.
- —You use AirPlay or other Sonos speakers.
- —There's no room for a sub.
What verified owners report
Only reviews from checked buyers count, and every 1–3 star review is read by us. How we do this
Owners love the clear sound and the subwoofer's bass for the price, especially in small and mid-sized rooms. A few found the bass and mids weak.
- ✓Clear, room-filling sound, far better than TV speakers
- ✓Great value for the money
- ✓Easy to set up and connect
- −Bass and mid-range sound weak
Owners love the big sound from a small, neat bar. The most common complaints are a fiddly setup and TV remotes that can't control its volume.
- ✓Great sound for its size
- ✓Compact, neat design
- ✓Easy to set up
- −Hard to set up or connect to Wi-Fi
- −TV remote won't control the volume
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +Wireless sub for real bass
- +Clear, balanced dialogue
- +Loud with little distortion
- −Sound lags over HDMI eARC, and there's no AV sync setting.
- −Atmos height effects are weak, and surround is downmixed.
- −Highs are slightly muffled.
- −No HDMI input for a console.
- +Much clearer TV dialogue
- +Small enough for any TV stand
- +Good with music over AirPlay
- −Optical only, so no HDMI control and no Atmos.
- −Bluetooth or RF TV remotes won't control it directly.
- −Little deep bass on its own.
- −No Bluetooth and no voice assistant.
Ready to choose?
- Is the TCL S55H worth it?
- Is the Sonos Ray worth it?
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How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, What Hi-Fi, manufacturer specifications.
Owner reports for the TCL S55H: 85 verified buyer ratings at Currys and Otto (Germany), read October 2026.
Owner reports for the Sonos Ray: 209 verified buyer ratings at Currys and Otto (Germany), read October 2026.