soundbars · Head-to-head
Bose TV Speaker (2nd Gen) 901067-1100 vs Hisense HS5100
Best Compact One-Button Dialogue Bar
Bose TV Speaker (2nd Gen) 901067-1100
7.4/10
$199.00 at Amazon
Check price at Amazon
The short answer
Bose TV Speaker (2nd Gen) 901067-1100 comes out ahead overall with 7.4/10 against 6.9/10 for the Hisense HS5100. Bose TV Speaker (2nd Gen) 901067-1100 is stronger on dialogue boost range & controls and ease of setup & use for seniors. Hisense HS5100 is stronger on overall sound quality and safety, energy & repairability. At current verified prices, the Hisense HS5100 costs about $19.01 less.
- Choose the Bose TV Speaker (2nd Gen) 901067-1100 if: Seniors with small-to-mid TVs who want a slim, no-app bar with a dedicated dialogue button and one-cable HDMI setup.
- Choose the Hisense HS5100 if: Budget movie watchers with room for a subwoofer and rear speakers who still want a center channel.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Bose TV Speaker (2nd Gen) 901067-1100 | Hisense HS5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Dialogue clarity | 7.5Dedicated speech tweeter and Dialogue Mode, with an editorial pick but no lab data. | 7.8Center channel; RTINGS Dialogue 7.9 (snippet). |
| Dialogue boost range & controls | 5.5Single on/off mode. | 5.0News mode only. |
| Ease of setup & use for seniors | 9.0HDMI cable included, CEC control, no app needed. | 6.0Three extra boxes to place and power; EzPlay only with Hisense TVs. |
| Overall sound quality | 7.0Fuller than TV speakers. Limited bass without a sub. | 7.5Full 5.1 with a sub. |
| Value | 8.0$199 on Amazon vs $299 list price. | 8.0Lots of hardware for $179.99, but much of it is surplus for dialogue-focused buyers. |
| Safety, energy & repairability | 5.0Neutral: no parts or idle-power evidence found. No recall for this model. | 5.5No data found. |
Specifications
| Spec | Bose TV Speaker (2nd Gen) 901067-1100 | Hisense HS5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Exact evaluated bar, subwoofer and surround configuration | TV Speaker (2nd Gen) bar only | Bar + wireless subwoofer + 2 rear speakers |
| Workflow type | Standalone compact bar | 5.1 system with rears |
| Dialogue feature | Dialogue Mode | News sound mode; center speaker (marketing) |
| Exact US model and regional suffix | 901067-1100 (per Amazon listing) | HS5100 |
| Dialogue enhancement levels | 1 levels | — |
| Soundbar width | 596 mm | 902 mm |
| Dedicated center channel / speech driver | Yes | Yes |
| Soundbar height | 57 mm | 62 mm |
| Soundbar depth | 106 mm | 91 mm |
| Channel configuration | Left/right angled drivers + center tweeter (Bose) | 5.1 |
| Meets editorial 800-mm width and 80-mm height filter | Yes | No |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
| Separate subwoofer included | No | Yes |
| HDMI ARC/eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Full HDMI source inputs excluding ARC/eARC return port | 0 ports | 0 ports |
| Optical input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| ARC/eARC, optical, TV-specific and adapter requirements | HDMI ARC/CEC (HDMI cable included) or optical | — |
| Width | 23.47 in | 35.5 in |
| Physical remote, TV remote, account and app requirements | Included remote; no app mentioned, plug-and-play (Bose) | — |
| Compatible named optional subwoofer and surround configuration | Bose Bass Module 700 or Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer (per Amazon listing) | — |
| Observed direct manufacturer selling price | 299 USD | — |
| Current verified retailer price for evaluated configuration | — | 179.99 USD |
| Listing, indexed listing, cart, delivery or conflicting-render status | Amazon $199 sold by Amazon (live); bose.com $299 | Best Buy and Walmart $179.99 (search snippets) |
| Tested firmware, modes, protocol and substantive retest date | — | RTINGS methodology v1.3, reviewed July 2025 (search snippet) |
Bose TV Speaker (2nd Gen) 901067-1100
Pros
- One-button Dialogue Mode
- HDMI cable included, TV-remote control via ARC/CEC
- Dedicated speech tweeter
- Bluetooth for phone and tablet audio
- Compact size suits small and mid-size TVs
Cons
- No adjustable dialogue levels
- No independent lab test of its dialogue performance
- Price varies widely between retailers
- Limited repair or parts information
A good mainstream pick for seniors who want a no-fuss upgrade. Check the price across retailers before you buy.
Full Bose TV Speaker (2nd Gen) 901067-1100 review →Hisense HS5100
Pros
- Center speaker and wireless subwoofer
- Rear speakers for surround
- Strong dialogue score from RTINGS
- Low price for a 5.1 system
Cons
- Three boxes to place
- Only a News mode for dialogue
- EzPlay works only with select Hisense TVs
- No Dolby Atmos
The best budget surround system here, and a better fit for movie fans than for seniors seeking simplicity.
Full Hisense HS5100 review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Soundbars Under $300 of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.