soundbars

Hisense HS5100

#5 · Best Budget Surround for Movie Fans
6.9 /10 Our score
Lowest verified price $179.99 Amazon
Our verdict
The best budget surround system here, and a better fit for movie fans than for seniors seeking simplicity.

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

Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you purchase through links on this page. This does not affect our editorial rankings.

View best price at Amazon
Last reviewed October 28, 2026
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Review

What to know about Hisense HS5100

A 5.1 system (bar, wireless 6.5-inch sub and two rear speakers) that RTINGS names the best soundbar under $200, with a Dialogue/TV Shows score of 7.9. It has no Dolby Atmos.
Editorial notes

Why it stands out

Why we like it

RTINGS names it the best soundbar under $200 and gives it a Dialogue/TV Shows score of 7.9. For the price, a center speaker, real bass and rear surround is hard to beat.

It suits movie watchers who have room to place the extra boxes and want a big step up from TV speakers.

What to know

Skip it if you want simple setup. It has three boxes to place, and its only dialogue tool is a News mode. EzPlay TV-remote control of sound modes works only with select Hisense TVs.
Performance

Score breakdown

Dialogue clarity

How intelligible speech is in tested content (news, dramas, busy action mixes), as judged by independent testers. Center-channel performance counts here.

7.8
Center channel; RTINGS Dialogue 7.9 (snippet).
Dialogue boost range & controls

Range and fine-tuning of speech enhancement (number of levels, AI or auto modes), plus volume leveling and night modes that help hard-of-hearing listeners.

5.0
News mode only.
Ease of setup & use for seniors

Simple single-cable setup, TV-remote control via HDMI-ARC/CEC, a clear remote with big buttons, and no required app.

6.0
Three extra boxes to place and power; EzPlay only with Hisense TVs.
Overall sound quality

Music and movie sound beyond dialogue (bass, naturalness at normal settings), so the bar suits the whole household.

7.5
Full 5.1 with a sub.
Value

Dialogue performance per dollar at typical US street prices.

8.0
Lots of hardware for $179.99, but much of it is surplus for dialogue-focused buyers.
Safety, energy & repairability

Recall history, idle power, availability of replacement remotes and power supplies, and renewed or refurbished options.

5.5
No data found.
Specifications

Hisense HS5100 specs

Specifications

Exact evaluated bar, subwoofer and surround configuration
Bar + wireless subwoofer + 2 rear speakers
Exact US model and regional suffix
HS5100
Soundbar width
902 mm
Soundbar height
62 mm
Soundbar depth
91 mm
Meets editorial 800-mm width and 80-mm height filter
No
Full HDMI source inputs excluding ARC/eARC return port
0 ports
Current verified retailer price for evaluated configuration
179.99 USD
Listing, indexed listing, cart, delivery or conflicting-render status
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)

Buying workflow

Workflow type
5.1 system with rears

Dialogue

Dialogue feature
News sound mode; center speaker (marketing)
Dedicated center channel / speech driver
Yes

Audio

Channel configuration
5.1
Dolby Atmos
No
Separate subwoofer included
Yes

Connectivity

HDMI ARC/eARC
Yes
Optical input
Yes
Bluetooth
Yes

Size

Width
35.5 in
Shopping

Compare prices

Prices are checked periodically. Older amounts are labeled with their last verification date.

Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you purchase through links on this page. This does not affect our editorial rankings.

Prices and availability may change. The retailer's price and availability at checkout govern the transaction.

RetailerPriceAvailability
AmazonLowest $179.99 In Stock View deal
Best Buy $179.99
Last verified Oct 28, 2026 — price may have changed
Check at retailer Check at retailer
Lowest verified price $179.99
30-day low $179.99
90-day average $179.99
90-day low $179.99

Based on 3 retailer price observations captured during the last 90 days.

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