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Sonos Arc Ultra vs TCL S55H
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Sonos Arc Ultra ranks higher (#1 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on sound & dialogue, bass, app & features, reliability. TCL S55H wins on setup & tv connection.
The biggest complaint about the Sonos Arc Ultra is expensive, and a full system costs far more; for the TCL S55H it's dropouts and subwoofer failures. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Sonos Arc Ultra | TCL S55H | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in soundbars | #1 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $ |
| Type | Dolby Atmos | With subwoofer |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 6% | 7% |
| Overall score | 3.9 | 3.5 |
| Sound & dialogue | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Bass | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Setup & TV connection | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| App & features | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Reliability | 3.5 | 3.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $200 · $$ $200–500 · $$$ over $500. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Sonos Arc Ultra
- Expensive, and a full system costs far more
Tom's Guide's one con is that a full setup quickly becomes very expensive: the Sub 4 adds $799 and a pair of Era 300 rears adds $900. CNET and PCMag both list it as expensive, and PCMag also calls it large. Amazon's review summary says some owners feel it doesn't justify the price.
- Connection problems for some
Wirecutter could get it working with an iPad but not with a Samsung Galaxy S10 Android phone, and never got the Sonos Sub 4 to connect, so it isn't a pick. Amazon's summary says some owners report connection issues.
- Less room-filling for movies, fussy tuning
CNET found movie sound less expansive than the original Arc's. Tom's Guide found that the Advanced Trueplay room tuning cut the bass, so it had to be added back with EQ, and the EQ has only two bands. The only TV connection is HDMI eARC: there's no optical port.
Source: CNET review, Tom's Guide review
TCL S55H
- Dropouts and subwoofer failures
Low-star Walmart reviews describe an HDMI connection that drops regularly (Oct 2026), a sub that's hard to connect to the bar, a subwoofer that stopped working after re-pairing and resets, and a bar that developed a doubled, reverb-like sound after a few months.
Source: Walmart reviews (lowest rated) - Limited volume and envelopment
Wirecutter says it can't match the volume and envelopment of pricier soundbars. RTINGS says it plays only stereo, with some compression at max volume. A few Walmart owners say it isn't loud and they can't hear the bass.
- Confusing tone controls, few connections
Wirecutter had to stand up to read the bass and treble indicator on top of the bar. There are no HDMI inputs and no Wi-Fi, and the app's AI Sonic room tuning made little audible difference.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT)
Who should pick which
Pick the Sonos Arc Ultra if
One-piece Atmos without a subwoofer
Music as well as movies
Building a Sonos multiroom system
Skip it if: You want a full surround system on a budget; You have a TV under 50 inches or a short TV stand; You need an optical input for an older TV
Pick the TCL S55H if
Upgrading TV sound for little money
Small rooms
Clearer dialogue with a one-button voice mode
Skip it if: You want true surround or height effects; You need Wi-Fi streaming or HDMI inputs; You want to fill a large room
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