TCL S55H vs JBL Bar 500MK2: Which Fits Your TV and Music Setup?
Choose by connection path, not a promised sound-quality winner. Both bars can take TV audio over optical if your TV has an optical output; optical carries audio only, so it does not provide video pass-through. JBL separately adds an HDMI video input/output path with HDR pass-through, while TCL documents Bluetooth and broader USB file-format support and JBL documents Wi-Fi casting.
Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-16
Source checked 2026-10-16 05:01 UTC
Products compared
Product A · ASIN B0D1JBBJ6S
TCL S55H
Last observed offer
$108.99 List Price: $159.99
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 14:41 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Product B · ASIN B0FHBVS6GC
JBL Bar 500MK2
Last observed offer
$499.95 List Price: $649.95
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 15:45 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Pickoryx may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the paid Amazon links on this page, at no added cost to you.
The buying question
Do you need the soundbar to route an HDMI video source, or will TV-to-bar optical/eARC audio plus your preferred music path work?
Both bars document optical TV-audio input as a fallback, but neither uses optical for video pass-through. The TCL S55H offers Bluetooth and broader documented USB file-format support; the JBL Bar 500MK2 adds HDMI source-to-TV video pass-through and Wi-Fi casting services.
Quick verdict
Choose TCL S55H if
- You will connect video devices to the TV and send TV audio to the S55H over eARC/ARC.
- You want Bluetooth playback or local USB playback in one of the formats listed in the S55H manual.
Choose JBL Bar 500MK2 if
- You want an HDMI source connected to the bar and video passed through to the TV.
- You want to use supported Wi-Fi casting such as AirPlay, Google Cast, or Spotify Connect.
When the recommendation changes
- If your TV has optical out but lacks HDMI eARC/ARC, either bar can receive TV audio over optical; that route does not provide HDMI video pass-through or the same connection features as eARC.
- If a source device must connect to the soundbar and pass video onward to the TV, the JBL's documented HDMI input/output path matters; if sources connect to the TV, the optical or eARC/ARC TV-audio routes may be enough.
The differences that matter
Tv Input And Video Passthrough
TCL S55H
Hdmi earc: true; Hdmi video input: false; Optical tv audio: true; Optical route limit: TV optical out to S55H optical input carries audio to the bar; the S55H has no HDMI video input for pass-through.; Connection documented: connect soundbar HDMI eARC to TV HDMI eARC/ARC[1, 2, 5]
JBL Bar 500MK2
Hdr pass through: (HDR10+, Dolby Vision); Optical tv audio: true; Hdmi video inputs: 1; Optical route limit: TV optical out to Bar 500MK2 optical input carries TV audio; video remains routed separately to the TV.; Connection documented: connect digital source to JBL HDMI IN and JBL HDMI OUT/eARC to TV; Hdmi video outputs with earc: 1[3, 4]
What this changes: Both soundbars support optical TV-audio input, so a TV without HDMI eARC/ARC may still connect for audio if it has optical out. Optical is audio-only and does not route video through a soundbar. Choose JBL when the HDMI source itself needs to connect to the bar and pass video to the TV; choose TCL when the TV-connected audio path and its separate music options fit.[1, 2, 5, 3, 4]
Music Connection And Streaming
TCL S55H
Usb formats: (MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC); Bluetooth playback: true; Folder depth limit: 5; Usb audio playback: true; Usb capacity up to gb: 64[2]
What this changes: TCL's listed USB formats are useful for a local-file library; JBL's documented Wi-Fi services suit a buyer who wants casting. Neither source establishes better sound quality.[2, 3, 4]
Best for your routine
You want a soundbar HDMI input to route a video source through to the TV.
Best fit: JBL Bar 500MK2
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
JBL documents an HDMI video input and output with HDR pass-through. This applies when the source must connect to the bar; both bars also accept optical TV audio, but optical does not provide video pass-through.
Your TV has the needed eARC/ARC connection and you prefer playing personal USB files in a range of listed formats.
Best fit: TCL S55H
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
TCL's manual lists MP3, WMA, WAV, and FLAC USB playback and documents a TV-connected eARC/ARC setup. Confirm your TV and files meet the manual's requirements.
You want to cast music over home Wi-Fi from supported services.
Best fit: JBL Bar 500MK2
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
JBL documents Google Cast, AirPlay, and JBL One service playback over its home network. Availability and subscriptions depend on the service and country.
Your TV lacks HDMI ARC/eARC but has optical out, and you only need TV audio through the soundbar.
The better fit depends on your priorities
Both exact-model manuals document a TV optical-output-to-soundbar optical-input connection. It carries TV audio only; connect video sources to the TV or use JBL HDMI IN separately when pass-through is needed.
Value and trade-offs
One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.
No fixed price comparison or premium threshold is stated. Compare current verified offers only after confirming the exact package and seller terms; decide whether the JBL's HDMI pass-through or Wi-Fi casting matters in your setup.
This comparison does not assess the value or timing of live offers; check the exact package, seller, and offer terms before deciding.
Limitations
- No Pickoryx hands-on test or controlled head-to-head sound test was conducted; the article compares documented connections and playback options only.
- Check the exact TV, source-device ports, eARC/ARC settings, and content formats you use. HDMI-CEC compatibility and supported audio formats can vary by connected equipment.
- JBL states that online streaming-service availability varies by country and some services may require subscriptions.
- The authored price analysis does not assess current offer conditions or a historical price window.
Questions shoppers ask
Can I plug a console or streaming box into the TCL S55H and pass video through it?
TCL marks HDMI input as No and documents an HDMI eARC connection to the TV. Plan to connect the video source to the TV and send audio to the S55H over eARC/ARC, after checking your TV's supported ports and audio settings.
Can both soundbars play music without using Wi-Fi?
Both manuals document Bluetooth playback. TCL also documents USB playback of MP3, WMA, WAV, and FLAC files; JBL's manual says USB playback is available on the US version and lists MP3 support. JBL's Cast, AirPlay, and enabled JBL One services use the home network.
Can either soundbar connect to a TV over optical instead of HDMI ARC/eARC?
Yes. The S55H quick-start guide and Bar 500MK2 manual show the TV's optical output connected to the soundbar's optical input. This sends TV audio to the bar; it does not pass video through the soundbar. Connect video sources to the TV, or use JBL HDMI IN/OUT when you need the bar to route video.
Methodology and sources
Compared exact-model manufacturer specifications and US/English setup manuals for HDMI source routing, optical TV-audio input, and music playback connections. Recommendations are limited to documented feature fit. No audio performance, reliability, broader compatibility, or price conclusion is inferred.
Search assistance helped locate the manufacturers' product and support documents; the comparison uses those documents for connection and playback facts.
View 5 sources
- 1.TCL S55H S Class 2.1 Channel Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos, Wireless Subwoofer, and Bluetooth Music StreamingTCL North America · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-16 05:01 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Connections / HDMI Input and HDMI eARC; source audio and connectivity feature list; Connections: HDMI Input No, Optic Digital Audio Yes: Exact S55H product page identifies HDMI Input as No and HDMI eARC as 2.0; it also lists Bluetooth streaming, USB audio playback, optical audio input, and AUX input. Reopened during repair and confirms exact S55H optical audio input and no HDMI video input.
- 2.S55H User Manual: 2.1 Channel Dolby Atmos Sound Bar with Wireless SubwooferTCL North America Support · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-16 04:51 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- pp. 11–12 (ports), 22–23 (HDMI eARC/ARC setup), 29–30 (Bluetooth pairing), 34–35 (Bluetooth and USB playback): Exact US S55H manual lists the eARC, optical, AUX, and USB ports; describes a TV HDMI eARC/ARC hookup; and documents Bluetooth plus USB MP3/WMA/WAV/FLAC playback, USB devices up to 64 GB, and a maximum five folder levels for music discovery.
- 3.JBL Bar 500MK2: 5.1 Channel Soundbar System with Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:XJBL · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-16 04:51 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Control and Connection Specifications / HDMI video input, HDMI video output, HDR pass-through, and streaming services: Exact Bar 500MK2 page lists one HDMI video input, one HDMI output with eARC, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision pass-through, and supported Wi-Fi music-service options including AirPlay, Google Cast, and Spotify Connect.
- 4.JBL Bar 500MK2 Owner's Manual (English)JBL / HARMAN Support · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-16 05:01 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- pp. 9–10 (TV/digital-device HDMI and Bluetooth setup), 14 (HDMI IN source), 15–16 (home-network music), 18 (specifications); pp. 8–9, Optical TV audio setup (TV optical out to bar optical input; video source remains connected to TV): Exact Bar 500MK2 manual illustrates connecting a digital device to HDMI IN and the soundbar to the TV; documents Bluetooth, Google Cast, AirPlay and JBL One network playback; and says US USB audio playback is MP3. It notes service availability and subscriptions vary. It also shows optical as a TV-audio connection with the video device connected separately to the TV, not passed through optical.
- 5.TCL S55H US Quick Start GuideTCL · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-16 05:01 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Section 7b Optical; optical TV-to-soundbar connection diagram: Exact S55H quick-start guide shows TV OPTICAL connected to soundbar OPTICAL with an optical cable (not supplied), establishing optical as a TV-audio fallback. TCL product page separately confirms S55H has no HDMI input, so optical does not enable HDMI video pass-through.