TCL S55H vs Samsung HW-B400F/ZA: Which Setup Fits Your Room and TV?
Pick by room layout first: S55H adds a separately positioned, separately powered subwoofer, while B400F keeps its woofer in the soundbar body. For TV setup, both manuals document optical and HDMI ARC/eARC-family routes. TCL explicitly lists Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X; Samsung lists supported formats as LPCM 2-channel, Dolby Audio supporting Dolby Digital, and DTS, and documents Bluetooth TV pairing with a compatible Samsung TV.
Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-02
Source checked 2026-10-02 19:01 UTC
Products compared
Product A · ASIN B0D1JBBJ6S
TCL S55H 2.1 Sound Bar
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 B0DY1Z934F
Samsung HW-B400F/ZA B-Series 2.0 Soundbar
Last observed offer
$119.99 List Price: $139.99
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 19:09 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
Will a separately placed subwoofer and the TCL's documented TV-format options fit your room and TV better than the Samsung's integrated-woofer layout and documented connection routes?
The TCL S55H is a 2.1 setup with a separate wireless subwoofer, while Samsung describes the HW-B400F as a 2.0 soundbar with a built-in woofer; their documented TV inputs and format lists also differ.
Quick verdict
Choose TCL S55H 2.1 Sound Bar if
- You want a separate subwoofer and have a place and power outlet for it within the manual's recommended distance from the bar.
- Dolby Atmos or DTS Virtual:X is a specific documented format requirement for your TV setup.
Choose Samsung HW-B400F/ZA B-Series 2.0 Soundbar if
- You want the integrated-woofer 2.0 layout and a shorter single soundbar body.
- You have a compatible Samsung TV and want the B400F's manual-documented Bluetooth TV connection.
When the recommendation changes
- If your TV has only optical output, both manuals document an optical connection, so connection choice alone does not favor either model.
- If Atmos is a must-have, TCL explicitly lists Dolby Atmos; Samsung's manual lists LPCM 2-channel, Dolby Digital, and DTS but does not list Atmos, so confirm Samsung's handling before buying rather than treating the omission as proof of incompatibility.
- If you plan Bluetooth TV audio with the Samsung, first confirm your Samsung TV supports Bluetooth soundbar output; its manual documents one Samsung TV at a time.
The differences that matter
Speaker Package And Placement
What this changes: The TCL requires a second physical placement and a power outlet for its subwoofer as well as room for a longer bar; Samsung's documented woofer is integrated into a shorter single bar. Choose by available shelf, floor, and outlet space, not by an assumed bass or sound-quality winner.[1, 2, 3, 4]
Tv Connection And Audio Formats
TCL S55H 2.1 Sound Bar
TCL lists HDMI eARC, optical, AUX, USB audio playback, Bluetooth music streaming, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Virtual:X for the S55H.[1, 2]
Samsung HW-B400F/ZA B-Series 2.0 Soundbar
The HW-B400F/ZA U.S. guide shows HDMI ARC, optical, and USB playback; it documents Bluetooth pairing with one compatible Samsung TV at a time. Its supported-format list is LPCM 2-channel, Dolby Audio supporting Dolby Digital, and DTS.[4]
What this changes: Both manuals document an optical route, and both document HDMI ARC/eARC-family TV connection. The S55H page explicitly names Atmos and DTS Virtual:X plus AUX; Samsung documents TV Bluetooth for a compatible Samsung TV and lists its supported formats. Match those instructions to your TV outputs and the format of the content you use; Samsung's list not naming Atmos is a reason to verify, not a finding that the feature is absent.[1, 2, 4]
Best for your routine
You specifically want a separate subwoofer and can place it near the soundbar with a power outlet available.
Best fit: TCL S55H 2.1 Sound Bar
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
The S55H is the documented 2.1 bar-plus-wireless-subwoofer package; its manual recommends less than 9.8 feet between the two units.
You prefer a shorter, single soundbar body with the woofer built in.
Best fit: Samsung HW-B400F/ZA B-Series 2.0 Soundbar
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
Samsung's U.S. guide describes the B400F as a 2.0 bar with a built-in woofer, and its manual lists a 25.2-inch bar.
You want Bluetooth TV audio from a compatible Samsung television and can confirm its Bluetooth sound-output support.
Best fit: Samsung HW-B400F/ZA B-Series 2.0 Soundbar
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
The B400F manual gives a Bluetooth TV-pairing procedure for compatible Samsung TVs and limits the connection to one Samsung TV at a time.
Dolby Atmos is a required documented feature in your TV-audio plan.
Best fit: TCL S55H 2.1 Sound Bar
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
TCL explicitly lists Dolby Atmos for the S55H. The B400F manual lists LPCM 2-channel, Dolby Digital, and DTS; ask Samsung about Atmos support if you are considering the B400F for that requirement.
Value and trade-offs
One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.
A price difference is meaningful only if the separate subwoofer placement or the documented connection and format options matter to your setup; compare the live offers at checkout.
The available price record is stale, so it cannot show whether current offers are unusually low or support purchase-timing advice. Compare current checkout prices when you are ready to buy.
Limitations
- This is a feature-fit comparison based on manufacturer documentation; no controlled head-to-head acoustic measurements or hands-on testing support a sound-quality, bass, dialogue, or Atmos-effect winner.
- The Samsung manual lists LPCM 2-channel, Dolby Digital, and DTS but does not list Atmos. Confirm with Samsung if Atmos handling is decisive; this comparison does not treat that omission alone as proof of incompatibility.
- No comparable current-price history supports a Buy Now/Wait recommendation.
Questions shoppers ask
How much space does the TCL subwoofer need?
The S55H has a separate subwoofer; TCL lists its dimensions as 7.68 × 12.60 × 7.68 inches, gives it a separate power cord, and recommends less than 9.8 feet between the subwoofer and soundbar. Plan for the separate unit rather than treating 'wireless' as power-free.
Can I connect either soundbar to a TV with optical audio?
Yes. The S55H manual shows its optical input and the B400F/ZA manual shows its Digital Audio In (Optical) input. Follow the TV's audio-output settings and select the corresponding source on the soundbar.
Will the B400F connect to any TV over Bluetooth?
The B400F manual documents pairing with a compatible Samsung TV, says to check the TV specifications, and allows one Samsung TV connection at a time. It does not establish Bluetooth TV compatibility for every brand.
Methodology and sources
Compared the exact S55H and HW-B400F/ZA U.S. manufacturer materials for speaker layout, stated dimensions, TV inputs, Bluetooth TV instructions, and listed formats. No paired acoustic measurements or personal listening test was performed.
AI-assisted source research, organization, and draft preparation; Pickoryx did not conduct hands-on testing.
View 4 sources
- 1.TCL S55H S Class 2.1 Channel Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos, Wireless Subwoofer, and Bluetooth Music StreamingTCL USA · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-02 18:59 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Product/features and configuration lines 262-285; exact S55H model and specifications lines 408-481; accessory/power-cord and dimensions lines 499-562.: Exact TCL USA S55H product page. Lists 2.1 configuration, Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X (not plain DTS:X), HDMI eARC, optical, AUX, USB playback, Bluetooth music, separate wireless subwoofer, power cords, and stated dimensions.
- 2.S55H User Manual (U.S.)TCL North America Support · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-02 19:01 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Printed p. 14 (physical PDF p. 15) for the subwoofer placement recommendation (<9.8 ft from the soundbar); printed pp. 22–23 (physical PDF pp. 23–24) for HDMI eARC/ARC; printed p. 25 (physical PDF p. 26) for optical; printed p. 26 (physical PDF p. 27) for AUX; printed p. 35 (physical PDF p. 36) for USB playback. The PDF cover identifies S55H and the TCL U.S. support S-Series manual index links this model to the guide.: U.S. S55H manual linked from TCL U.S. S Series user-manual listing. It recommends centering the soundbar below the TV and placing the subwoofer within 9.8 feet; it documents eARC/ARC, optical, AUX and USB procedures.
- 3.Soundbar Buying Guide: U.S. B-Series lineupSamsung Electronics America · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-02 18:59 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- U.S. B-Series lineup table, lines 124-140, B400F column.: Samsung’s U.S. B-Series guide lists the HW-B400F as 2.0-channel sound with a built-in woofer.
- 4.HW-B400F/ZA User Guide (English, U.S. edition)Samsung Electronics America · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-02 18:56 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- PDF p. 1 model cover; pp. 8-9 panel/ports; pp. 18-20 optical, ARC and TV output format guidance; pp. 21-22 Samsung TV Bluetooth procedure; p. 37 supported play formats and dimensions; pp. 38-39 U.S. warranty/support.: The official HW-B400F user guide shows HDMI ARC, optical and USB connections, compatible Samsung-TV Bluetooth pairing, supported play formats, and stated dimensions. Its closing pages provide a U.S.-only warranty and Samsung U.S. support contact.