If you’ve been paying attention to the home theater space in 2021, it’s become apparent that Hisense are making some strategic moves into specific categories and with new significant partners. LG and Samsung are likely to lose some marketshare on the bottom end to this Chinese manufacturer which now has manufacturing facilities in China, South America, India, South Africa and Europe.
In addition to LED/LCD, Dual Cell LCD, and Laser TVs, Hisense also makes a line of soundbars. Here are their latest models, the HS212F, HS219, and HS312.
All three soundbars include the following features:
Easy Connectivity: All Hisense soundbars connect to TVs using HDMI-ARC/eARC connectivity. In addition, digital optical and analog (3.5mm) are also provided as alternatives.
Bluetooth: All the soundbars include Bluetooth pairing which allows you to stream music from compatible smartphones.
Music file Compatibility (Bluetooth or USB): WAV(48K)/WMA/MP3/FLAC.
Quick Touch EQ Modes: This allows users to optimize sound quality using preset Movie, Music, News, Sports, and Night modes.
Roku TV Ready: Hisense soundbars can be used with almost any TV. However, if you own a Roku TV and connect it to a Roku TV Ready Soundbar (such as the Hisense models) via the TV’s HDMI-ARC/eARC connection, the soundbar setup process starts automatically via onscreen prompts that appear on the TV screen. Once setup is completed, users can control both the TV and soundbar using the Roku TV’s remote and the Roku TV’s on-screen menu, including the soundbar’s own preset sound modes and other audio settings.
EzPlay™: This allows users to control their soundbars with Hisense U7, U8, and U9 Series TV remotes.
Wireless Subwoofer: A dedicated, wireless subwoofer is included for an enhanced low-frequency response.
Included Accessories: Remote control, HDMI cable, digital optical cable, soundbar power cable, subwoofer power cable, wall mounting kit, and user guides.
Hisense HS212F
If you are looking for something very basic to improve your TV’s sound, the HS212F is a 2.1 Channel Soundbar with 2 speakers (L/R), 60W power output, and a 120W wireless 6.5-inch subwoofer. No surround sound decoding or processing is provided. It’s 37.8 (W) x 2.2 (H) x 3.3 (D) inches.
The Hisense HS212F will be available for $199.99 at Amazon and Best Buy this month (October 2021).
Hisense HS219
The HS219 is a step up from the HS212F. It is a 2.1 channel soundbar with four 30W speakers and a 360W subwoofer. However, one upgrade is that generic virtual surround sound processing is included, providing a wider, more impactful listening experience. It’s a little larger and longer at 39.3 (W) x 2.4 (H) x 3.7 (D) inches.
The Hisense HS219 will be available for $279.99 at Amazon and Best Buy this month (October 2021).
Hisense HS312
The HS312 3.1 channel soundbar combines six 30W speakers and a 240W subwoofer. In addition to virtual surround sound processing, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and Dolby Atmos decoding are also included. However, the HS312 does not decode DTS-based surround sound formats. The HS312 also has 2 4K/HDR-compatible HDMI inputs for connecting external devices (Blu-ray/UHD Blu-ray Player or Game Console) in addition to the HDMI-ARC/eARC connection. It’s the middle size of the three at 38.6 (W) x 2.4 (H) x 3.5 (D) inches.
The suggested price for the HS312 is $399.99. It will be available starting in October on Amazon and Best Buy.
