S4210

Overview

The S4210 is the 2.1 channel model in TCL's 2023 S Class soundbar range. The bar is 560 mm wide, 62 mm high and 98 mm deep; TCL describes it as a 22 inch bar that works with 32 inch TVs and larger. TCL also sold it at Walmart as the S210W, which has the same quick start guide apart from the model name.

The system has a wireless subwoofer with a 5.5 inch driver and a total audio power of 200 W from three speakers. It decodes Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus and adds DTS Virtual:X for a virtual height and surround effect. The sound modes are Standard, Voice, Music, Movie, Game and Sports, and the remote adds Voice Enhance, Night mode, Bass Boost, Surround Enhance, DTS TruVolume and bass and treble settings.

The inputs are HDMI ARC, optical, a 3.5 mm AUX input, a separate AUX input for a voice assistant speaker, USB playback (MP3, WMA, FLAC and WAV) and Bluetooth. The bar is Roku TV Ready: with a TCL Roku TV it sets up on screen and works with the TV remote. The box contains the subwoofer, two power cords, an HDMI cable, an IR pass-through cable, the remote with two AAA batteries, wall mount brackets with screws and anchors, a wall mount template and the printed leaflets.

What the specs mean

• 2.1 speaker setup: left and right channels in the bar plus a subwoofer channel. The ".1" is the wireless subwoofer in the box, which needs only a power socket.
• HDMI ARC: the TV sends its sound to the bar over the one HDMI cable in the box; TCL recommends it over optical and asks you to enable HDMI-CEC on the TV. There is no HDMI input for a player or console, so there is no video passthrough.
• DTS Virtual:X: processing that TCL describes as virtual 3D sound that envelops you, without extra speakers.
• IR pass-through: TCL lists IR pass-through and puts a 9.8 inch IR pass-through cable in the box; it plugs into the IR input on the back of the bar.