The Hisense HS3100 is the baby brother of the HS5100. I have already covered the HS5100 in quite a lot of detail so this review isn’t going to be long and detailed. If you want a more in-depth review, be sure to check out the full HS5100 review here.
Watch the Hisense HS3100 review below
The unit is a 5.1ch system that includes two rear speakers, a subwoofer and a soundbar. The HS3100 is exactly the same system but it doesn’t have the rear speakers. Instead, you’ll only get the soundbar and subwoofer.
The HS3100 is a 480W 3.1ch system which is not upgradeable to an HS5100. So before you run out and buy the HS3100 thinking you can purchase the rear speakers separately later down the line, you can’t. The subwoofer in the HS5100 comes with two aux ports on the speaker which are used to power and send sound to the rear speakers. The subwoofer in the HS3100 doesn’t include these ports. So there’s no way to add rear speakers to this system.
If you want rear speakers, you’re better off buying the Hisense HS5100 right from the start. But the HS3100 is still a great option for those looking for only the soundbar and subwoofer system.
In the box, you’ll get the soundbar and subwoofer. There’s also an HDMI cable and two power cables to power the soundbar and subwoofer. There’s a remote and some mounting brackets for the soundbar. That’s about it. Basically, the package is identical to the HS5100 instead it doesn’t include the rear speakers and the cables for them.
When it comes to the design of the system, the Hisense HS 3100 soundbar is a lightweight and compact unit. It is 90cm long and 9cm in depth. It is 6cm high meaning it will likely sit under your TV without blocking any view. You’ll just need to make sure the 90cm length can fit across your TV legs or on top of them.
The unit features a ribbed design on the top with some touch buttons in the centre. These buttons are fairly responsive and I was able to turn the volume up and down pretty fast but quickly tapping the plus and minus buttons. The speaker itself is coated in a fabric mesh which also hides away the display.
When it comes to the ports, the soundbar includes a USB Type-A port for music playback, an HDMI port that includes ARC support, an optical port, a 3.5 aux port and the figure-8 power port. The back also includes two mounting sockets.
When it comes to the subwoofer, this large box is 30cm tall and 16cm wide. There’s a fabric ring on one side and a hole at the back. You’ll also find the figure-8 power port at the back with a sync button in case the soundbar disconnects. Again, the subwoofer does not include the left and right aux out ports which are used for the rear speakers on the HS5100 system.
Setting up the system was fairly easy. Easier than the HS5100 due to the lack of rear speakers. I plugged the soundbar into my HDMI and powered both the speaker and the subwoofer. Once connected, I could automatically control the system with my TV remote.
The system comes with a number of sound presets that are selectable by using the included remote. News Mode amplifies the spoken word in content while Game Mode seemed to increase the highs a bit.
I was able to increase the Bass and Treble on the system too by +5. This does help boost the bass and treble a bit more compared to the out-of-the-box default but I won’t say it was a massive difference. You’ll likely max this out too. Keep in mind that the Hisense HS3100 doesn’t allow for any other level tweaking besides Bass and Treble. You’ll simply have to rely on the equalizer presets to change the sound levels.
Another difference between the HS5100 and HS3100 is the surround sound modes. The HS5100 includes Surround Sound Pro and Surround Sound Pure. The HS3100 only includes Surround Sound Pro. This is a simulated surround sound mode that uses the speakers to fake a sort of surround sound experience.
For the most part, it does create a bit more expansive sound but you won’t hear anything behind you. This mode is just there to expand what is already available on the system.
Overall, the system did manage to deliver some decent performance. The soundbar did a great job separating the left and right and mostly everything I tested sounded good. Loud content often struggled to deliver a real kick but I was impressed that a system for R3000 could deliver this level of sound.
Of course, you’re missing out on the rear sounds here so you need to take that into consideration. I would personally just cave in and upgrade this system to the HS5100 for the rear speakers. Essentially, you’re getting the same decent soundbar and subwoofer with the added surround sound.
But for those who don’t want rear speakers or those who can’t accommodate them, this system is quite good for its asking price. Don’t get me wrong, it really is the most entry-level system you can find compared to what is out there. However, if you’re just starting out and want to get rid of those nasty TV speakers, this is a great stepping stone towards improving your sound experience. You’ll just need to decide if you want to spend R2,699 on this rear-speaker-less system or put in the extra and pay R3,299 for the full surround sound system.
The Hisense HS3100 soundbar is available in South Africa from R2,499. Find out more here.
Hisense HS3100 Soundbar Review
Summary
The Hisense HS3100 3.1ch 480W Soundbar is a decent sound system that is a great replacement for your TV speakers. It isn’t the most powerful and lacks many modern sound features but if you want a bit more power and volume from your TV, this is a great stepping stone soundbar.