From my own experience, I can say that the best LG soundbars really stand out because of the great features they have. They give you a great sound experience whether you’re watching a movie, playing games, or just listening to your favorite music. Some of the coolest features I’ve seen are support for Dolby Atmos, EQ with AI help, and really great subwoofers.
That this level of sound quality isn’t just found in LG’s high-end models is even more impressive. Their soundbars are very powerful, even the smallest and most basic ones. They fill the room with rich, powerful sound. Plus, they come in sleek and stylish styles that will go with any home decor.
When it comes to improving the sound of your TV, you have two options: You can build a surround sound system with multiple speakers, an AV receiver, and between three and 12 speakers, or you can buy a soundbar. For most people, the cost and hassle associated with a multi-speaker system is daunting – and using a single soundbar provides almost as good a sound experience.
LG’s outstanding 4K OLED TVs have been among the best on the market for some time, but the company’s soundbars (including Dolby Atmos models) seem to fly under the radar. So what are they like? And should you consider buying one? But if “an unusually affordable Dolby Atmos soundbar” piques your interest-and it should, because that was a phrase we said when reviewing an LG soundbar-then you should take a closer look.
Best LG Soundbars
LG SN6Y Sound Bar
The LG SN6Y is a pretty standard 3.1 channel soundbar setup. Its default sound profile is fairly bass-heavy, although it lacks the deep rumble you’ll find in action movie sound effects or electronic music. It has a dedicated center channel for clearer vocals and dialogue, but it can also sound harsh. It does a poor job of downmixing surround content, making the surround channels overly bass-heavy and lacking support for Dolby Atmos.
On the downside, it gets loud and has several sound customization features that allow you to tweak the sound a bit to suit your needs. You can also purchase a rear speaker kit to turn it into a 5.1 setup. However, there are bass and treble adjustments to help you customize its sound. Thanks to its discrete center, it’s a solid choice for vocal-centric content like TV shows.
LG SP7Y Sound Bar 5.1ch
The SP7Y does not directly replace a model from last year. If you look at the model numbers, the SN7Y was a 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar, while the SN6Y was a 3.1 channel soundbar. The SP7Y we’ve got here, on the other hand, is a 5.1-channel soundbar and while it shares similar features and functionality to many other LG releases, there’s no model with a 5.1-channel setup to show that LG wanted to bridge the gap between the two models of last year.
And to be honest it’s a smart move as LG now has a device on offer for those interested in a 5.1 channel soundbar. But what does the SP7Y have to offer? The unit is a soundbar-subwoofer combo and while it carries the 5.1-channel rating, it doesn’t have surround speakers for over-the-shoulder action. It comes with Dolby Audio, DTS Digital Surround and PCM support, there’s also DTS Virtual:X for a more surround-fulfilling experience.
LG Eclair QP5 Sound Bar
It setup with a unique design. It’s one of the smallest Dolby Atmos soundbars we have tested, ideal for listeners in smaller apartments and condos that don’t fit in a full setup. Despite its sleek design, however, its sound performance is not as impressive and it noticeably lacks deep bass. Vocals can appear clear and precise at times, but also quite dark and muddy due to the treble being set back.
Its Atmos performance is quite disappointing, with muffled audio and a lack of boom and punch in action-packed scenes. The subwoofer is mostly made of hard plastic. The rounded sides of the sub are covered in a tight fabric. Its reversible design gives you a lot of flexibility when placing it in your room since you can use it in any direction.
LG S75Q 3.1.2ch Sound bar
Dolby Atmos for an immersive sound experience. Meridian Audio Technology partnering up to advance sound. High-Res Audio for more accurate sound and a more enjoyable listening experience. LG Sound Bars are engineered to seamlessly enhance LG TV performance and designed to match LG TV. Control the Sound bar with LG TV remote controller and generate high quality sound by LG TV’s sound engine.
Powerful connectivity with Bluetooth and HDMI in/out (eARC), Eco friendly product in the entire process of manufacturing, using, disposal. Using recycled resin coming from plastic bottle and eliminate the styrofoam, vinyl bag in packaging. This is 3.1.2 Channel audio with 380W power.
LG SK1 Sound Bar
The LG SK1 is an entry-level 2.0 soundbar with below-average performance overall. It doesn’t have a wireless sub and it struggles to produce deep, deep and extended bass. On the other hand, it does a good job of reproducing voices, making it ideal for conversation-heavy content like podcasts and TV shows. This soundbar is well built but lacks many connectivity options.
You can use it to play surround content; However, Atmos isn’t supported, so it doesn’t offer the most complete listening experience. It also doesn’t get very loud and doesn’t support DTS, which is disappointing. It’s decent for conversational content like podcasts and TV shows. The sound profile is neutral and balanced in the mid-range, which are typically the frequencies at which vocals are reproduced.
LG GX Sound Bar with Subwoofer
Home theater sound with more depth. Surround your senses while ideally matching the gallery design of the LG GX series OLED TVs. Sound effects and soundtracks seem to come from all angles with 3.1 channels, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. LG’s subwoofer combines with the soundbar’s upward-firing front-height channels to direct Hi-Res audio outwards and upwards, for sound that fills any room.
AI Sound Pro delivers optimal sound settings through adaptive sound control. Dolby, Dolby Atmos and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Wirelessly pair with additional surround sound speakers for a full cinematic audio experience. 2.0 ch Rear Speaker Kit expansion delivers audio from behind for greater depth and immersive surround sound.
LG SP9YA 5.1.2 Ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar
The LG SP9YA is a 5.1.2 soundbar that is the next generation of the LG SN9YG. It has a few more features and EQ presets, including support for Apple AirPlay. There are also some features we don’t test, like the LG TV AI Processor, which lets you sync the bar with compatible LG TVs for more immersive sound.
With its AI room calibration feature, it offers a very neutral, balanced sound profile suitable for listening to a wide variety of audio content. It doesn’t offer a very impressive surround performance, but you can also buy satellite speakers separately. It also has many sound customization features, including bass and treble adjustments and EQ presets.
Final Words
LG offers a speaker upgrade kit that is compatible with most modern LG soundbars. The upgrade kit includes two additional speakers for use as rear surround speakers in a surround sound setup and connects wirelessly to your existing LG soundbar. Adding LG’s additional rear surround speakers is a good compromise between impressive sound and the cost and hassle of setting up a full multi-speaker system.
