- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Soundbars
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We've currently tested 11 LG soundbars. The brand makes well-built soundbars with lots of connectivity options, but the models we've tested don't stand out in respect to sound quality.
Updates
- 10/19/2020 LG SN10YG reviewed
- 08/27/2020 LG GX Soundbar reviewed
- 08/14/2020 LG SN9YG reviewed
- 08/07/2020 LG SK1 reviewed
- 07/22/2020 LG SN11RG reviewed
Best LG Soundbars
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Best LG Soundbar
Channels7.1.4The best LG soundbar that we've tested is the LG SN11RG. This 7.1.4 setup comes with a dedicated subwoofer and two satellite speakers to help immerse you in your audio, offering versatile overall performance. Out-of-the-box, it has a slightly boomy sound profile that adds a little extra thump and punch to your audio while still being suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content. There's even a room correction feature that automatically adjusts audio reproduction based on the unique acoustic characteristics of the room you're listening in, as well as a few EQ presets to help you customize its sound. Thanks to its up-firing speakers, it supports Dolby Atmos content, too.
Unfortunately, it lacks a full graphic EQ, which may be disappointing for some listeners who want more control over its sound. Its wide size can make it a bit difficult to fit into your existing setup, too. Also, there's some distortion present when you play the bar at normal listening volumes and higher volumes. That said, distortion can be difficult to hear with real-life content, so this may not be an issue for most users.
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Best 5.1 LG Soundbar
Channels5.1.2The LG SN9YG is the best 5.1 LG soundbar that we've tested. This well-built 5.1.2 soundbar is very similar to the LG SN10YG in terms of look and performance but is available at a lower price point. It has a bass-heavy sound profile capable of reproducing deep thump and rumble, making it well-suited for action-packed movies or boomy music like EDM. While it doesn't come with a more comprehensive EQ, it offers an outstanding range of sound enhancement features, including room correction and five EQ presets. It also has a variety of physical inputs and supports eARC as well as Dolby Atmos. You can even wirelessly stream your favorite audio to the bar using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Chromecast built-in. It gets loud enough to fill a large or crowded room, and there aren't many compression artifacts at max volume.
Unfortunately, it has a poor height performance as it uses up-firing speakers, which doesn't sound very immersive. There's also some distortion at max volume, but luckily, it can be hard to hear with real-life content. It's been replaced by the 2021 LG SP9YA, and while we haven't tested this bar, we'll update this review in the future to reflect its performance. Ultimately, this 5.1 soundbar offers a well-rounded performance that's suitable for a variety of uses.
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Best 3.1 LG Soundbar
Channels3.1The best LG soundbar with a 3.1 setup that we've tested is the LG GX Soundbar. This 3.1 soundbar has a unique teardrop shape designed to complement TVs from LG's OLED series, so it looks more like wall art when hung on the wall. Its default sound profile is neutral and suitable for most audio content, and its wireless subwoofer helps adds an extra boom and punch to the mix. If you prefer a different sound, there are a couple of EQ presets available, as well as a dialogue enhancement feature and an auto-volume mode to help make the most of your TV-watching experience. This soundbar has many connectivity options, and it can get loud, though there are some compression artifacts present at max volume.
Unfortunately, while it supports Atmos content, it has to downmix it into stereo to play it, which doesn't create the most immersive listening experience. It also lacks some more premium sound enhancement features, like a graphic EQ or a room correction feature. Despite the subwoofer, it struggles to produce low bass, too, so it may not be the best choice if you like to listen to bass-heavy music like EDM and hip-hop. However, this 3.1 soundbar offers versatile performance and a unique design suitable for lots of uses.
Compared to other brands
- Very good build quality. LG soundbars are generally very well-built, even their more affordable models. Some companies cover their soundbars with a dark fabric that tends to collect dust that makes the bar look dirty. Fortunately, the LG soundbars we've tested all have a more premium design, with a brushed metal or textured plastic finish that looks and feels more high-end.
- Great wireless playback options. While most soundbars support Bluetooth, LG's soundbars tend to go above and beyond by also supporting wireless playback over Wi-Fi, as well as Chromecast built-in.
- Lots of connectivity inputs. All the LG soundbars we've tested today have optical, HDMI ARC, and full-HDMI inputs, with the higher-end models often having two full HDMI inputs.
- Additional rear speaker purchase required for 7.1 surround. Most of LG's flagships only provide 5.1.2 channels of audio by default. If you want your favorite 7.1 surround movies to sound their best on the SL10YG or the SK10Y, you need to purchase LG's additional wireless rear speaker kit. Fortunately, the 2020 LG SN11RG should have 7.1.4 channels out-of-the-box. However, the company is quite late to the game, compared to brands like Sony and Nakamichi that have had full 7.1 models out since 2017.
- Unremarkable stereo soundstages. A natural soundstage helps make music, movies, and video games sound more immersive. While none of the LG soundbars we've tested have a particularly bad soundstage, none are very good, either. Generally, they're only about as wide as the bar itself, if not a bit narrower, and sound diffused.
- Low max volume. The LG soundbars that we've tested have all been quieter than most. Their 2018 models were the worst offenders, but even their newer releases struggle to get as loud as the competition.
Like Sony or Samsung, LG makes different soundbars at several price points. While their higher-priced models are generally more feature-packed than their more affordable ones, all LG soundbars we've tested, regardless of price, have been well-built, with lots of different physical input options. Their more expensive models support additional surround sound formats and wireless playback options but don't deliver as premium an experience as other brands. The LG soundbars we've tested tend to be quieter, with fewer channels and less immersive soundstages than the competition.
Lineup
Like with their TVs, LG uses a combination of letters and numbers for their model names.
- SK* = 2018
- SL* = 2019
- SN* = 2020
- *Y = standard, no extra features or speakers
- *YG = with Google Assistant
- *RG = with rear speakers and Google Assistant
Recent Updates
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Apr 22, 2021: No changes in product picks after verifying their accuracy and availability.
Conclusion
LG is a brand well-known for their wide range of TVs, but they've also been making quite a few different soundbar models over the past few years. They're generally very well-built, with lots of different physical inputs and wireless playback options. However, they don't deliver the best sound performance overall, mostly due to their fairly narrow, diffused soundstages. Their default sound profiles are also often quite far from neutral. Fortunately, most of the models we've tested have a few different sound customization features, so you can usually tweak them a bit to get a sound profile that you like.
