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LG GX Soundbar Soundbar Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Reviewed Aug 27, 2020 at 08:10 am
Latest change: Writing modified Apr 15, 2024 at 12:31 pm
LG GX Soundbar Picture
7.4
Mixed Usage
7.7
Dialogue/TV Shows
7.5
Music
7.1
Movies

The LG GX Soundbar is a 3.1 setup from LG's 2020 lineup. It has a uniquely thin look so you can wall-mount it beneath an LG wallpaper OLED TV. It can also be table-mounted if you prefer, although it's quite tall and can obscure your screen. It comes with a wireless subwoofer, which helps to give it a somewhat boomy sound profile. While it lacks low-bass, it comes with several EQ presets to help you get the best sound for your audio preferences. It also has a dialogue enhancement feature which can further improve vocal clarity, and there are many physical inputs available. It even supports Atmos content, but it has to downmix it into stereo to play it. Overall, this soundbar is best-suited for a harmonious and aesthetically-pleasing look with LG's own TVs, but it can still deliver a good overall audio experience, even on its own.

Our Verdict

7.4 Mixed Usage

The LG GX Soundbar is good for mixed use. This soundbar has a bit of a boomy sound profile with a touch of brightness. Although it has a wireless subwoofer, it also lacks thumpy low bass. Luckily, it has several EQ presets and a few other sound enhancement features to help you make the most out of your audio. If you like to watch movies, this soundbar also supports Atmos content. However, on its own, this soundbar has to downmix it into stereo to play it, which doesn't produce as immersive of an audio experience as a soundbar with satellites. It can also get loud enough for use in a large or crowded room, but there's some compression at max volume. On the upside, you can also stream podcasts or music to it using Bluetooth.

Pros
  • Bluetooth compatible.
  • Supports Atmos.
  • Several EQ presets available.
  • Dialogue enhancement feature available via companion app.
Cons
  • Struggles to produce low-bass.
  • Wide and tall bar.
7.7 Dialogue/TV Shows

The LG GX Soundbar is great for dialogue and TV shows. It has a dedicated center channel that can produce fairly clear and accurate dialogue. There's also a dialogue enhancement feature available via its companion app if you want to further improve vocal quality. You can stream your favorite podcasts and audiobooks directly to the bar using Bluetooth. However, while it can get pretty loud, there's some compression at max volume.

Pros
  • Bluetooth compatible.
  • Dialogue enhancement feature available via companion app.
Cons
  • Wide and tall bar.
7.5 Music

The LG GX Soundbar is decent for music. As it comes with a wireless subwoofer, it has a somewhat boomy but slightly bright sound profile that some users may enjoy. It struggles to produce low-bass, which could affect genres like EDM and hip-hop. However, if you prefer a different sound, there are a few EQ presets available to help you find a sound that best fits your preferences. The bar can also get loud enough to fill a large or crowded room. However, there's some thumping and compression artifacts present at max volumes.

Pros
  • Bluetooth compatible.
  • Several EQ presets available.
Cons
  • Struggles to produce low-bass.
  • Wide and tall bar.
7.1 Movies

The LG GX Soundbar is decent for movies. It has a bit of a boomy sound profile, but some movie lovers may find it struggles to produce a satisfyingly thumpy low-bass. However, it has several EQ presets available to help you get the best sound for your preferences. It can also play Atmos content, although it has to downmix it into stereo to play it. It can get pretty loud too but there's some thumping and compression artifacts present at max volume.

Pros
  • Supports Atmos.
  • Several EQ presets available.
  • Can be used as a hub between your TV and Blu-ray player.
Cons
  • Downmixes surround content into stereo.
  • Struggles to produce low-bass.
  • Wide and tall bar.
  • 7.4 Mixed Usage
  • 7.7 Dialogue/TV Shows
  • 7.5 Music
  • 7.1 Movies
  1. Updated Apr 15, 2024: We've added a mention of rear speakers, which you can purchase separately, in Style - Satellites.
  2. Updated Aug 04, 2021: Added more information about auto-off and app device casting features.
  3. Updated May 06, 2021: Updated the text to reflect the new app for the soundbar.
  4. Updated Mar 26, 2021: Corrected an error in Height localization.
  5. Updated Mar 26, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  6. Updated Sep 21, 2020: The Dynamics tests have been reconducted due to a value input bug.
  7. Updated Aug 27, 2020: Review published.
  8. Updated Aug 21, 2020: Early access published.
  9. Updated Aug 10, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  10. Updated Aug 07, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  11. Updated Jul 31, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Compared To Other Soundbars

The LG GX Soundbar is a 3.1 channel setup from LG's 2020 lineup. Unlike other soundbars like the LG SN6Y, it's designed to be wall-mounted with LG's wallpaper OLED TVs for an aesthetically pleasing and sleek look. It can also be table-mounted, but although it's thinner than most other soundbars, it's quite tall as well as long and can easily obscure your TV screen. That said, it comes with a subwoofer and it can support Atmos content, although it has to downmix it into stereo to play it. If you're looking for more soundbars, check out our recommendations for the best soundbars with subwoofer, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best soundbars for music.

Sonos Arc

The Sonos Arc is better than the LG GX Soundbar. The Sonos is a 5.0.2 setup that's better built and offers better soundstage, center, surround, and Atmos performances. Unlike the LG, it has room correction and built-in voice assistant support. The 3.1 LG gets louder and has a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough.

Samsung HW-Q800A

The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the LG GX Soundbar. The Samsung is better built with more wireless playback options. It has better center and Atmos performances, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. Unlike the LG, it has a graphic EQ for sound customization and built-in voice assistant support. That said, some users may prefer the LG's uniquely sleek design that's ideal for wall-mounting.

Samsung HW-Q600A

The Samsung HW-Q600A is a bit better for mixed usage than the LG GX Soundbar. The Samsung is better built with better center and Atmos performances. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it comes with a graphic EQ. However, the LG has better soundstage and surround performances. It can also get louder with less compression at max volume.

LG SP9YA

The 5.1.2 LG SP9YA is better than the 3.1 LG GX Soundbar. The SP9YA is better built, and it can reproduce a more extended low bass. It offers better center and Atmos performances. Also, there are more wireless playback options and sound enhancement features, including room correction. That said, some users may prefer the GX's unique design.

LG SP8YA

The LG SP8YA is a better soundbar than the LG GX Soundbar. The SP8YA is better-built with a more extended low-bass. It offers room correction and more wireless playback options. Unlike the GX, it doesn't have to downmix Atmos content to play it. However, the GX gets louder, and it has a better soundstage performance.

LG SN9YG

The LG SN9YG is better than the LG GX Soundbar. The SN9YG is a 5.1.2 setup that's better-built with better center, surround, and Atmos performances. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it comes with room correction. It also has built-in voice assistant support. That said, the 3.1 GX Soundbar has a better stereo soundstage.

Samsung HW-T650

The LG GX Soundbar is a more versatile 3.1 setup than the Samsung HW-T650. The LG's surround performance is better, and it can play Atmos content, though it downmixes it to stereo. It also supports eARC as well as DTS:X, and it can passthrough 4k @ 60Hz. The LG even has a companion app that allows you to save audio playlists and access a dialogue enhancement feature. However, the Samsung feels better built. While it can't get as loud as the LG, it can reach its max volume with less compression.

LG SN8YG

The LG SN8YG is a better soundbar for movies than the LG GX Soundbar. The SN8YG is a 3.1.2 setup that feels better built, it has a better performing center channel, and since it has up-firing speakers on the bar, its height performance is more immersive than the GX. The SN8YG has a room correction feature too. However, the GX is a 3.1 setup with a better balanced and neutral sound profile. The GX also has a better surround performance, even though it downmixes this content into stereo in order to play it. The GX can also get louder and there are less thumping and compression artifacts present at max volume. 

Sony HT-G700

The LG GX Soundbar is a better soundbar for dialogue and TV shows than the Sony HT-G700. The LG is better balanced and has more sound enhancement features. Even though it has to downmix surround content into stereo just like the Sony, its surround performance is better. It also has a USB port so you can listen to audio from a flash drive and it has a companion app. However, the Sony feels better built, and it has a better height performance.

LG SN6Y

The LG GX Soundbar is a much better performing 3.1 setup than the LG SN6Y. The GX has a better-balanced sound profile, and it supports Atmos, though it downmixes it to stereo. Even though it downmixes surround content into stereo, it has a better surround and height performance than the SN6Y. The GX can get louder, it supports more audio formats like eARCand DTS:X, and it feels better built.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage

The LG GX Soundbar is a better overall soundbar than the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage. The LG is a 3.1 setup that's designed for use with LG's OLED wallpaper TVs. It has a better surround performance and offers full audio format support for each of its physical inputs. However, the Bang & Olufsen feels better built and has two Ethernet ports, one of which is designed to work with LG's C9 Series TVs. While it doesn't have full audio format support via any of its physical inputs, it has outstanding wireless playback options. Its center and height channels also significantly outperform the LG.

Samsung HW-Q700A

The Samsung HW-Q700A is a slightly better soundbar for mixed usage than the LG GX Soundbar. The Samsung is better built and offers a better Atmos performance thanks to its up-firing speakers. It comes with a graphic EQ that gives you more control over its sound profile, and it has more wireless playback options. That said, the LG gets louder with less compression at max volume, and some listeners may prefer its unique, sleek design.

Samsung HW-A650

Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-A650 or the LG GX Soundbar. The Samsung has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, and it comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization. It's also better-built. However, the LG has a better soundstage performance, supports Dolby Atmos content, and offers support for more audio formats. It can also passthrough the highest quality bandwidth signals.

Samsung HW-Q950A

The Samsung HW-Q950A is better than the LG GX Soundbar. The Samsung is a better built 11.1.4 setup with dedicated satellites. It has better center, surround, and Atmos performances. It also offers more sound enhancement features, like room correction, and more wireless playback options. Unlike the LG, it has built-in voice assistant support. Also, it can reproduce a more extended low-bass.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style - Bar

The LG GX Soundbar is a very stylish and sleek-looking soundbar made with dark-colored plastic and a tight fabric wrap. Its unique thin teardrop shape is meant to complement TVs from LG's OLED series, like the LG GX OLED, and when mounted below these TVs, its slim, long profile makes it look more like wall art than a bulky soundbar. You can also stand it at an angle in front of your TV if you prefer.

Design
Style - Subwoofer

The LG GX's subwoofer is made from melamine and plastic. Its front face has a thin fabric wrap that can easily rip or collect dust.

Design
Style - Satellites

This soundbar doesn't come with satellites in the box, but you can add on the SPK8-S rear speaker kit separately if you're looking for a more dimensional sound.

Design
Dimensions - Bar
Width 56.9" (144.6 cm)
Height 5.9" (15.0 cm)
Depth 1.3" (3.3 cm)

The LG GX Soundbar is very tall and wide. It's meant to be wall-mounted, but if you want to place it on your console table, it won't fit between the legs of a 55" TV. It's a pretty tall bar, even though it's at an angle when standing, and it can easily obscure the bottom of your TV screen.

Design
Dimensions - Subwoofer
Width 7.1" (18.1 cm)
Height 15.4" (39.2 cm)
Depth 11.5" (29.2 cm)

The LG GX's subwoofer is about the size of an average desktop PC. It's not very large and can fit beside your TV or couch with little problem.

Design
Dimensions - Satellites
Width N/A
Height N/A
Depth N/A
Design
Back - Bar
Bar Mounting
Proprietary

The back of this soundbar has two openings: one for its power cable and another for its inputs. There are also divots for its two stand brackets as well as a groove so that you can wall-mount it. The supplies for wall-mounting it come in the box too, which is nice.

Design
Back - Subwoofer
Enclosure
Ported

The back of the subwoofer has its port as well as its power cable. There's also a pairing button so you can wirelessly connect the subwoofer to the soundbar.

Design
Back - Satellites
Mounting
No
7.0
Design
Build Quality

The LG GX Soundbar has a decent build quality. Its sides and back are made of plastic while its front is covered by a tight fabric from end to end. However, the fabric feels a little thin and can be prone to ripping or collecting dirt. There are two metal bracket holders on the back so that you can wall or table-mount it. The subwoofer's front side is also covered in a thin fabric and is also prone to ripping or getting dirty. Unlike the bar, its sides are made from melamine while there's plastic on its top, back, and bottom sides.

Design
In The Box
HDMI Cable Length
1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Digital Optical Cable Length
N/A

  • HDMI cable
  • 2x Power cables
  • Remote
  • 2x AAA batteries for the remote
  • 2x Wall brackets with wall template
  • 2x Stand brackets
  • Manuals

Sound
7.4
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
Tested Preset
Standard
Slope
-0.42
Std. Err.
3.05 dB
Channels
3.1
Low-Frequency Extension
49.0 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz

The LG GX Soundbar has a decent stereo frequency response. Although it struggles to produce low bass, the rest of its range is pretty punchy and boomy, which is suitable for action-packed movies or EDM music. It also has a slightly bright treble. If you prefer a different sound, this soundbar has several EQs available.

7.4
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
Suggested Preset
Standard
Suggested Bass Setting
0
Suggested Treble Setting
0
Slope
-0.42
Std. Err.
3.05 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
49.0 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
7.5
Sound
Stereo Soundstage
Crosstalk Error
2.08 dB

The LG GX Soundbar has a good stereo soundstage. Although the soundstage feels about the size of the bar and the bar doesn't do anything to make it sound any wider, its focus is good. Objects sound like they're coming from pinpoint locations instead of more general areas.

8.3
Sound
Stereo Dynamics
SPL @ Max Volume
97.5 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
1.64 dB

The LG GX Soundbar has great stereo dynamics. It can get really loud, which is well-suited for large or crowded rooms. However, there are some thumping and compression artifacts present at max volume.

7.4
Sound
Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.53
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
2.53

The LG GX Soundbar has a decent THD performance. At a normal listening volume, the amount of THD falls within acceptable limits, resulting in pure and clean audio reproduction. That being said, the THD jumps a bit at max volume, but this can be difficult to hear with real-life content.

6.9
Sound
Center
Localization
Discrete
Slope
1.20
Std. Err.
6.38 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
90.2 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
4.15
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
5.16

The LG GX Soundbar is a 3.1 setup with an okay center channel performance. Although it has a dedicated center speaker, its frequency response is a little uneven, particularly in the low-mid, which may affect deeper voices. However, bass doesn't normally play on a center channel, so it won't sound boomy. The rest of the response is fairly even, resulting in clearer and more accurate dialogue in movies.

4.4
Sound
Surround 5.1
Localization
Stereo (Downmix)
Slope
-0.48
Std. Err.
3.03 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
97.5 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.67
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
2.62
7.1 Rears
No

The LG GX Soundbar has a disappointing surrounds performance. As it's a 3.1 setup, it uses its left and right speakers to downmix surround content into stereo. This results in a less than accurate and clear representation of surround objects, which affects immersion into your audio. These objects are also perceived as coming from in front of you rather than from the sides or behind you.

3.3
Sound
Height (Atmos)
Localization
Stereo (Downmix)
Slope
-1.70
Std. Err.
5.14 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
86.1 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.94
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.32

The LG GX Soundbar has poor height performance. It downmixes surround sound into stereo in order to play it. This results in a less immersive sound experience than that produced by soundbars with upward-firing speakers like the LG SN11RG.

7.0
Sound
Sound Enhancement Features
Room Correction
No
Dialogue Enhancement
Yes
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
Subwoofer Level Adjustment
Yes
Bass Adjustment
Yes
Treble Adjustment
Yes
EQ
Presets
Surround Level Adjustment
No
Rear Level Adjustment
Yes
Height Level Adjustment
No
Virtual Surround
Yes

The LG GX Soundbar has fair sound enhancement features. It has several EQ presets: 'AI Sound Pro', 'Standard', 'Bass Blast', 'Music', and 'Movie'. The 'AI Sound Pro' feature, in particular, is advertised to optimize audio settings depending on the content you're playing, but we don't currently test this feature. There's also a dialogue enhancement feature as well as a virtual surround feature. However, unlike the LG SP8YA, it lacks a room correction feature that could help cater its audio performance to your specific room. If you prefer a soundbar with a graphic EQ, consider the Samsung HW-A650 instead.

Connectivity
Connectivity
Physical Inputs - Bar
Optical Audio In
1
HDMI ARC
1 (shared)
HDMI Out
1 (shared)
Full HDMI In
1
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
No
RCA In
No
USB for Files
1
Ethernet
No

The LG GX Soundbar has a wide array of inputs. Thanks to its HDMI ports, you can use it as a hub for different devices like your TV and gaming console. There's also a USB port if you want to play audio from a flash drive. However, unlike the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage, this soundbar doesn't have an ethernet port, and it can't support a VLAN connection with compatible LG C9 Series TVs.

10
Connectivity
Audio Format Support - ARC
eARC
Yes
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Dolby Digital
Yes
Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
DTS
Yes
DTS:X (eARC only)
Yes
Dolby TrueHD (eARC only)
Yes
DTS-HD MA (eARC only)
Yes
5.1 PCM (eARC only)
Yes

The LG GX Soundbar supports all common formats over its HDMI ARC connection. It also supports eARC and can play object-based surround signals as well as lossless formats.

10
Connectivity
Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In
Dolby Atmos
Yes
DTS:X
Yes
Dolby Digital
Yes
Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
DTS
Yes
Dolby TrueHD
Yes
DTS-HD MA
Yes
5.1 PCM
Yes

This soundbar has a Full HDMI In port, so you can use it as a hub between an external device like a Blu-ray player and your TV. It supports all common audio formats, including Dolby Atmos and DTS. However, it has to downmix these audio formats into stereo, which won't produce the most immersive experience.

10
Connectivity
Audio Format Support - Optical
Dolby Digital
Yes
DTS
Yes

The LG GX Soundbar has outstanding audio format support via its Optical port. It supports Dolby Digital and DTS content, which are usually found on Blu-ray discs as well as streaming platforms.

7.7
Connectivity
Latency
ARC
74 ms
Optical
51 ms
Full HDMI In
86 ms
6.0
Connectivity
Wireless Playback
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi
No
Chromecast built-in
No
Apple AirPlay
No

The LG GX Soundbar has mediocre wireless playback options. It can play audio wirelessly via Bluetooth and that's it.

Connectivity
Other Input Specifications
4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough
Yes
4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough
Yes
4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough
Yes
HDR10 Passthrough
Yes

When used as a hub between your TV and another source like a gaming console, the LG GX Soundbar can pass 4k content at 60Hz. Text sent using this signal looks crisp.

Connectivity
Connectivity - Subwoofer
Sub Wireless
Yes

This sub wirelessly connects to the bar and it only needs its power cable.

Connectivity
Connectivity - Satellites
Sat Wireless
No
Additional Features
Additional Features
Interface
Display
Yes

The LG GX Soundbar has a small text screen in the middle of the bar behind its fabric covering. It displays the current input, volume levels, and any other level changes you make, like sub level adjustments.

Additional Features
Bar Controls

This bar has a few physical buttons located on the right side of the bar. You can turn the bar on and off, switch inputs, and adjust for volume.

Additional Features
Remote
Universal Remote
No

The LG GX Soundbar has a basic remote that lets you easily change most settings. However, the dialogue enhancement feature is only available via the companion app. You also won't be able to use this device as a universal remote to control your TV.

Additional Features
Voice Assistants Support
Amazon Alexa
No
Google Assistant
No
Apple Siri
No
Additional Features
App
App Name LG Sound Bar
iOS No
Android Yes
Acts As A Remote
Yes
Controls Soundbar's Settings
All
Casts Device Files
Yes

Update 08/04/2021: We added more information to mention that you can only cast files when a USB thumb drive is plugged into the soundbar. A window appears on the app that lets you see the list of songs on the thumb drive.

The LG Sound Bar app acts as a remote and lets you control all of the soundbar's functions. It's available to download on iOS devices, but you can't connect to the bar or the app. That said, it works with Android devices.

Additional Features
Other Features
Power Saving
Auto-off
HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control)
Yes

The LG GX Soundbar goes into standby after being idle for 15 minutes when it isn't connected to an external device. As it also supports HDMI CEC, you can use your TV's remote to control some of your soundbar's features, like volume and input control.