The LG S80QY is a 3.1.3 setup released as part of LG's 2022 lineup. It's a feature-packed mid-range setup with a unique design, and like the LG S90QY and the LG S95QR, it comes with an additional up-firing center channel on top of the bar. There's an AI Room Calibration feature that optimizes the bar's sound based on your room's acoustics, and it also supports WOWCAST technology as well as TV Sound Mode Share with compatible LG TVs. There aren't any surround channels, and if you want discrete rear speakers, you'll need to buy them from the manufacturer separately.
Our Verdict
The LG S80QY is very good for mixed usage. It has a pretty neutral sound out-of-the-box, with a dedicated subwoofer that adds boom in the bass range. Voices and lead instruments in music and TV shows are pretty clearly reproduced, though higher-pitched sounds get nudged towards the back of the mix due to the dip in the treble. You can customize its sound to your liking, though. There's also Dolby Atmos support, and it can playback surround sound formats like Dolby Digital and DTS, though it has to downmix it into stereo to play it.
- Room correction feature.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Dolby Atmos support.
- No graphic EQ.
- Poor surrounds performance.
The LG S80QY is great for dialogue-focused content like TV shows and podcasts. It has both a front-firing center channel and an up-firing center channel—the resulting performance is great, and dialogue is clear and accurate in the mix. There's also a 'Clear Voice' dialogue enhancement tool and a Night Mode feature to balance the volume level when you watch at night. The additional center driver doesn't make a huge difference in the sound, and it doesn't perform much better than other models with just one discrete center.
- Room correction feature.
- Minimal compression at max volume.
- Doesn't get as loud.
The LG S80QY is very good for music. Out-of-the-box, it has a neutral and pleasant sound, with a balanced mid-range that reproduces most voices and lead instruments with clarity. The subwoofer provides a little extra boom in the bass, too. While there's a slight dip in the treble that nudges some higher-pitched instruments towards the back of the mix, you have lots of customization tools on hand, like bass and treble adjustments and EQ presets.
- Room correction feature.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Minimal compression at max volume.
- No graphic EQ.
- Doesn't get as loud.
The LG S80QY is decent for movies. It has two up-firing height drivers for Dolby Atmos content, and it performs similarly to other bars in its price range—while the experience is decent, it doesn't seem as immersive as more premium models. Also, it can playback surround sound content like Dolby Digital and DTS, though it has to downmix it into stereo to play it. Fortunately, you feel a lot of thump and rumble in the bass range, and you can add rear speakers from the manufacturer down the line if you want to improve its performance.
- Room correction feature.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Dolby Atmos support.
- Poor surrounds performance.
Changelog
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Updated Feb 14, 2025:
The Stereo Soundstage section mentions the TCL Q85H.
- Updated Aug 29, 2024: Updated Stereo Dynamics results with new methodology from Test Bench 1.3. Added text to Audio Latency: ARC, Audio Latency: HDMI In, and Audio Latency: Optical boxes.
- Updated Aug 28, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench Update 1.3. If applicable, we've retested stereo sound based on the manufacturer's recommendations. Additionally, we've expanded our audio latency tests to the following boxes: Audio Latency: ARC, Audio Latency: HDMI In, and Audio Latency: Optical. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Jun 13, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.2. Updated the results for audio format support via ARC/eARC, HDMI In, and Optical. Added Video Passthrough to TV results as well.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The LG S80QY is available in 'Black', and you can see the label for the model we tested here. You can also see our test results for the LG S80QR, which is the same bar, but with the SPQ8-S speakers included.
If you come across another version of the LG S80QY, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The LG S80QY is a versatile 3.1.3 soundbar with more features than budget-friendly models like the LG S75Q and the LG S65Q, but at a more affordable price than the LG S90QY or the LG S95QR. Of course, its surround performance isn't as impressive as the S90QY or the S95QR, and it doesn't come with rear speakers out of the box.
See also our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best LG soundbars, and the best soundbars for dialogue.
The LG S80QY and the LG SC9S are both 3.1.3 setups, but the SC9S is the newer model. It offers better overall performance and more balanced sound, especially in the treble. Its unique mounting bracket is designed to attach the bar to a compatible LG TV, which you may also find useful if you own an LG TV. Plus, it has a better stereo soundstage.
The LG S90QY is better than the LG S80QY. They're both Dolby Atmos soundbars with many extra features, but the 5.1.3 S90QY offers better performance with surround sound content.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is better than the LG S80QY. The Samsung bar is a 5.1.2 setup, while the LG is a 3.1.3 setup. The Samsung soundbar's two side-firing channels mean that it has a more clear and real representation of surround sound. Its Atmos performance is better, too, and it's a bit more customizable thanks to its graphic EQ.
The LG S80QR is the same as the LG S80QY but comes with the SPQ8-S rear speaker kit, improving the overall surround sound performance. Satellites help to reproduce sound effects in a more clear and real way, so sound stretches into the space around your room for an immersive feel with both 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos content.
Test Results
