The LG S90QY with SPQ8-S Speaker Kit is a 2022 release from the manufacturer with Dolby Atmos support. You can purchase the bar and the subwoofer as the LG S90QY, but the added satellites are designed to improve its surround sound performance. With built-in Meridian technology to help with audio reproduction, as well as an up-firing center channel to improve vocal clarity, it comes with many of the same features as LG's more premium S95QR.
Our Verdict
The LG S90QY with SPQ8-S Speaker Kit is very good for mixed usage. Dialogue in TV shows and podcasts is clearly and accurately reproduced, and instruments in your favorite music are detailed in the mix. With its sub, you get plenty of rumble in the bass, bringing bass-heavy music and action-packed movies to life. However, the satellites aren't as impressive at replicating an immersive sound, and since they're very quiet, it doesn't add much to the listening experience.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Room correction feature.
- Dolby Atmos support.
- Quiet surrounds.
The LG S90QY with SPQ8-S Speaker Kit is very good for dialogue-centric TV shows and podcasts. It has two center channels—front-firing and up-firing—to improve vocal reproduction. With a clear reproduction of dialogue in the mids, you can easily follow along with your favorite shows. It supports many different wireless playback platforms, from Bluetooth to Wi-Fi, making it easy to stream content from your mobile devices.
- Room correction feature.
- Dialogue enhancement tool.
- No graphic EQ.
The LG S90QY with SPQ8-S Speaker Kit is very good for music. Like most premium setups on the market, there's a room correction tool on hand to optimize its output based on your room's unique acoustics—LG calls it AI Room Calibration. With it on, the bar's sound profile is fairly even, so voices and lead instruments are clear and present in the mix. There's a touch of extra boom in the bass, too, though you can always customize its output with its bass and treble adjustments if you want a different sound.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Room correction feature.
- No graphic EQ.
The LG S90QY with SPQ8-S Speaker Kit is good for movies. With support for audio formats like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital, you can playback content on streaming platforms and Blu-rays. The subwoofer brings plenty of rumble in the bass, and dialogue is clear and easy to follow. Unfortunately, the satellites don't bring much more to the immersive feel, and since they're rather quiet, it seems as if they aren't properly integrated into the overall sound.
- Room correction feature.
- Dialogue enhancement tool.
- Dolby Atmos support.
- Quiet surrounds.
Changelog
- Updated Sep 25, 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.
- Updated Mar 27, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Mar 22, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.1. With this update, we've added a Mounting test and added information aboutSubwoofer Output, Spotify Connect, and Microphone Mute.
- Updated Feb 10, 2023: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The SPQ8-S Speaker Kit is available in 'Black', and you can see the label for the satellites here. You can also use the LG S90QY as only the bar and subwoofer if you prefer. However, the results in this review reflect the bar's performance with the satellites included.
If you come across another version of this soundbar, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The LG S90QY with SPQ8-S Speaker Kit adds a rear speaker kit onto the LG S90QY. As with other 2022 LG models, like the LG S80QY, it has an additional up-firing center channel to improve vocal clarity. That said, this channel doesn't improve its center performance in a meaningful way, and since the satellites are very quiet, they don't improve the surround sound very much. While it has some new features like WOWCAST compatibility, overall, the bar's sound is similar to 2021's LG SP9YA.
You can also check out our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best LG soundbars, and the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.
The LG S95QR is better than the LG S90QY with SPQ8-S Speaker Kit. The S95QR comes with some additional channels right out of the box, and its rear speakers have a unique design with additional channels to bring a more clear and real feel to surround content. Overall, it's better for 5.1 surround formats as well as Dolby Atmos content.
While the LG S90QY is available as a bar and a subwoofer alone, you can also use the LG S90QY with SPQ8-S Speaker Kit. The added satellites should improve the bar's surround sound performance, but in practice, these channels are very quiet, which takes away from the overall immersive feel. Even adjusting the surround and rear levels doesn't do much to improve its performance.
The LG S80QR is similar to the LG S90QY with SPQ8-S Speaker Kit in many regards. However, the S90QY comes with two more side-firing surround channels. It doesn't make a massive difference in the sound, but the S90QY does offer a better soundstage overall, so you feel more immersed in your audio.
The Sony HT-A7000 with Speakers + Bass Module and the LG S90QY with SPQ8-S Speaker Kit are both versatile Dolby Atmos setups with rear speakers. The Sony offers a more balanced sound out of the box. However, the LG comes with some more sound customization tools, including bass and treble adjustments. It performs better at max volume, too.
Test Results
