The LG S95AR replaces the LG S95TR as the 2025 flagship soundbar from the South Korean multinational conglomerate. That said, LG hasn't done much in terms of new flashy features; the S95AR continues support for wireless audio transmission with supported LG TVs with WOWCAST, and optional integration of your TV's speakers into the soundbar system with WOW Orchestra. Most of the design elements, dimensions, and components remain visually consistent between each generation as well, though hidden changes under the hood position the LGS95AR as a worthy successor that improves on an already solid formula.
Our Verdict
The LG S95AR is great for mixed usage. The soundbar supports many features, including channel, treble, and bass level adjustments, dialogue enhancement, and room correction. While the soundbar lacks a graphic EQ, these options should fulfil most people's requirements for customization. Plus, the soundbar also supports most common audio formats and can pass through dynamic HDR metadata (Dolby Vision) and variable refresh rate video signals up to 4k @ 120Hz, making it a great option for a living room PC setup, or for gaming. That said, the LG can't pass through HDMI 2.1 class bandwidth video signals, meaning you're stuck with 8-bit color depth when pushing the video passthrough to its limits on 4k.
AI Room Correction.
Solid surround and height channel performance.
Gets loud with minimal compression and distortion.
No HDMI 2.1 Bandwidth.
The LG S95AR is amazing for dialogue-filled TV shows. The soundbar has a dialogue enhancement preset and a night mode, so dramatic reveals in your favorite telenovela remain intelligible without disturbing family members in a neighboring room. While the center channel doesn't get particularly loud, it's still powerful enough for most living rooms and home theaters, rendering voices and speech naturally at typical listening levels. Meanwhile, the stereo channels' frequency response is balanced, matching our in-house target curve, so lilting instrumentals are reproduced naturally, without being honky or boomy.
AI Room Correction.
Solid surround and height channel performance.
Gets loud with minimal compression and distortion.
No HDMI 2.1 Bandwidth.
The LG S95AR is great for listening to music. The soundbar has a balanced signature that matches our in-room curve quite well, and you can adjust the bass amount or treble amount to taste. We found the soundstage to extend around the length of the bar using the 'Standard' EQ preset, though you can switch to 'Music' and/or enable the 'Surround Sound Setting' toggle to widen the soundstage or upmix stereo tracks, respectively. While the soundbar doesn't have a graphic EQ, it supports most wireless streaming, including Spotify Connect, so you can EQ your audio from your phone instead.
AI Room Correction.
Gets loud with minimal compression and distortion.
Supports wireless connections including Spotify Connect.
No graphic EQ.
The LG S95AR is great for movies. You can watch almost any content as the soundbar supports most common audio formats, including lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA, and object-based Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Plus, the 9.1.4-ch setup flexes its muscles in immersive content with great discrete satellites and competitive height channel performance. The dedicated sub also enables the soundbar to reproduce low-frequency rumble to amp up the intensity of explosive action scenes, though sustained on-screen destruction may cause the subwoofer to rattle under load. If you're planning on watching movies with a higher framerate, the bar can't pass through 10-bit color in 4k @ 60Hz, so you might notice some color banding in dark scenes if you use your soundbar for video passthrough.
AI Room Correction.
Solid surround and height channel performance.
Gets loud with minimal compression and distortion.
No HDMI 2.1 Bandwidth.
Changelog
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Updated Aug 22, 2025:
We changed the channel count throughout this review from 9.1.5 to 9.1.4 because the center channel does not play Atmos content. We also tested this soundbar with compatible LG OLED TVs, and noted our subjective experiences in the Sound Enhancement Features and Inputs/Outputs - Bar sections of this review.
- Updated Aug 07, 2025: Review published.
- Updated Aug 04, 2025: Early access published.
- Updated Jul 17, 2025: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The LG S95AR comes in one variant: 'Black.' You can see a photo of our model's label here. If you come across another variant or colorway, let us know in the comments, and we'll update the review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The LG S95AR is LG's 2025 9.1.4-channel flagship soundbar. Compared to the previous generation LG S95TR, there are no major software improvements or design changes. That said, LG seems to have made improvements under the hood, with improved surround and height channel reproduction that more closely matches our in-room target. Moving to another competing South Korean brand, the Samsung HW-Q990F is quite similar to the LG in most respects, though the Samsung boasts an additional pair of surround drivers integrated in the main soundbar, bringing the channel total to 11.1.4. It also gets a good deal louder, which you may prefer if your home theater or living area is on the larger side, but there is some compression in the low- and mid-bass at max volume as a tradeoff.
If you're looking for more options check out our articles for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best soundbars with subwoofer.
The LG S95AR is the next generation of the LG S95TR. Both are very similar soundbars, supporting the same features, including WOWCAST (wireless audio connection to your TV) and AI Room Calibration. That said, the S95AR has a markedly improved surround and height channel performance, making the S95AR the better pickup if your movie repertoire involves a lot of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X releases that can make use of its superior verticality. On the other hand, the S95TR are a better value pickup if you mostly watch older soap operas and listen to music on your soundbar.
The LG S95AR and Samsung HW-Q990F are competing 2025 flagship soundbars. The Samsung is slightly better for most people; it gets louder and supports Eclipsa Audio, an open-source but not widely adopted object-based audio format. The Samsung bar also has an additional two surrounds positioned at the edges of the main soundbar, and the subwoofer isn't prone to rattling during sustained rumbly scenes. That said, if you have an LG TV and want to stream audio wirelessly to your soundbar, or add your TV speakers to your audio setup, the LG soundbar is the better pickup.
The LG S95AR and Sonos Arc Ultra are different soundbar setups. The Sonos is a 5.1.2-ch soundbar without a subwoofer or satellites, while the LG S95AR comes with both. If you mostly watch the news and don't need the expanded soundstage or low-bass, the LG likely isn't worth the extra spend. That said, the LG has an HDMI In port, making it a viable device hub if your TV's HDMI ports are less accessible.
The Samsung HW-Q910D and LG S95AR are comparable soundbars in their overall performance. While the LG has better height channel performance, likely due to its addition of two functional up-firing drivers on its satellites, the Samsung competes in most other respects. The cheaper Samsung has a graphic EQ and supports FreeSync passthrough, expanding your display options. Although the Samsung has a more user-friendly interface with a letter display, it's also more ergonomically restricted, as both satellites need to be wired to a wireless receiver, in contrast to the LG's wireless satellites.
Test Results
