The LED display is too basic, and many features can only be accessed through LG’s control app.
But if you’ve got the money, this is one of the best soundbar systems you could buy.
In fact, it might be among thebest soundbarsavailable right now.
The LG S95TR soundbar system fresh out of the box
Overall, theres very little to dislike about the LG S95TR.
However, the positives here far outweigh the cons.
Whether the LG S95TR is for you will depend on your needs.
The LG S95TR’s front panel LED display provides insufficient visual feedback, forcing you to rely on the app for settings and adjustments
If youre working with a small room or setup, this system is probably too much for you.
You might be happy with something that only costs a couple hundred dollars.
And, thats even before accounting for the upward-firing Dolby Atmos speakers (the 5 in 9.1.5).
Dual HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz support are provided on the soundbar
I didnt have access to an LG TV during my review and could not dig into those features.
But even so, I found the LG S95TR soundbar still very feature-filled.
The LG S95TR is also plenty room-filling without WOW Orchestra.
The LG S95TR’s rear-channel speakers feature up-firing drivers for immersive Dolby Atmos sound
you’re free to also use Alexa orGoogleAssistant for voice control.
My favorite feature, however, is LGs Advanced AI Room Calibration.
Its a quick process as well that is available through the app.
LG’s wireless subwoofer adds real low-end rumble to soundtracks
Its a useful feature for when youre worried about waking someone up when watching a movie late at night.
Loudness doesnt necessarily equal good sound, but thankfully the LG S95TR sounds very good.
Also during testing, I used different audio modes including the AI mode from the room calibration feature.
LG’s packaging for the S95TR is mercifully free of styrofoam, using mostly recyclable paper and cardboard
When watchingEverything, Everywhere, All At Once, the LG S95TR was in Cinema mode.
And the same held even when I lowered the volume.
In fact, I did a lot of listening on this soundbar at a lower volume.
Three up-firing Atmos drivers are located on the LG S95TR’s top surface, with the center driver also helping to elevate dialogue to screen-level
Because at lower volumes, TV audio is often uneven and tinny with some sound getting swallowed up.
The ambient sound also had a sense of dimension thanks to the upward-firing Atmos drivers in the rear speakers.
I had no issues hearing anything even with the feature on and the volume low.
Lastly, the LG S95TRs stereo up-mixing is a treat when listening to music.
LG S95TR Soundbar review: Design
The LG S95TR soundbars looks arent going to wow anyone.
However, any complaints I have about the LG S95TR will be in this section.
Three LED indicator lights near the right side of the soundbar take the place of an LED display.
The app itself is perfectly fine.
Overall, these are far from dealbreakers, but they still are little annoyances.
The box is big, but thats partially because of how well-packaged everything is.
I also appreciate that LG didnt use styrofoam for its packaging.
With everything set up, using the system is very easy.
With the soundbar connected to the HDMI ARC port, I could use my TVs remote to control volume.
you might even manually adjust sound parameters per speaker, which is a nice touch.
Or consider theJBL Bar 1300Xwith its rechargeable rear speakers.
Should I buy the LG S95TR Soundbar?
You have an LG TVYou can unlock some really interesting features on the S95TR with certain model LG TVs.
Of course, there are plenty of features on offer even if you dont have a supported TV.
Like the LG soundbar, its also pricey and has a visually challenged LED display.
Read our fullSamsung HW-Q990D review
JBL Bar 1300XThe JBL Bar 1300X is quite robust since its an 11.1.4 system.
Its also feature-filled, though it doesnt support 120Hz passthrough on any of its four HDMI ports.
Read our fullJBL Bar 1300X review
Sony HT-A7000Sonys current flagship soundbar ships as a single-bar solution.
It still provides 7.1.2 channels and 500W, though, making it one of the most cinematic-sounding single-bar solutions.
Read more about how we test
