LG’s unique new Dolby Atmos soundbar is now on sale
It was one of the most talked-about pieces of new technology at this year’s CES, and now home cinema fanatics can hear that LG’s new Dolby Atmos soundbar system is now available for purchase. ,
The new S95QR sound system’s big calling card is its unique up-firing center-channel speaker, which cleverly uses sound reflection from your ceiling to make dialogue sound as if it were coming from the center of your display.
As well as offering a whopping 810W and 9.1.5 audio channels, the new soundbar also features a wireless subwoofer and wireless rear speakers, getting rid of the tangle of cables that keep many people away from the surround system.
Those rear speakers also feature a 4.0.2 setup, which sports six channels of audio instead of the four found on the company’s previous flagships, thanks to two additional side-firing drivers that LG claims are placed behind the viewer. Better sound dispersion.
Meanwhile, LG claims that its AI Room Calibration room correction system should ensure that even the most awkwardly shaped living rooms still get the full Atmos effect.
There’s plenty for gamers to appreciate, with the S95QR offering Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALM) via its HDMI port, which lets you convert 4K/120Hz signals from a PS5 or Xbox Series X Will let it pass
The S95QR costs $1,799 in the states, £1,699 in the UK, while home cinema enthusiasts will spend AUS$1,999 in Down Under.
Analysis: A lot to consider with LG’s new soundbar
While there’s nothing new about a soundbar that bounces its output off ceilings and walls to create a surround effect—the Sonos Arc and JBL’s Bar 9.1 are similar—no one has gone as far with the concept as LG has it with the S95QR.
Very few home cinema fans will be willing to put in the effort, or actually be able to buy ceiling mounted speakers, which audio purists will argue provide a true Dolby Atmos experience, but this up-firing center-channel solution is pretty cool. Is likely to come close to emulating the experience.
The big question is, how close does it come? At $1,799, the S95QR’s asking price is a traditional high-end Atmos setup compared to rivals, and many will have to weigh the convenience offered by the S95QR to its performance.