LG S95QR Review: Pure Sonic Brilliance

The LG S95QR is the most impressive, and immersive home cinema system created by the company to date. It improves on not only its predecessors but also stands tall against rivals such as the Samsung Q990C because of some stand-out features.

For example, it’s the world’s first soundbar system with a centre height channel. Because of this and some other proprietary audio enhancements, it emerges as a very capable home cinema system, delivering a very immersive audio experience through its 9.1.5-channel configuration.

But the big question remains: Is the LG S95QR worth your money? Read on to know the answer to this question in the review below.

LG S95QR Review: Specifications and Features

The LG S95QR is essentially a 9.1.5-channel sound system consisting of two wireless rear speaker systems, a wireless subwoofer, and a very capable soundbar. Within these are a total of 17 drivers, including three up-firing, three straight-firing, and two side-firing drivers on the soundbar itself.

The rear speakers too get one up-firing speaker each for an enhanced surround sound experience. These are configured in a way that the soundbar + speaker system can throw 590W and the subwoofer another 220W for a total of 810W of sound through its sub, forward, upward, rear, and side-firing speakers.

The result is enveloping sound in almost a dome-like structure to create some really impressive surround sound experiences. LG has also partnered with audio brand Meridian to elevate the performance of the speaker system.

Plus, you also get not just support but really well-calibrated audio for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and IMAX Enhanced content. There’s also Hi-Res Audio support to add fine details to the audio output, and even the inclusion of Google Assistant as well as Amazon Alexa in the mix to make this a proper smart soundbar/home theatre solution.

But that’s not all. You also get support for other proprietary features such as Meridian Horizon, AI Room Calibration, and AI Sound Pro enhancements. And yes, if you’re connecting it to a high-end LG TV, the S95QR can take advantage of the Alpha9 Gen5 processor to improve the processing of high-res audio.

One of the stand-out features of this system is the AI Sound Pro feature. It treats audio in real-time to optimize sound for the kind of content. Overall these features, speaker set and the impressive tuning of the drivers combined make the LG S95QR one of the most speccd out and impressive audio systems for home cinema at the moment.

LG S95QR Review: Connections, Remote, and LG Soundbar App

The LG S95QR comes with two HDMI 2.1 input ports and one eARC/HDMI output. In terms of connectivity, these are now capable of handling 4K@120Hz pass-through with VRR support. Interestingly, at the time of launch, the system could only pass through 4K@60Hz. However, this was later improved through a software update.

There’s also passthrough support for HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision. But one thing to note is that at the time of writing, there’s still no support for HDR10+ passthrough. Other connectivity options include Chromecast, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and AirPlay 2 support. Depending on where you’re buying it, the LG S95QR can pair with the LG WowCast audio dongle.

But if you prefer to go old school, there’s also an optical port at the back of the soundbar. However, since it’s not a current-generation connection format, it does not offer support for features such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X audio from the TV.

So we highly recommend not connecting the LG S95QR to your TV through this connection port if you really want to maximize your home cinema experience.

As for the remote, the LG S95QR uses a revamped remote control which looks quite high-end. It also uses good materials. The finish is glossy black which does make it a fingerprint magnet.

The layout is simple and makes using the system easy. All important functions including volume control, power on/off, input selection, and toggle between sound profile management are easily accessible through the remote.

However, the best way to use the LG S95QR soundbar system is definitely through the LG Soundbar App. Apart from the above-mentioned functions, it has a lot more controls. These include Night Time control, individual speaker volume control, AI Room Calibration, and more.

As I found out during my review, while the physical remote does offer a simple and easy way to use the soundbar system, the best from the system can only be achieved through the application.

For example, tweaking the individual speakers for improved clarity, surround sound and treble can all be done through the application. As such, the LG Soundbar app itself is a very important part of the puzzle to perfect the sound of the system for your taste.

LG S95QR Review: Audio Performance

Let’s talk about the sound performance of the S95QR. Once set up to perform to your tastes and calibrated for the size and shape of the room it is in, the S95QR can create some truly magical audio experiences.

The system is capable of creating a good and balanced soundstage thanks to the combination of 17 drivers and the 9.1.5 channel setup. In fact, the S95QR delivered possibly the most immersive surround sound during movies and shows in my experience.

Especially for Dolby Atmos-supported titles, the experience was elevated to the level where I actually felt the system creating a home cinema experience like nothing I’ve experienced before.

With distinct audio filling in from all directions thanks to the upward-firing speakers and well-separated individual channels, I could enjoy shows like The Sandman and The Witcher as well as movies like Top Gun Maverick and Dune like never before.

Dolby Atmos surround effects are also extremely good and the dialogues remain crisp and clear. The soundstage was so wide to the point that at times I was not able to trace where a certain audio was coming from in the room.

This was especially true for Dune and The Sandman. In these, the S95QR truly dragged me into the experience of consuming the content.

The sound is generally clean and the bass is impressive and properly integrated. Then all you need to do is connect your various sources, sit back, and enjoy a fantastically immersive sonic experience. The 220-watt subwoofer also created punchy bass, adding to the overall depth and quality of the sound generated from the speakers.

I distinctly remember watching an episode of Rocket Boys 2 where the deep, clean but not overwhelming bass from the sub made me feel like I was experiencing a rocket launch right in my living room.

Switching to music, the experience was initially not as fulfilling. While the music flowing from the speakers was still room-filling, it wasn’t as detailed, and channel separation was not as good. This was surprising considering I had switched to the AI Music sound profile and then the Meridian Sound Profile catered for listening to music before firing a song on the speakers.

After a little research, though I realized these two profiles cut the immersive surround effect of the speakers, and limit the sound to just the soundbar and the subwoofer. The Bass Boost sound profile, just like the Cinema profile I used for watching movies, is the only two profiles that can make use of all speakers together.

Now with this little tweak and then some tweaking of the speaker system for surround, overhead, and center channel use, I could finally make the speakers create an immersive music-listening experience.

The speakers showed great range for music as they handled songs like Hotel California, Riders of the Storm, and some other tecno as well as classic rock titles. The sound was not just clean, the bass was also adequate and channel separation again remained extremely good.

Overall, be it music, TV, or movies, the experience was nothing short of brilliant. And much of this I realized was because of the driver’s heavy rear speakers that filled up the room with clean and crisp surround audio.

So no matter what anyone tells you, I realized once again, that no soundbar alone with just a subwoofer can create surround sound experiences that a system with real rear speakers can.

LG S95QR Review: Design

Before we get to the verdict, let’s just also talk a little about the design. We’ve kept this section for the last because honestly there’s not much to talk about the S95QR’s looks. It’s modern, it’s basic and looks classy.

The build quality of the speakers, soundbar, and subwoofer is top-notch and leaves very little to desire. The only drawback though about its design is that the speakers, subs, and soundbar do tend to pick up dust quite easily.

So depending on where you’re placing them in your room, keeping the setup clean can be a little tricky.

LG S95QR Review: Should You Buy It?

The LG S95QR is a seriously impressive soundbar system that impressed me as no other sound system has in the recent past. Once calibrated correctly and set up to perform well, it is capable of creating a dome of sound around the listener. A dome that engulfs them in the content-watching experience.

Honestly, to this point, I’m not sure if the movie-watching experience using the S95QR was so great because of the additional height channel or the rear-firing speakers. This in itself is saying a lot because the spatial separation and soundstage were so good that it felt like the audio was flowing in from no particular point in the room.

This arguably is the sound system’s biggest win in my opinion.

Although the music performance was good after some tuning, I’d say the system is still better suited for watching movies and shows. This is mostly because the bass of the LG S95QR is tuned for clean and clear effects and not the extreme room-shaking thump that some users prefer while listening to music.

Another big reason to go for the LG S95QR is its price. Just north of $1000 mark in the US (and Rs 1,00,000 in India), this home cinema audio system is also quite aggressively priced. In comparison, its closest competitors from Sony and Samsung are both priced closer to the $2000 mark.

So if you’re looking for a high-end premium surround sound experience for your home theatre setup, the S95QR from LG should really be right up at the top of your list.