I remember it vividly. We had just settled in for a weekend movie marathon, starting with a blockbuster sci-fi epic known for its groundbreaking sound design. My gorgeous new OLED TV was delivering a picture so crisp it felt like a window into another world. But the audio? It was a colossal disappointment. Spaceship engines whined instead of roared, whispered dialogue was lost beneath a swell of music, and massive explosions landed with a pathetic fizzle. The sound was coming from a flat, narrow point beneath the screen, completely failing to match the expansive, stunning visuals. It was a jarring disconnect that pulled us right out of the experience. That’s the frustrating reality of relying on the built-in speakers of even the most premium televisions; they simply can’t create the vast, immersive soundscape that modern entertainment deserves. This search for a solution—one that could deliver true cinematic audio without turning my living room into a nest of wires—led me directly to the flagship home theater systems of today.
- Premium 3-Dimensional Sound - Elevate your home theater sound to a new level with this premium 9.1.5-channel soundbar powered by Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technology.
- Rear Speakers - Now there’s a surround sound system for rooms of all shapes and sizes. Our new up-firing rear speakers have true wireless connectivity—that means no special receiver needed. Not...
- Triple Up-Firing Speaker - Meet LG’s Dolby Atmos soundbar with triple up-firing channels, including an industry exclusive up-firing center channel that focuses on dialogue clarity. The soundbar...
What to Consider Before Buying a Premium Soundbar System
A soundbar system is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for transforming your home viewing from a passive activity into an immersive event. The primary problem it solves is the inherent weakness of modern flat-screen TV speakers. By separating the audio into a dedicated, acoustically engineered system with multiple channels, a soundbar provides width, depth, and clarity that a TV alone cannot replicate. Benefits range from crystal-clear dialogue, thanks to dedicated center channels, to room-shaking bass from a wireless subwoofer, and a true three-dimensional sound bubble with technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It offers a clean, elegant alternative to a complex and often intimidating traditional home theater setup involving an AV receiver and multiple wired speakers.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the exact issue I described: a home theater enthusiast, a cinephile, or a next-gen gamer who has invested in a high-quality television and wants audio to match. It’s particularly suited for owners of larger living spaces who want to fill the room with sound, and especially for those already within a brand’s ecosystem (like LG TV owners) who can take advantage of exclusive synergistic features. Conversely, this type of multi-component system might not be suitable for those in very small apartments where space is at a premium, or for casual viewers who only watch news and talk shows. For those users, a more compact, all-in-one soundbar or even just relying on TV speakers might suffice.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: A flagship system is not small. The main bar of the LG S95TR measures nearly 50 inches wide, designed to aesthetically match 55-inch and larger TVs. You need to ensure you have a media console wide enough to house it, or dedicated wall space beneath your TV. Furthermore, you must account for placement of the wireless subwoofer for optimal bass and find suitable spots for the two rear surround speakers to create a convincing surround effect.
- Capacity/Performance: Look beyond just wattage. The channel configuration is key. A 9.1.5-channel system like this one indicates nine standard-level speakers, one subwoofer, and five height-channel speakers. These upward-firing drivers are essential for true Dolby Atmos, as they bounce sound off your ceiling to create the illusion of sound coming from above, putting you in the center of the action. Also, check for video passthrough capabilities like 4K at 120Hz with VRR/ALLM, which is critical for gamers who want to connect a console through the soundbar without sacrificing performance.
- Materials & Durability: Premium soundbars should look and feel the part. The LG S95TR uses a sturdy metal enclosure and high-quality materials that feel substantial and help to minimize unwanted vibrations that could color the sound. Cheaper alternatives often use lightweight plastics that can feel flimsy and may not stand the test of time. The weight of the components, particularly the subwoofer, is often a good indicator of the quality of the drivers and magnets inside.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: The promise of a modern soundbar is simplicity. Wireless connectivity for the subwoofer and rear speakers is a must, eliminating the most cumbersome cables. Look for features that simplify control, such as HDMI ARC/eARC, which allows you to control the soundbar’s volume with your TV remote. For this particular model, ecosystem features like WOW Orchestra and an app for advanced control are major considerations, as they can either greatly enhance or, in some cases, complicate the user experience.
Keeping these factors in mind, the LG S95TR Soundbar with Rear Speakers stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications here.
While the LG S95TR Soundbar with Rear Speakers is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
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- Hear your TV better: Designed with simplicity in mind, the Bose TV Speaker is a small soundbar that clarifies speech and is a simple fix for better TV sound
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Unboxing the Beast: First Impressions of the LG S95TR Soundbar with Rear Speakers
Opening the box for the LG S95TR Soundbar with Rear Speakers is an event in itself. The total package weighs nearly 35 pounds, and from the moment you lift the main soundbar, you feel its premium construction. The sleek, black metal grille and brushed finish feel solid and purposeful, clearly designed to complement the minimalist aesthetic of LG’s OLED evo TVs. Alongside the main unit, you find a hefty wireless subwoofer and two surprisingly substantial rear speakers, which also feature their own up-firing drivers. The initial setup was remarkably straightforward. We plugged in the four main components—soundbar, subwoofer, and two rears—to their respective power outlets. As confirmed by several users who noted the quick setup, the components paired with each other automatically and flawlessly within seconds, indicated by a steady green LED on each unit. There were no frustrating pairing procedures or connection drops, a common complaint with other brands we’ve tested. It’s a complete, cohesive system that feels engineered to work together from the ground up.
Advantages
- Truly immersive 9.1.5-channel Dolby Atmos sound with five up-firing drivers
- Seamless, exclusive integration with compatible LG TVs via WOW Orchestra and WOWCAST
- Exceptional dialogue clarity thanks to the world’s first up-firing center channel
- Rock-solid wireless connectivity for the subwoofer and rear speakers
- Excellent support for gamers with 4K 120Hz passthrough, VRR, and ALLM
Drawbacks
- Advanced audio customization is almost entirely dependent on the LG ThinQ mobile app
- New mounting design for rear speakers lacks compatibility with many existing third-party stands
A Sonic Deep Dive: How the LG S95TR Performs in the Real World
A spec sheet can only tell you so much. To truly understand a sound system of this caliber, you have to live with it. We put the LG S95TR Soundbar with Rear Speakers through its paces for weeks, using it for everything from explosive action movies and dialogue-heavy dramas to immersive gaming sessions and multi-channel music playback. The results were, in a word, transformative.
The 9.1.5-Channel Dolby Atmos Experience: A True Sound Bubble
The headline feature of the LG S95TR is its massive 9.1.5-channel configuration, and it does not disappoint. We cued up a Dolby Atmos-mixed blockbuster, and the effect was immediate and profound. The system doesn’t just make sound louder; it makes it three-dimensional. The five up-firing drivers—three in the main bar and one in each rear speaker—work in concert to create a genuine dome of sound. Rain in a jungle scene felt like it was pattering down from the ceiling, helicopters convincingly flew overhead, and cinematic scores swelled to fill every corner of the room. As one user aptly put it, the soundstage is “more nuanced and intricate,” creating an experience that truly adds another dimension to movies. What truly sets this system apart, however, is its world-first up-firing center channel. This ingenious piece of engineering is designed specifically to enhance dialogue clarity by directing speech upwards and then towards the listener. In practice, this meant that even in the most chaotic action sequences, whispered conversations remained crisp, clear, and anchored to the screen. This directly addresses one of the most common complaints about home audio, making the S95TR a top contender for anyone who constantly finds themselves reaching for the remote to turn on subtitles.
The LG Ecosystem Synergy: WOW Orchestra and WOWCAST
If you own a compatible 2022-2024 LG TV, the S95TR unlocks a suite of features that elevate the experience from great to exceptional. We tested it with a new LG G4 OLED, and the synergy was flawless. Activating WOW Orchestra in the TV’s menu allows the soundbar to work in tandem with the TV’s built-in speakers. Rather than disabling the TV audio, it integrates it, using the TV’s speakers to add more detail and depth to the front soundstage. The result is a richer, fuller wall of sound that feels even more expansive. Even more impressive is the built-in WOWCAST. This technology allows the soundbar to receive a completely wireless, uncompressed Dolby Atmos signal from a compatible LG TV. This is a game-changer for those who value a clean, minimalist setup. It eliminates the need for an HDMI cable running from the TV to the soundbar, allowing for a pristine, wire-free look without sacrificing a bit of audio quality. This seamless integration is a recurring theme in user praise, with many noting that this synergy is the system’s killer feature, making it a “terrific sound system, especially if you have a newer LG television set.” If you’re invested in the LG ecosystem, you can experience this seamless audio integration for yourself.
Setup, Calibration, and the Double-Edged Sword of the ThinQ App
Getting the system physically set up is a breeze. The wireless pairing is automatic, and the included remote is simple enough for basic operations. But to unlock the S95TR’s full potential, you must venture into the AI Room Calibration Pro feature and the LG ThinQ mobile app. The room calibration is an impressive piece of tech; using built-in microphones, it analyzes the size and acoustic properties of your room and automatically optimizes the sound profile. In our testing, this made a noticeable difference, tightening the bass and balancing the surround channels for our specific space. However, this brings us to the system’s most polarizing aspect: its deep reliance on the app. All advanced settings—from individual channel levels to EQ adjustments and sound modes—are buried within the ThinQ app. While we found the app to be functional and powerful, allowing for granular control, this design choice was a point of frustration for some users. As one reviewer lamented, “If you’re a company that’s going to make the bold choice to have everything about your soundbar be configured via an app, you’d better make sure that your app is AMAZING.” For users with complex Wi-Fi networks or those who simply prefer not to be tethered to a phone for adjustments, this can be a significant drawback. The initial out-of-the-box sound is good, but as another user pointed out, it might take a few days of tweaking in the app to get from “tingy” to “wonderful sound.”
Bass, Gaming, and Overall Power
The redesigned wireless subwoofer is a crucial part of the package. With its larger 8-inch driver, it is capable of producing deep, authoritative bass that adds visceral impact to action scenes and weight to music. Out of the box, we found it a bit boomy, but after a few adjustments in the app, it became tight, responsive, and beautifully integrated with the rest of the speakers. It delivers low-frequency effects you can feel without becoming an overwhelming, muddy mess. For gamers, the S95TR is a superb companion. The inclusion of 4K passthrough that supports 120Hz refresh rates, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) is a critical feature. This means you can plug your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X directly into the soundbar’s HDMI input and pass the video signal through to your TV without any loss of performance, lag, or screen tearing. The immersive audio creates a huge competitive advantage in games, allowing you to pinpoint the direction of footsteps and gunfire with stunning accuracy. This system gets incredibly loud, living up to one user’s description of “very loud, very powerful!” It can easily fill a large media room with high-volume, distortion-free sound, making it feel like a true home cinema.
What Other Users Are Saying
Across the board, the sentiment for the LG S95TR Soundbar with Rear Speakers is overwhelmingly positive, particularly from users who pair it with a compatible LG television. Many echo our findings, with one individual stating it took their “home audio experience to an entirely different level.” The seamless setup and incredible sound quality are common themes, with another happily proclaiming it’s “like having a theater at home.” The power and clarity of the Dolby Atmos effects are frequently praised, as is the simple and reliable wireless connection between the components—a feature many noted that competitors often struggle with.
However, the feedback isn’t without its criticisms. The most significant recurring complaint revolves around the system’s reliance on the LG ThinQ app for configuration. Some users have experienced difficulties connecting the soundbar to their Wi-Fi or have found the app-centric approach frustrating. Another notable issue, raised by a user with children, is the new mounting system on the 2024 rear speakers. The screw hole has been moved to the bottom, making it incompatible with many older third-party speaker stands designed for previous LG models, which can complicate placement. Finally, while setup is generally easy, a lack of detailed paper instructions left one user feeling lost, stating that “a nickel worth of paper and ink could have alleviated [the] problem.”
How Does the LG S95TR Compare to the Competition?
The LG S95TR operates in the premium tier of the soundbar market, but it’s important to understand what other options exist at different price points. While these alternatives don’t compete directly on a feature-for-feature basis, they cater to different needs and budgets.
1. Sony HT-S400 2.1ch Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
- IMMERSIVE SURROUND SOUND: S-Force PRO Front Surround and Dolby Digital create cinematic style surround sound.
- ENJOY CLEAR DIALOGUE AND POWERFUL SOUND: Powerful audio technology, such as the X-Balanced Speaker Unit and Separated Notch Edge, works to deliver wide-ranging sound and enhanced vocal clarity.
- SIMPLE & EASY OPERATION: The simple, compact remote control and convenient OLED display window make operation a breeze.
The Sony HT-S400 represents a significant step back in complexity and a step down in price. As a 2.1-channel system, it consists of a stereo soundbar and a wireless subwoofer. It lacks the rear speakers and up-firing drivers of the LG model, meaning it cannot produce true surround sound or Dolby Atmos height effects. Instead, it relies on virtual surround technology like S-Force PRO Front Surround. This is an excellent choice for someone in a smaller room who primarily wants a massive upgrade in clarity and bass over their TV speakers without the complexity or cost of a full surround system. It’s a simple, effective audio booster, not an immersive home cinema solution.
2. Yamaha SR-C20A Compact Sound Bar
- Built-in subwoofer and passive radiators for surprising bass
- Clear Voice for enhanced dialogue clarity
- Bluetooth streaming for your music and podcasts
The Yamaha SR-C20A is built for minimalism and small spaces. This is a compact, all-in-one unit with a built-in subwoofer, meaning there are no extra boxes to place around the room. It’s perfect for a bedroom, dorm room, or a small office setup where a large soundbar and separate subwoofer would be overkill. While it offers Yamaha’s Clear Voice technology for enhanced dialogue, its audio performance and scale are in a completely different league from the LG S95TR. Someone would choose the Yamaha for its tiny footprint and simplicity, prioritizing space-saving over the powerful, room-filling, immersive audio of the LG system.
3. BYL 50W Small TV Soundbar
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The BYL soundbar is a budget-focused, entry-level product designed to be a fundamental upgrade from tinny TV speakers. At 16 inches long and 50W of power, it’s aimed at smaller TVs (under 40 inches) and users who want something better than nothing without a significant investment. It offers basic connectivity like HDMI ARC and Bluetooth but lacks any advanced features like Dolby Atmos, a separate subwoofer, or wireless surround capabilities. This alternative is for the most budget-conscious buyer who has modest needs and is simply looking for clearer, louder sound for a secondary television.
Final Verdict: Is the LG S95TR Soundbar with Rear Speakers Worth It?
After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the LG S95TR Soundbar with Rear Speakers is a phenomenal piece of home theater equipment that delivers a truly breathtaking, immersive audio experience. Its 9.1.5-channel configuration creates a convincing dome of Dolby Atmos sound, while the innovative up-firing center channel ensures dialogue is never lost in the mix. The powerful subwoofer and robust gaming features make it a versatile performer for any type of media. Its greatest strength, however, lies in its synergy with the LG ecosystem; features like WOW Orchestra and WOWCAST make it the undisputed best choice for owners of modern LG TVs.
That said, it’s not without its quirks. The heavy reliance on the ThinQ app for fine-tuning may alienate some users, and its premium price point places it firmly in the enthusiast category. But if you are serious about creating a cinema-quality experience in your living room and want a powerful, cohesive, and feature-rich system that excels with movies, music, and gaming, the LG S95TR is an outstanding investment that will fundamentally change the way you watch TV. It’s an unqualified recommendation for home cinema lovers and a must-buy for LG OLED owners.
If you’ve decided the LG S95TR Soundbar with Rear Speakers is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API