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Recently, simple soundbars have become the preferred solution due to their simpler setup compared to multi-speaker systems. The LG Sound Bar S80QR brings great sound enhancement to your gaming TV without the hassle of setting it up.
Priced at $1,049.99/£1,099.99, the S80QR is a sound bar with full-filling high-end speakers, a subwoofer and wireless rear speakers. At £899.99/£999.99, the S80QY is on the cheap side and drops the rear speaker package, but as you can see, you really want it. After living with the S80QR for a month, it’s easy to see why we’d call it one of the best sound systems in the game, and why you’d want it as part of your living room setup, but I’m not sure you should pay full price.
Design and features
The LG S80QR is a fairly simple yet elegant looking bar with a matte gray metallic finish. It’s one meter wide and fits nicely in most gaming TV cabinets without any fuss. It fits perfectly under most LG TV stands, but can also be wall mounted. The front has a fabric covering of the speaker and a center-mounted LED status display that shows things like volume, sound mode or connectivity. At the top are three speakers with touch controls above the center.
On the back there are two HDMI 2.1 inputs, USB and optical ports. The S80QR supports HDMI eARC, so those with compatible TVs like the LG QNED99 will enjoy the next advantage. S80QR supports ALLM and VRR, so you can connect your console to play games at 4K 120Hz.
The 220W subwoofer is as huge as a small computer case. It’s wireless so you can place it anywhere and it will automatically sync with your soundbar. The rear set has a wireless receiver and two 70W speakers to fill out the sound. The receiver needs a power outlet which may affect where you place it, but it has a very long cable for the speakers.
In addition to touch controls on the bar, you get a mini Magic Remote, but you’ll want to use the LG Sound Bar app for iOS and Android for full control. It provides extensive control over various sound settings. The S80QR supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, DTS Digital Surround and other major formats. If you have the right source, it can output 96kHz/24bit high resolution and enhance your regular audio. Wireless connectivity supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, Apple Airplay, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri.
Performance
Once set up, the S80QR felt visceral, unlike TV speakers. Not only did the S80QR sound louder, but that subwoofer made the sound very rich and powerful. Conversations were clearer and I felt like I was inside the movie thanks to the rear speakers. In a scene from The Crown on Netflix, the main characters were watching a speech on TV. When it moves to the actual location of the speech, it sounds like we’ve stepped into the scene.
Not to mention how epic the battles sound in God of War Ragnarok, I loved how realistic the character dialogue sounded. In one notable moment, I was walking with Atreus as he marveled at the camera to my left. The next time he spoke, he sounded like he was in the room behind me, which shocked me – usually only the best gaming headsets offer. Something similar happened while playing Horizon Forbidden West, which made the game’s audio an absolute joy.
However, despite the lauded speakers, I couldn’t get any sense of the top-end audio; Even after using the AI room calibration, it was disappointing. But even worse, the Meridian-tuned Music mode sounded thinner, lifeless, and cold. It’s worth noting that it sounds hollow because it doesn’t use rear speakers. You can fine-tune the EQ in the app, but in the end I settled on Cinema and Gaming modes, which provided a full, rich, bassy environment.
Overall, should you buy the LG S80QR?
The LG S80QR is a great sound bar that will truly enrich your gaming and movie watching experience. The sound is strong and detailed, the dialogue is clear and the epic moments rock the house. It works great with easy setup and management. However, the S80QR is not for audiophiles and is too expensive for most people – it costs the same as a QNED 4K TV. You can get the S80QY for less, but I wouldn’t recommend it because of how much the rear speakers affect the overall experience. The S80QR is great, but I’m not sure who is best suited for it.
How we tested the LG S80QR
To test the S80R, I connected it to an LG QNED99 TV via the HDMI eARC port in my family’s living room. I set the TV to play all sound through the soundbar and we watched a lot of Disney+. Netflix and YouTube content in the last month. I also connected my PlayStation 5 to the soundbar and finished playing several hours of God of War Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West in their entirety. I’ve also used Apple Play to stream music directly from my iPhone to the soundbar.
You can read our full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy for details on hardware for all available hardware.
If you are looking for your own screen game and audio game, check us out best gaming monitor, the best ultra widescreenand best curved gaming screen guide.
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