This entry-level soundbar comes with a wireless subwoofer for extra bass to enhance those dramatic action scenes. It also has Adaptive Sound Control that automatically selects the best sound mode to optimise your viewing experience.
Do these features stack up against the competition? Will this give you a great listening experience while saving you a lot of money? Let’s have a look.
BUY LG 2.1 Channel 300W Soundbar System from BestBuy.com here!
List of Specifications
Table Of Content
| Channel Configuration | 2.1 |
| Product Dimensions | 35.1″ x 2.3″ x 3.4″ (Soundbar)
6.8″ x 15.4″ x 10.3″ (Subwoofer) |
| Weight | 5.2 lbs (Soundbar)
11.7 lbs (Subwoofer) |
| Wireless Audio Protocol | Bluetooth |
| Audio Decoding Codecs | LPCM
Dolby Digital DTS MP3 WMA |
| Subwoofer Type | Wireless |
| Connectivity | USB playback 1 x Optical TOSLINK |
| Special Features | Adaptive Sound Control Bass blast Bass blast plus |
Pros
- Great price
- Automatically customizes sound
- Bluetooth support
- USB playback
- Well built for the money
Cons
- Sub par bass response even with a dedicated subwoofer
- No wifi connectivity
- No HDMI in
- Poor surround performance due to lack of satellite speakers
What’s in the Box?
- Remote control
- Batteries
- Optical cable
- Wall mount brackets
- Mounting screws
- Warranty card
- Subwoofer power cable
Design and Build
The LG 2.1 Channel 300W Soundbar System with 6″ Subwoofer (LG SL4Y) is fairly sized. It is ideal for TV’s that are 40” and wider and the subwoofer is about the size of an average desktop PC.
It feels well built too and is made primarily of dense, good quality plastic, with a metal grille along the front. The weak point is the fabric on the subwoofer that can easily get dirty or damaged if you’re not careful.
The soundbar is wall mountable and the mounts and screws do come in the box. This helps to save space and works for a neater look in your living room.
Controls
This soundbar has a reasonably sized display at the front that shows the volume level and the input.
There are four rubberized buttons found on the side of the soundbar. They allow you to turn the bar on/off, adjust the volume, and change inputs.
The SL4Y also comes with a remote for a bit more control of the features and is the same as the remote packaged with most LG soundbars. It’s fairly small and should easily fit in most people’s palms. You can also control most of the bar’s functions as well as scroll through EQ presets.
This soundbar lacks some modern control options like an app and HDMI CEC but at this price point, not much to complain about.
Connectivity
The LG SL4Y lacks a lot of the modern connectivity options that you get on higher-end soundbars. You do get USB-in for playing music from a thumb drive though. This feature has all but disappeared in most if not all of the modern high-end soundbars.
In addition to the USB-in, you also get a Toslink Optical wired connectivity option and Bluetooth connectivity. These should cover most devices as many newer TVs, laptops, smartphones and tablets have Bluetooth capabilities while many older TVs have Toslink as an option.
The Subwoofer also connects to the soundbar wirelessly. All you need to do is plug it into a power source.
However, this soundbar only supports MP3, WMA, Dolby Digital and DTS formats. This is a bit of a letdown considering how much you get in many modern soundbars today. But then again, this is a sub $200 kit.
Performance
It is important not to expect this soundbar to have great sound separation as it is only a 2.1 channel device. You won’t get the crisp dialogue that comes with a centre channel nor the great surround that comes with satellite speakers.
All surround content is downmixed to stereo and played through the front two speakers. This results in poor localisation and the sound feels like it’s coming from in front of you as opposed to getting an immersive listening experience.
That said, the sound is not bad for a 2.1 channel soundbar. It will give you a great cinematic experience with its loud volume and bass from the subwoofer.
The EQ options and Adaptive Sound Control allow the sound to be adjusted to fit the watching and listening situation. The shift from music listening, to podcasts and to movies is easy and seamless.
Nonetheless, even with a dedicated subwoofer, the bass response leaves a lot to be desired. It is ok, but not great.
Competition
The fairly priced segment of soundbars is flooded with a plethora of options for buyers. It can get pretty confusing which one to go for. I loved trying this soundbar out. For the money, it can be tough to beat. But what else is out there in this range?
Samsung HW-A650
For a little more money, you get an extra channel. The Samsung HW-A650 3.1 ch soundbar provides more crisp dialogue via the centre channel, HDMI connectivity and a better surround sound experience
BUY Samsung HW-A650 from Amazon.com here!
Samsung HW-A450
And for a little less money, you can get the Samsung HW-A450 minimalist yet decent soundbar.
You get the same channels (2.1), the same power (300W) and the same connectivity options (Bluetooth and optical audio). So, a lot of the same features for a little less money.
Vizio M-Series 2.1 Channel Soundbar
Also for a little less money, this Vizio M-series 2.1 channel soundbar has the same channel configuration and more connectivity options. In addition to Bluetooth and optical audio, it also has HDMI out and a 3.5mm aux input. It lacks USB playback though.
Buy VIZIO – M-Series 2.1 Channel All-in-One Sound Bar System – Dark Charcoal from Bestbuy.com
The biggest disadvantage that this Vizio soundbar has is the lack of a dedicated subwoofer.
Conclusion
If you are looking to enhance your living room sound beyond what you get from the TV speakers but don’t want to spend the sums that most modern Soundbars and home theatres seem to command, then you ought to give this LG SL4Y a try.
It is a definite sound upgrade without costing you a pretty penny. Bluetooth connectivity, adaptive sound control and a dedicated subwoofer make this soundbar quite the bargain.
This device also takes up less space than some of the wider soundbars on the market and the absence of satellite speakers also means a neater living room.
Buy the LG SL4Y 2.1 Channel 300W Soundbar System with 6” Subwoofer today!
