Just bought a new TV and want to pair it with a good sound system? Looking for a great soundbar that enhances the movies you watch? Fret not, LG has got you covered with its SN11RG 7.1.4 Channel Soundbar.
Priced at about MSRP $1,700, the LG SN11RG is one of the more premium soundbars in the market. With that price point, we would expect the soundbar to do everything and perform exceptionally well.
So, the question is, how does it hold up to other competitors, and can it really do everything? Find out in our review for the LG SN11RG 7.1.4 Soundbar.
Click here to buy the LG SN11RG from BestBuy.com now!
List of specifications
Table Of Content
| Channel Configuration | 7.1.4 |
| Product Dimensions | 56.7 x 2.5 x 7 inches (Soundbar)
8.7 x 15.4 x 12.3 inches (Subwoofer) |
| Weight | 15.9 lbs (Soundbar)
17.2 lbs (Subwoofer) |
| Amplifier output | 550W (Soundbar)
220W (Subwoofer) |
| Wireless Audio Protocol | Bluetooth
Wi-Fi Chromecast |
| Audio Decoding Codecs | DTS Digital Surround
DTS-HD High-Resolution Audio DTS-HD Master Audio DTS:X Dolby Atmos Dolby Digital Dolby Digital Plus Dolby Surround Dolby TrueHD |
| Subwoofer and Satellites Types | Wireless |
| Connectivity | 2x HDMI HDCP 2.2 Inputs
1x HDMI HDCP 2.2 Output 1x USB Input 1x Toslink Optical Audio Input |
What’s good?
- Simple and easy installation.
- Wireless rear speakers and subwoofer allow for flexibility in creating your sound bubble and clutter-free.
- Lots of integrated features like DTS:X and Meridian Technology to produce the best sound.
- Stable connections for maximum immersion.
- Great sound and no distortions at high volumes
What’s not-so-good?
- Premium price point
- The subwoofer is not a down-firing subwoofer making it a little lacking in the low bass for music but still great for movies and gaming.
- Users will have to adjust to make it sound awesome as the out-of-the-box sound does not show off its true potential.
What’s in the box?
- LG SN11RG Soundbar
- 2 additional rear speakers
- Rear speaker kit wireless receiver
- Wireless subwoofer
- Optical cable
- Remote control
- 2x AAA batteries
- Wall mount bracket
- Cable management
- Warranty Card
- Owner’s manual
Design and Build
The LG SN11RG adopts a simple and minimalistic design that can match any room design type. Its slim design can easily fit under most desktop-mounted TVs if you are not planning to hang it. The soundbar’s top edge houses 2 up-firing drivers and boasts a sleek and brushed metal-style finish to give it a premium look. The dimensions of 56.7 x 2.5 x 7 inches will have no problem matching television sizes that range from 55 to 65 inches.
Unfortunately for the subwoofer, it is more function-over-form, and the same goes for the rear speakers. The unit stretches 8.7 x 15.4 x 12.3 inches, and the rear speakers are a smaller version of that. On the plus side, they all utilize wireless connections. So, you do not have to worry about the messy cables that may or may not run through your entire living room.
Controls
The soundbar’s front edge features a bright LED, which can provide a clear view of helpful information such as what sound format you are receiving, which speaker you are adjusting, which input you have selected, and many more.
Some of the main function buttons are located on the top panel of the soundbar. The microphone can be found there for voice control. The buttons include a “function” button to select function and input source, ‘+’ and ‘-‘ signs for volume control, a play/pause button and a button to mute the mic to disable voice recognition.
On the front panel is a button that can enable or disable google assistant, a remote sensor, Google Assistant LED lights to show you the status of Google Assistant, and last but not least, the aforementioned LED display window.
Google Assistant is integrated into the soundbar. Just say “Ok Google”, and you give a command to control the soundbar. However, two apps are needed in your smart device to access all of the soundbar’s features and settings.
To connect the soundbar to your Wi-Fi system, open up voice control using Google Assistant, or streaming from apps like YouTube and Spotify, the Google Home app will be needed.
The second app is LG’s own Wi-Fi Speaker app which allows for functions like channel balance adjustments, audio delay adjustment, and LG’s AI Room Calibration system. These functions will automatically optimise its sound by firing out a series of test sounds so that the output is best suited for your room.
The remote control for the SN11RG is small and compact, with most of the key buttons located in a comfortable position for your palm. The less important buttons can be found in a small cluster at the bottom of the remote.
Connectivity
Located at the rear is a series of physical inputs essential for connecting display and audio devices at home. Said inputs include 2 HDMI HDCP 2.2 Inputs, 1 HDMI HDCP 2.2 Output, 1 Optical Input, and a USB Input that only supports audio files.
The HDMI output has ARC/eARC support. The soundbar can support all major audio codecs such as DTS Digital Surround, DTS-HD High-Resolution Audio, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Surround as well as Dolby TrueHD.
You can connect consoles with the inputs available like a Blu-Ray player, a Playstation, and other similar devices with your TV. It supports 4K and HDR video pass-through but sadly, not HDR10+.
The LG SN11RG also allows for wireless connectivity. If you already have devices that use the Google Home app, this soundbar can be added to the list. Moreover, it also supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Chromecast connections. Unfortunately for Apple users, this soundbar does not support Apple AirPlay.
Overall, the LG SN11RG does not lack in the connectivity department except for the lack of support for Apple Airplay. Setting that aside, Android users would enjoy seamless wireless connectivity with this soundbar.
Performance
The LGSN11RG features a 7.1.4Ch configuration with an external subwoofer and 2 rear speakers. The products connecting wirelessly allow for flexible positioning for you to create the perfect sound bubble for the best audio experience.
Speaking of sound is very versatile and suits well no matter if you are watching a movie, playing games, or chilling with some music. For the dedicated audiophiles out there, the out-of-the-box sound may disappoint most of you all. However, with the proper tweaks and customizations, this soundbar will definitely not disappoint you.
About the subwoofer, it is not a down-firing one. It serves its purpose very well for movies and gaming, but some may find that it is a bit lacklustre in the low-end bass department when it comes to music. Despite that, it is not that big of a deal-breaker.
The 550W soundbar allows for loud audio, and with technologies like Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio, you will get to experience high volumes without any distortion.
The rear speakers play their roles by further enhancing the sound bubble, and with that comes the immersive experience that only surrounds sound can give. With the front soundbar firing upwards and front, you will be able to fully immerse in the movie or game with you being able to hear sounds from your front, sides, rear or even above you.
Overall, the LG SN11RG does what is expected and perhaps even more. Some little details may seem lacking, but it definitely does not disappoint when it comes to satisfying your listening experience.
Competition
The LG SN11RG certainly does not disappoint with its features, and with the overall performance, there are only a few that can rival its performance. Let’s see how the models of the same price point can hold up against it:
Samsung HW-Q90R
The Samsung HW-Q90R is a close rival to the LG SN11RG. It also features a 7.1.4Ch configuration at the same premium price point. While the LG SN11RG only supports Google Assistant for Android users, the Samsung HW-Q90R features Alexa, which is available for Android and Apple users. With that, it can cater to a wider range of customers. Get the Samsung HW-Q90R from BestBuy.com here.
The LG SN11RG triumphs over the Samsung HW-Q90R just by having more flexibility in terms of customizations. The Samsung unit only has a simple bass and treble adjustment, whereas the LG unit offers a wider range of customizations for you to get the sound you desire.
Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 SSE
With $300 lesser, the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 SSE comes with dual wireless subwoofers, and it features a 1000W soundbar with a 9.2.4Ch configuration. With the dual subwoofers, the Nakamichi unit will hit closer to the low-end bass than the LG. It also allows for a 3.5mm audio input which is quite rare in newer models nowadays. Get the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 SSE on BestBuy.com here.
The LG SN11RG, however, features a 4K video passthrough, whereas the Nakamichi Shockwafe does not. Without the 4K video passthrough, the sound quality might be a little bit compromised.
Conclusion
All in all, the LG SN11RG is suitable for mixed usage. No matter if you are watching a movie, trying to catch people sneaking up on you in a game, or just relaxing to some music, it does it all. The sleek and minimalistic design makes it able to fit in all sorts of room designs.
Of course, you pay for what you get. With that price point, it will deliver. Conversely, technology is not without its flaws. If you can look past some of the minor details like the subwoofer not being able to hit the low-end bass for music or the soundbar not supporting HDR10+ video passthrough, the LG SN11RG will be perfect for you.
Buy the LG SN11RG 7.1.4 Channel Soundbar on BestBuy.com now!
