Over the years, LG has released affordable yet great quality soundbars. As of last year, they added the LG SN6Y model to their budget-friendly collection. This model is a 3.1 channel set up with DTS Virtual: X, built with a dedicated centre channel. 

The first glance into its spec sheet tells us that it is not exactly a well-rounded soundbar. However, it makes up for it by providing users with an array of sound customisation options, allowing you to tweak the sound to your liking.

List of Specifications

Chanel Configuration  3.1
Product Dimensions 2.2 x 41.7 x 3.4 inches (Soundbar)
15.4 x 7.1 x 11.5 inches (Subwoofer)
Weight 7.8 lbs (Soundbar)
11.7 lbs (Subwoofer)
Wireless Audio Protocol Bluetooth
Audio Decoding Codecs DTS Digital Surround
DTS Virtual:X
Dolby Digital
Amplifier Output 200W (Soundbar)
220W (Subwoofer)
Connectivity 1x Optical Input
1x USB Input
1x HDMI Input

 

What’s good?

  • Superb center channel performance
  • Design is premium
  • Volume can go exceedingly loud

What’s not so good? 

  • The companion app is only functional on Android
  • Wireless playback options are only limited to Bluetooth
  • The surround downmixing can be overly bass-heavy

What’s in the box?

  • Manual
  • Optical Cable
  • Remote Control
  • 2 x AAA Batteries
  • Soundbar Wall Mount Bracket
  • Bar power cable
  • Bar power brick

Design and Build

LG SN6Y Soundbar Review 1

The design of the LG SN6Y is an exact replica of its predecessor, the LG SL6Y. It takes on a rather simple and straightforward look that does not stand out amongst other soundbars. There’s a metal grill covering the front of the soundbar while the rest of the body is made of plastic.

To give it a faux-leather look, the top of the soundbar is embossed, accompanied by the LG logo visibly printed in white at the right-hand corner.

Unlike the soundbar, the subwoofer’s designs deviate slightly from the LG SL6Y. The first noticeable difference is the top. While the front is covered in fabric, the top is coated in plastic. The logo has also been shifted to the top of the subwoofer. 

The back of the LG SN6Y is also strikingly different compared to the LG SL6Y as the ports and pairing button are more pronounced. 

Unfortunately, the soundbar is fairly wide, stretching at 2.2 x 41.7 x 3.4 inches. Therefore, it is unlikely to fit between most 55 inch TV setups. It isn’t tall, so it should not obstruct your view of the TV screen.

As for the subwoofer, its built is larger than the LG SL6Y but not by much. One could say it is about the size of a desktop PC. Hence, it would not be too difficult to find a spot to fit it in. 

Controls

On the side of the soundbar, there is a silicone pad that allows you to turn the soundbar on or off, change inputs and to adjust the volume. The LG SN6Y also comes with remote control, the same one used by most LG soundbars. It’s rather small and easy to use. 

Although the remote is small, the icons on the buttons are large which is easier for older people to see and navigate. Like most remotes, it does give users playback control and allows you to adjust almost everything. 

As the soundbar supports HDMI CEC, your TV remote can be used to control some of the soundbar’s functions.

Connectivity

This LG SN6Y model possesses the same input options like the LG SL6Y.  First, there is the HDMI input which you use for Blu-ray players and gaming consoles. Then you have the HDMI ARC port and optical cable which you can use to connect to the TV and play music off a USB flash drive. 

Since there is no 3.5mm aux port, playing music off an old MP3 player or turntable would be difficult. 

For streaming music through your mobile device, the LG SN6Y uses bluetooth. Regrettably, this model does not support Chromecast or Apple AirPlay, thus removing what could have been a seamless streaming experience. 

The subwoofer can also be connected to the soundbar wirelessly, making it convenient for you to play music via your phone’s bluetooth function.

Performance

LG SN6Y Soundbar

When you compare the LG SN6Y to the LG SL6Y, the newer model is definitely more bass-heavy. The upside to that is, it truly gives you your daily dose of punch and thump in music. Despite that, it still faces difficulty in producing deep rumbles of explosion. 

In its mid-range, it sounds neutral. Although, the soundbar does tend to overemphasize low treble and mid-mid frequencies, leading to vocals and instruments sounding overly harsh. It can be said that the sound profile is truly not as balanced as most prefer it to be. 

However, its stereo dynamics is pretty decent. It can get really loud, making it suitable to be used in parties or large rooms. At max volume it does compress sound more than the LG SL6Y, especially in its bass range.

Where this soundbar truly shines is in its center channel performance. With its discrete center channel, clarity is given to dialogues in TV shows and movies. The extra boost presented in the low-treble makes the voices sound more present. However, some may find it too harsh. 

As can be seen in the specs, the LG SN6Y is a 3.1 soundbar. What this means is, the content gets downmixed to stereo and is then distributed amongst the 3 front speakers. Therefore, you don’t actually get to experience the real surround sound. Instead, it feels as though it is coming from right in front of you.

There are a couple of sound enhancement features that come with this soundbar. For example, we have the DTS Virtual:X surround and LG’s AI Sound Pro feature. With these options, you can fine-tune the bass and treble levels independently. The sound level of the center channel and subwoofer can also be adjusted.

Competition

The LG SN6Y is generally a good soundbar for overall usage but the competition stacks up against it. Let’s take a look at where it stands:


LG SN8YG

Both the LG SN6Y and LG SN8YG are equally well-built. However, in terms of overall performance, the SN8YG performs better. Its subwoofer can not only produce a more thumpy bass but can also support Dolby Atmos and eARC content. For seamless streaming, the SN8YG also supports Chromecast and Wi-Fi giving more options for wireless connection.

You can also use Google Assist as it has been integrated into the SN8YG’s design, allowing for voice control over your soundbar. 

Do note that while SN8YG has these features to its advantage, the SN6Y has less distortion at maximum volume when compared.

Samsung HW-T650


Bringing in another competitor from a different brand, we have the Samsung HW-T650.  Not much different in terms of price, the HW-T650 produces a better-balanced sound that is suited for a wide genre of movies and music. The SN6Y on the other hand is prone to producing muddy sounds depending on the track. Lastly, it also supports Dolby Digital Plus which the SN6Y does not. 

Conclusion

For mixed usage, the LG SN6Y is alright but if you want to achieve an overall balanced sound, this might not be the one for you. However, for its price of $249.99 it has a pretty decent set of sound customisation options which you can play around with. 

Perhaps the audio performance after tweaking might be good enough for you. Don’t forget its center channel performance is excellent, allowing you to hear every word uttered in a show clearly. 

Buy LG SN6Y Soundbar from Amazon.com today!

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