The LG SN9YG is a part of the soundbar lineup from the brand. It has an MSRP of $1000, making it a part of an elite company. On paper, it has the bells and whistles to stand up to the competition and surpass them in some cases.
There is no denying that soundbars around the $800 ballpark are increasingly becoming competitive, and people are reluctant to spend the extra dollars. But has LG put in enough juice to woo the buyers to give SN9YG a try? We have set out to find that.
Buy LG SN9YG Soundbar from Bestbuy.com
Table Of Content
This is the LG SN9YG review.
List of specifications
| Channel Configuration | 5.1.2 |
| Product Dimensions | 48.2 x 2.2 x 5.7 inches (Soundbar)
8.7 x 15.4 x 12.3 inches (Subwoofer) |
| Weight | 6.3 kg (Soundbar)
7.8 kg (Subwoofer) |
| Amplifier output | 320W (Soundbar)
200W (Subwoofer) |
| Wireless Audio Protocol | Bluetooth 5.0
Wi-Fi Chromecast |
| Audio Decoding Codecs | DTS Digital Surround
DTS:X DTS-HD Dolby Atmos Dolby Digital Plus LPCM Dolby TrueHD |
| Subwoofer Type | Wireless |
| Connectivity | 1 x HDMI In
1 x Optical TOSLINK – Audio 1 x HDMI Out 1 x micro USB (audio) |
Pros
- Well-balanced output out-of-the-box
- Higher-than-average loudness
- Unique 5.1.2 configuration
Cons
- Some artefact creeping in at max volume
- The user interface isn’t the best
What’s in the box?
- LG SN9YG soundbar
- Wireless subwoofer
- Remote control (AKB75595351)
- 5-inch AC power cord
- 59-inch Optical digital cable
- 2 x “AAA” batteries
- 2 x Wall-brackets
- 2 x Screws
- Wall-bracket installation guide
- User manual
- Warranty card
- Safety information
- LGE Open-Source software notice
Design and build
The build quality of the LG SN9YG is a wide soundbar with sharp edges and a robust exterior made of premium plastic. The front, sides, and the up-firing speakers are covered by a metal grille to add an extra layer of protection. The subwoofer is mostly plastic, and the company has added fabric coating to its three sides.
The soundbar stretches 48.2 x 2.2 x 5.7-inches and is wide by every stretch of the imagination. It weighs 6.3 kg and is unlikely to fit a regular 55-inch TV. It is thankfully not very tall, and that allows you to place it at the foot of your television. The bar also has holes for wall-mounting, and the package comes with brackets and screws to allow that conveniently.
The subwoofer is 8.7 x 15.4 x 12.3-inches and weighs 7.8 kg. It pairs wirelessly to the bar and has a port at the bottom to incorporate the power cord. It is detachable and sticks out from the rest of the body.
The bar has one opening at the back for all its inputs. The LG SN9YG soundbar doesn’t have satellite speakers, and we are quite accustomed to that omission. Overall, the LG SN9YG is a well-built device. It feels sleek, and the materials make it feel robust and premium. Although the fabric coating is a dust magnet, you will notice that most other manufacturers are doing it too.
Controls
The LG SN9YG comes equipped with a five-character display hidden behind the front metal grille towards the right side of the bar. Given the spacing constraint, its benefits are somewhat limited but is better than not having any at all. It displays any change in settings and lights up when you make any changes. Also present are four dots beneath the LCD screen to show the current volume levels.
Like most other bars in this price segment, it also gets some touch-sensitive buttons on the top of the bar. These let you power on/off the device, switch inputs, volume up/down, mute the mic, and active Google Assistant.
The LG SN9YG soundbar package has a palm-sized remote to manoeuvre the settings of the device. You can control all the functions of the bar using it, but it is not universal, meaning that you cannot control other devices via it. One not-so-meaningful omission is the inability to fiddle with the room correction feature. It is exclusively available via the app, and we don’t have any sane reason to justify the same.
The LG soundbar has a companion app, LG WI-Fi Speaker. It is available on both Google and iOS app store and offers the basic toggles, such as volume levels, sleep timer, and dynamic range. It has a room correction option which you can turn on/off depending on your usage.
The bar also ships with a Power Saving option which automatically turns it off after 15 minutes of inactivity. It also supports HDMI CEC, allowing you to control its essential functions via any other IR remote control.
Connectivity
The LG SN9YG soundbar has a decent set of physical inputs. There are slots for HDMI In and HDMI Out, an Optical In, and a USB slot, which only supports audio. It misses out on 3.5mm jack, which has been a norm nowadays, making it impossible to connect your old devices physically to the bar.
The soundbar has support for HDMI eARC, allowing it to accommodate all the major audio codecs. You get support for DTS Digital Surround DTS:X, DTS-HD, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, LPCM, and Dolby TrueHD via its HDMI ports.
It can also act as a bridge letting you connect your console, Blu-ray player, and other similar devices with your TV. The optical port only supports Dolby Digital and DTS codecs.
For those looking for wireless connectivity, the LG SN9YG won’t disappoint. Other than Apple AirPlay lovers, it caters to everyone with Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, and Chromecast support. The bar also has support for 4K passthrough and supports HDR10 content too.
Overall, LG has made excellent choices in the connectivity department. You name anything, and the Sn9YG can connect to it, making it a viable option for mixed users.
Performance
Until now, the LG SN9YG soundbar has been doing great in terms of its connectivity, design, and controls. But can it pass the most crucial test, the performance aspect in flying colors? Well, it mostly does, but there are some caveats too. Let us explain.
The LG SN9YG sound bar follows a 5.1.2Ch configuration giving it ample space to shine across most genres. It offers a darkish presentation out-of-the-box, mainly due to the powerful subwoofer. The total output of the package is a stunning 520W, with 300W from the bar alone.
It has Atmos support, and the dark presentation makes it a great companion for action movies and games. The bass is fast and has enough thump for your mind to resonate with it every single time. It is a crowd-pleaser, and the presence of room correction allows it to cater to any space with ease.
Even though we termed the default sound as bass-heavy, the LG soundbar has enough heft in all the departments. It has an excellent stereo response, and the soundstage is as wide as the bar itself. The presence of seven speakers in the package ensures that you get accurate imaging and can pinpoint the exact location from where the sound comes.
Loudness is not an issue either. It gets ample loud at max volumes, and even though some artefacts are creeping in at higher level and some compression going on, you will barely be able to notice it in your day-to-day usage.
The dedicated center channel allows it to present clear dialogues with accurate audio reproduction. Its surround sound performance is not the greatest that we have seen from a soundbar. It fails in creating an exact image, and the sound output felt artificial and forced. It is the same for its height aspect too. The sound seemed diffused, and the quality felt substandard compared to the down-firing speakers.
Talking of sound enhancements, the LG SN9YG doesn’t disappoint at all. You get five EQ presets, room correction and adjustments for almost everything. You can manage the bass, treble, dialogue, rear, height, virtual surround, and subwoofer output. We would have loved to see a graphic EQ onboard, but its omission doesn’t spoil the party.
Competition
The 2020 LG SN9YG is an excellent all-round package. It comes with a good selection of ports, offers terrific sound enhancements, and has perfect control over the sound output. The eARC and 5.1.2Ch configuration further gives it an edge over its competition. Talking of competitors, let’s see how they stack up against it –
Vizio SB36512-F6
The Vizio SB36512-F6 is a cheaper offering but performs amicably well for its price. It steers ahead of the LG SN9YG by offering two satellite speakers and a more neutral sound by default. It also handles max volumes better by offering less compression and has an AUX port for better compatibility.
The LG SN9YG has a better build, offers better port options, and has a plethora of sound enhancements to achieve your desired output. It also gets eARC and DTS:X support, missing in the Vizio SB36512-F6.
Samsung HW-Q80R
If we had to choose between both of them, we would have gone with the Samsung HW-Q80R. There is not a lot that differentiates them, but the Samsung bar has better soundstage and a more neutral sound approach. It gets graphic EQ appreciated by one and all and has a better height performance.
But the LG SN9YG soundbar offers more sound enhancement features and room correction. Its surround sound is also comparatively better, and the Chromecast support adds to its wireless advantages.
Conclusion
LG has made a strong case for itself with the SN9YG. The soundbar comes with a meaningful set of hardware choices and even the software, though sluggish at times, has a lot on offer. It ticks all the right boxes, and if you compare it with the competition, you will find them steering ahead in one department or two, but it always finds some way to be better than them.
The addition of Atmos and room correction gives it a lot of legroom to plummet the competition. You can use almost any device to connect with it and play your favourite stuff, be it audiobooks, 4K video streaming, or your favourite TV channel. It can do it all with ease.
If it interests you, here is the Bestbuy.com link of the LG SN9YG for you to explore more.
