Have you ever watched a blockbuster at home and felt something was missing? That indefinable quality that separates your living room from a proper cinema? After unboxing LG's flagship S95TR soundbar system, I realized what that missing element was—and it wasn't just volume.
When the delivery truck arrived with what seemed like an impractically large box, I wondered if LG had sent me an entire home theater by mistake. Inside lay not just a soundbar, but an 810-watt audio ecosystem: a hefty main unit flanked by wireless rear speakers and a substantial subwoofer. My first thought: "This is either going to transform my movie nights or become an expensive dust collector."
Three weeks and countless hours of testing later, I'm still discovering nuances in familiar soundtracks I'd never noticed before. The 9.1.5 channel configuration with dedicated up-firing speakers creates a dome of sound that genuinely rivals commercial cinema experiences—suddenly those Dolby Atmos demos make sense. Yet for all its audio prowess, this premium system harbors some curious design choices that left me scratching my head.
Does the S95TR's exceptional sound performance outweigh its quirks? Is the premium price tag justified in a market crowded with competitors? And perhaps most importantly—would integrating this soundbar into your existing setup require an advanced engineering degree? The answers might surprise you, especially if you already own certain LG products.
Let's dive into what makes this premium soundbar system tick and whether it deserves a place in your home theater setup.
The S95TR makes a strong first impression with its substantial presence. Weighing in at a hefty size, it arrives in a massive box containing the main soundbar, separate subwoofer, and rear speakers. The design aesthetic is sophisticated and professional, blending nicely with most modern entertainment setups, particularly in rooms with darker color schemes.
Up-firing speakers on both the main bar and rear units create that sought-after spatial audio experience, while the overall build quality feels solid and premium. However, there are some design choices that left me scratching my head:
While these issues aren't dealbreakers, they do detract from the otherwise premium feel of the system.
The S95TR offers impressive technical specifications that justify its premium positioning:
The companion app is a necessity rather than an option, especially given the limited feedback from the soundbar itself. Fortunately, it's well-designed and makes setup significantly easier. The AI room calibration feature is particularly impressive, analyzing your space acoustically to optimize sound for your specific environment.
The S95TR truly shines when paired with an LG television, unlocking a suite of exclusive features that enhance both functionality and audio performance. This ecosystem approach creates a compelling reason to stay within the LG family.
The soundbar is WOWCAST Ready, enabling wireless Dolby Atmos transmission between the unit and compatible LG TVs (particularly the 2024 B4, C4, and G4 series). This eliminates unsightly cables while maintaining the integrity of lossless multi-channel audio. During testing, I noticed minimal lip-sync delays (approximately 50-100ms) with the wireless connection, but the AV Sync feature allows for easy manual adjustment to correct this.
For those preferring a hardwired connection, the HDMI eARC port delivers high-bandwidth audio formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS:X with negligible latency.
The WOW Orchestra feature represents one of the system's most innovative aspects. Rather than replacing your TV speakers, it combines them with the soundbar's drivers to create a more expansive, cohesive soundstage. This is particularly effective with LG's OLED TVs, where the screen itself produces sound that blends with the soundbar output, enhancing both dialogue clarity and spatial effects.
The AI Room Calibration deserves special mention. Using either the TV's built-in microphone or the LG Soundbar app, the system analyzes your room's acoustic properties and automatically adjusts settings for optimal sound distribution. During testing in an asymmetrical living room, this feature noticeably improved balance issues caused by an off-center seating arrangement.
The WOW Interface integration is a godsend for those frustrated by the soundbar's limited display. It incorporates all soundbar controls—volume, sound modes, inputs—directly into the LG TV's on-screen menu. This allows adjustments via the TV remote, effectively solving the poor remote design issue mentioned earlier. Switching between Cinema, Music, and Clear Voice Pro modes becomes seamless without hunting for the soundbar's remote.
Voice assistant support for both Alexa and Google Assistant provides hands-free control when linked to compatible smart speakers.
For gamers, the S95TR offers 4K/120Hz passthrough, though it's limited to 8-bit 4:4:4 color depth for next-gen consoles. It does support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) for smoother gaming experiences.
The Game Mode Pro feature reduces audio latency to approximately 60ms via HDMI, which proved ideal during fast-paced gaming sessions where audio-visual synchronization is crucial.
Perhaps the most impressive integration is the Dolby Atmos Synergy feature, which enhances height effects by coordinating the soundbar's triple up-firing speakers (including a dedicated center channel) with the TV speaker output. When watching content with extensive overhead audio, like rain scenes or aircraft flyovers, this creates a more convincing height dimension than most standalone soundbars can achieve.
The true wireless rear satellites, complete with their own up-firing drivers, sync automatically via WOWCAST, requiring only power outlets. This eliminates the need for speaker wires running across your living room, a significant aesthetic advantage.
The LG Soundbar app provides extensive EQ customization, calibration tools, and firmware updates. When paired with an LG TV, these settings sync across devices for consistent audio tuning, creating a truly unified system rather than separate components fighting for control.
This is where the S95TR truly shines. The sound quality is exceptional across various content types, with a sonic signature that balances power and finesse.
Testing Bradley Cooper's "A Star Is Born" soundtrack revealed the S95TR's musical prowess. During "Shallow," the soundbar captured the intimate acoustic guitar opening with crystalline clarity, each string pluck rendered with delicate precision. When the chorus exploded into its emotional peak, the system maintained perfect separation between Cooper's gravelly lower register and Lady Gaga's soaring vocals. The bass kicked in with authority but remained tight and controlled rather than bloated or overwhelming.
The concert scenes were particularly impressive. "Always Remember Us This Way" placed Gaga's piano front and center while surrounding me with the ambient crowd noise from the rear speakers. The up-firing drivers created a genuine sense of venue space, as if the arena's ceiling stretched above me. I could almost feel the collective energy of the fictional audience surrounding my listening position.
Switching to "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," the S95TR demonstrated its action movie credentials with thunderous confidence. The opening forest battle sequence showcased the system's dynamic range—whispered dialogue remained perfectly intelligible while explosions erupted with seismic impact. The subwoofer delivered foundation-shaking bass that I could feel rippling through my couch during Optimus Prime's transformation sequences, yet maintained enough definition to distinguish the mechanical clicks, whirs, and gears beneath the bombast.
The 9.1.5 channel configuration truly earned its keep during the desert battle scenes. Metal debris scattered across the soundstage with pinpoint precision. The up-firing speakers created convincing height channels as helicopters passed overhead, while the rear speakers placed me dead center in the chaotic battlefield. Several times, I instinctively turned my head at sounds that seemed to originate from behind my seating position—a testament to the system's spatial imaging capabilities.
After testing multiple sound modes, I found Cinema mode to be the most versatile preset, delivering excellent results not just for movies but surprisingly for music as well. The soundstage opens up in this mode, creating a three-dimensional audio bubble that remains cohesive rather than gimmicky.
Even at higher volumes, the sound quality remains consistent and well-balanced. Where lesser systems might strain or compress dynamic range when pushed, the S95TR maintains its composure throughout the volume range, thanks in part to its substantial 810-watt power reserve.
In a larger open space (25×20 feet), the system still provided focused, immersive sound without overwhelming the entire room—perfect for mixed-use spaces where different activities might be happening simultaneously.
At $999.99 (at time of review), the S95TR sits firmly in the premium soundbar category. The question is whether it delivers enough value to justify this investment.
For most users, especially those who prioritize audio quality and immersion, the answer is yes. The sound performance rivals dedicated home theater setups costing significantly more, while offering the convenience and aesthetic benefits of a soundbar system.
However, the value proposition strengthens considerably if you already own a WOW-compatible LG TV. The ecosystem integration adds functionality that standalone users won't experience, potentially making it worth selecting this soundbar over similarly priced competitors.
The interface limitations (poor remote, no display) do slightly diminish the overall value, but not enough to outweigh the excellent audio performance.
The LG S95TR soundbar system delivers where it matters most – providing an immersive, high-quality audio experience that transforms movie watching, gaming, and music listening. The sound quality is consistently impressive across various content types, and the physical design, while substantial, has a premium aesthetic that complements most entertainment setups.
The system isn't without flaws – the remote and user interface leave much to be desired, and the full feature set is only available to those already in the LG ecosystem. However, these drawbacks are relatively minor compared to the excellent audio performance.
For those seeking cinema-quality sound without the complexity of a traditional home theater setup, the LG S95TR represents a compelling option. It's especially worth considering for current LG TV owners who can take advantage of the additional integration features.
Verdict: The S95TR is a solid performer well worth its premium price tag, particularly if you're already invested in the LG ecosystem. For everyone else, it still delivers exceptional sound quality that will significantly enhance your home entertainment experience, despite some interface limitations.
