Does the LG S75Q soundbar have the right stuff to transform your TV room into a home theater? Let’s find out.
If you want a soundbar to pair up with your LG television, it’s only natural to consider acquiring one from the same manufacturer. So, we tested the LG S75Q soundbar alongside the LG 55” CS TV.
You can, of course, pair the soundbar with TVs from other brands, but we wanted to test the two as an LG package. At around R25 000, it’s not a cheap combo, so I felt it had better deliver a punch.
Design and quality
The LG S75Q is a sleek and attractive bit of kit that consists of the soundbar as well as an external and separate subwoofer. The latter isn’t short and squat like many of its kind. Instead, it has a more tall and upright design style. The build quality is solid, with high quality plastics used throughout.
The S75Q is fairly wide (or you could say “long”), but not very tall, so it doesn’t hinder your line of sight when placed in front of the TV.
AI sound setting
The bar connects to the TV with a standard HDMI cable, but the sub connects to the bar wirelessly, only requiring a plug for power. It connects and sets itself up quickly and easily, and you can either set up the equaliser values yourself or leave it to LG’s ‘AI Sound Pro’.
After trying the AI Sound Pro, I decided it works well enough. I felt no need to fiddle with settings while watching regular TV. Overall, I found the S75Q to be easy and convenient to use.
Working in tandem
Besides using the AI Sound Pro, there are other benefits to pairing the LG 55” CS TV with the LG S75Q soundbar. The TV has an inbuilt sound processor that optimises sound automatically, depending on what you’re watching. With the S75Q, this works seamlessly.
Besides that, the standard remote for the TV can control the soundbar, reducing the number of controls needed.
Help from Meridian
LG has paired up with Meridian Audio to gain the British company’s expertise. Dolby Atmos is also present, with upward firing speakers in the S75Q that are designed to give the effect of overhead sound, as a full surround sound system would.
Key soundbar specs
- Designed to fit under TVs 40” or larger
- 7 built-in speakers powered by a 160W amplifier
- Front left/right channels: 60W
- Height left/right channels: 70W
- Dedicated center channel: 30W
- Bracket for wall mounting included
Key subwoofer specs
- 6” woofer driven by a 220-watt amplifier
- Wirelessly connects to the soundbar for placement options
- Requires AC power (cord included)
Measured against the standard sound of the 55” CS television, pairing it with the S75Q makes for a serious upgrade. The boost it gives over the standard sound is huge.
Different strokes
As I used the bar more and more, I did notice some weaknesses. One of these is music playback. It’s not poor in any way, but less punchy than what you might expect, particularly because of its stellar performance when performing ‘normal’ TV duties.
Showing series and other regular programmes is the sweet spot for this soundbar, as it enhances and gives clear sound for dialogue, as well as enhancing atmospheric sound.
While the system may fall a little bit short in some areas, it still far outshines the standard sound of the TV. For that alone it’s worth the purchase.
Verdict and rating
In conclusion, the LG S75Q soundbar paired with the LG 55” CS TV offers a significant audio upgrade, particularly in enhancing regular TV viewing with clear dialogue and immersive soundscapes.
While its music playback may not be as impressive, the seamless integration and convenient features make it a worthwhile addition to any home theater setup.
The recommended retail price of the LG S75Q soundbar is R10 999. It scores 4 out of 5.
Also read about the LG S95QR soundbar.
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
