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LG S80QY: review in a minute
LG's S80QY is a conventional sound bar system with a unique feature: an additional center speaker that helps voices sound clearer and in a more natural position.
While this doesn't sound particularly impressive on paper, it dramatically improves not only the built-in sound offered by your TV, but many competing soundbars as well. Dialogue clarity is the main reason most people buy soundbars, and the S80QY delivers on this key parameter brilliantly.
- LG S80QY on Amazon for €496.99 (opens in a new tab)
Beyond that, the S80QY is a 3.1.3-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar system with a separate wireless subwoofer to provide bass, and it also has processing for DTS:X soundtracks. Its performance with movies and TV shows is very good, allowing it to compete with the best Dolby Atmos soundbars in its price range.
The S80QY's feature set is solid for the price. Along with wireless Bluetooth streaming, you get built-in Chromecast and AirPlay 2 support for streaming audio from a phone or tablet. Its wired connection options are also more than satisfactory, including regular HDMI and HDMI eARC ports with 4K pass-through and Dolby Vision, plus VRR and ALLM support for gaming, which is better than many of the best soundbar offerings. . An optical digital audio input is also provided for connection to older televisions.
There's plenty of competition for the S80QY in its price range, including the Sonos Arc. But while this Sonos flagship is a model that rarely sees a price break, you can regularly find this mid-range LG soundbar for much less than its original cost. Considering the S80QY's powerful combination of performance and features, it's well worth seeking out.
The LG S80QY's bulky subwoofer delivers powerful bass, but it's also visually dominating. (Image credit: Future)
LG S80QY review: Price and release date
- Released in April 2022
- €899 / €749 / AU$999
LG's S80QY launched in April 2022 for $899 / £749 / AU$999, though its asking price has since dropped well below that amount.
At its original price, the S80QY sits near the top end of the soundbar market, though it falls roughly in the middle of LG's full lineup of soundbars. A direct competitor would be the Sonos Arc, an all-in-one solution that adds angled speakers for virtual surround sound, but lacks the S80QY's wireless subwoofer.
Another competitor at the same price point would be the Samsung HW-S800B, a considerably slimmer soundbar and subwoofer with a Dolby Atmos 3.1.2 speaker setup. Therefore, the S80QY is in line with the competition.
LG S80QY review: Features
- Dolby Atmos 3.1.3 channel sound and DTS:X
- HDMI eARC with 4K pass-through and Dolby Vision
- Built-in Chromecast and AirPlay 2 wireless streaming
LG's soundbar is a 3.1.3 model with support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtrack formats. It's also IMAX Enhanced, though the benefits of this feature are unclear, except for IMAX's requirement for DTS:X processing to be integrated. A total of 480 watts of amplifier power is available for its nine speakers in total, with 220 watts dedicated to the subwoofer alone.
Junto con sus parlantes frontales (para los canales izquierdo, derecho y central), el subwoofer y dos parlantes para efectos aéreos Atmos, el S80QY presenta de manera única un tercer parlante que se usa para la transmisión de diálogos. Como veremos en la sección Calidad de sonido, esto funciona muy bien tanto para mejorar la claridad de los diálogos como para «elevar» las voces al nivel de la pantalla donde sonarán más naturales.
HDMI eARC and standard HDMI ports are provided, and these support Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range pass-through, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). There's also an optical digital input for connecting the audio output of an older TV that lacks HDMI eARC or ARC.
Junto con Bluetooth 5.0 inalámbrico, el S80QY admite la transmisión de audio mediante Chromecast integrado y AirPlay 2. Otra opción de conexión inalámbrica es Wowcast de LG, que le permite transmitir audio de forma inalámbrica a la barra de sonido desde un televisor mediante un adaptador opcional que se conecta a la HDMI del equipo. Salida de arco.
Built-in support for Google and Alexa voice assistants is provided, giving you hands-free operation on basic commands as well as other smart speaker features.
Los modos de procesamiento de sonido del S80QY son extensos, par lo que can visitlos in la application de configuration SoundBar de LG y probarlos antes de cidir cuál prefiere. Of these, I found Music – a mode developed with help from high-end audio maker Meridian – to work best for, you guessed it, listening to music, while Standard was a good option for todo el resto.
LG ofrece altavoces envolventes inalámbricos opcionales (el kit de altavoces SPQ8-S de €200) para expandir el S80QY a un sistema 5.1.3 completo. La barra de sonido también es compatible con TV Sound Mode Sharing de LG, una característica que le permite conectarla a los últimos televisores LG para escuchar todo el potencial del motor de sonido de su televisor aprovechando la potencia del procesador del televisor para optimizar automáticamente la calidad del sonido.
LG S80QY review: Sound quality
- Excellent dialogue clarity
- Powerful introduction to Atmos effects
- Clear sound bass
Movies and TV shows sounded great on the S80QY with only minimal setup hassle. Aside from running AI Room Calibration Pro, I just selected the standard rendering mode and let everything run.
The integration between the soundbar and subwoofer was seamless, allowing deeper voices to look full and natural when watching movies and listening to music. The bass coming from the S80QY's subwoofer was strong and punchy. It lacked the low-frequency extension you'd get from a more expensive, purpose-built subwoofer, but its output was still clean and had added punch.
El rendimiento general del LG quedó bien demostrado cuando vi una escena de John Wick 3 que tiene lugar en un almacén de antigüedades. En él, Wick lucha contra una pandilla de aspirantes a asesinos, y el sonido de las ventanas de vidrio rompiéndose, los disparos, los puños y los pies que se unen fuertemente a sus objetivos tenían una cualidad dinámica para ellos.
Los efectos aéreos de Dolby Atmos también se mostraron claramente con el sonido del S80QY rebotando en el techo plano de 9 pies de altura de mi habitación. Podías escucharlos en escenas de JW3 cuando llueve a cántaros en las calles de la ciudad, pero obtuve una demostración aún mejor cuando vi una escena de 1917 donde una rata provoca una explosión en un búnker subterráneo. En este, mientras los soldados están envueltos en escombros que caen, el sonido literalmente parece provenir de mi techo: un efecto vívido y algo escalofriante.
The LG S80QY soundbar trigger drivers include a dedicated dialog playback driver. (Image credit: Future)
Lo que más me impresionó del rendimiento del S80QY fue la calidad de sus diálogos. Las voces en las bandas sonoras de las películas y los programas de televisión siempre sonaron claras y naturales, mientras que el altavoz central de la barra de sonido agregó una dimensión vertical que «elevó» el diálogo al nivel de la pantalla. Sonaba como si viniera de la boca de los actores en lugar de un altavoz debajo del televisor.
Por lo general, no tengo grandes expectativas para la reproducción de música en las barras de sonido: colocar los altavoces individuales demasiado juntos crea un sonido «agrupado», y los modos de procesamiento utilizados para distribuirlo pueden hacer que las voces y los instrumentos no sean naturales.
That was also true to some extent with the S80QY, though its Meridian-designed music mode proved pretty good for a soundbar. With this feature enabled, Tom Petty's "You Don't Know How It Feels" vocals and band sound clean and raw, with a nice punch coming from the kick drum.
If I found one noticeable flaw with the S80QY's performance, it was that there was no sense of immersive surround sound. But that's because the system lacks surround sound speakers, and you can fix that by adding LG's optional SPQ8-S speaker kit.
The top surface of the LG S80QY offers capacitive touch controls that mirror those of the remote. (Image credit: Future)
LG S80QY review: Design
- Slightly bulky form factor
- Integrated power supply a plus
- Large external subwoofer
El diseño del S80QY no difiere mucho de otras barras de sonido LG pasadas y presentes. Con 39,4 x 2,5 x 5,3 pulgadas (ancho x alto x profundidad), se combina bien con pantallas de TV de más de 50 pulgadas, mientras que la profundidad de 5,3 pulgadas significa que sobresaldrá un poco si elige montarlo en la pared debajo de un TV de pared similar.
Otherwise, the bar's dark gray plastic casing looks solid and clean, with smoothly rounded edges and a matching gray fabric grille that wraps around the front and sides. Each of the speakers is covered in a circular metal grille that spices up the design a bit to make it look high-tech.
The LG S80QY's subwoofer features a large front port to enhance bass output. (Image credit: Future)
It is important to note that the S80QY has an integrated power supply. Because of this, you'll only need to plug in a power cord for power instead of using an external power supply, something previous LG soundbars used. It also features a set of touch controls on the top surface that replicate the basic functions of the remote.
LG's wireless subwoofer has almost exactly the same dimensions as a desktop computer. Except for the presence of a large front firing port, you might even mistake it for one.
Inputs on the LG S80QY include HDMI and HDMI-eARC ports, as well as an optical digital connection. (Image credit: Future)
LG S80QY review: Usability and setup
- HDMI pass-through with eARC makes setup easy
- Room Calibration function improves sound
- Front panel readable LED display
Setting up the S80QY is made easy with its HDMI eARC port, which is used to make a direct audio connection from your TV's HDMI eARC or HDMI ARC output. I took advantage of both that and LG's HDMI input to hook up an Ultra HD Blu-ray player, and had no issues passing 4K or Dolby Vision from the soundbar to the TV.
Installing the system's subwoofer is child's play: simply place it near…
