South Korean company LG has been around for decades now and is a really well-known manufacturer of Consumer and Home Electronics. Head into your favourite electronics shop and you'll find their logo on TVs, Monitors, Washing Machines, Fridges - even laptops and computer systems.
Their soundbars are potentially the lesser known of their range, but with home audio systems becoming more popular day by day, its unlikely to stay like that for very long.
The S80QR is the middle of the LG Soundbar ecosystem, sitting between the S95QR and S80QY. Don't let all the letters and numbers confuse you though - The S80QR sits perfectly in the centre and potentially offers the best value of the three.
It's a 5.1.3 system, meaning you get the soundbar, a subwoofer, two rear speakers and a wireless control unit. The soundbar contains three speakers - left centre and right. Together, the whole system gives a real cinematic experience.
The whole system is almost entirely wireless (although you'll probably need an HDMI or Optical Cable to connect it to your TV, and the rear speakers connect to the wireless receiver). This gives you a tonne of flexibility and freedom about where you put everything without the limitations of trailing wires.
The LG S80QR can be paired up with LG TV s for an even better experience, but it's not really hampered any by being used with another brand of TV. I tried both an LG TV and a non-LG TV and found the experience fantastic in both cases.
Not only that, but it also integrates into your Smart Home System, having compatibility with Airplay, Google, and Alexa. It's also got Bluetooth as well, meaning you can pair it to your phone and listen to music through it.
The bar is 1m wide, and the rear speakers are 14cm high, and 10cm wide. The subwoofer is 20cm wide, and 40cm tall and deep. It also has options for wall mounting if that's your thing.
Sound Quality
The system is 630W, meaning it's a real beast - both in terms of volume and clarity. The subwoofer gives fantastic bass, but the highs are mids are equally clear.
Because the bar has three speakers, it's able to add a lot of depth and resonance to the sound - You know how your headphones have separate left and right channels? This is like that, but millions of times better.
Add in the rear speakers, and you're really onto something. The sound feels three-dimensional, coming at you from all angles physically and digitally. The bar has upward-facing channels, which apparently causes the sound to reflect from the ceiling to create a more immersive experience.
While I can't comment on this specifically, I would say that it means you have to give less care and attention to where you put the bar. Soundbars with outward-facing speakers often suffer from degraded sound when placed in corners and circular rooms. This doesn't seem to be the case for the LG S80QR.
It features Dolby Atmos, but also a pairing with Meridian - a company renowned for exceptional audio systems. Practically, their involvement in the manufacture of this LG soundbar means that the sound processing is of a very high standard.
With all of that plus DTS:X, and high-resolution audio, the end result is a fantastic sound experience that's hard to beat. It is however worth remembering that you'll need to be 2-3m away from the bar in order to get the optimum experience.
Features and Ease of Use
The soundbar is easy to set up and easy to use, although you will need to download the LG Sound Bar app to get everything up and running.
The app can be used to connect the bar to the WiFi, as well as run the AI Room Calibration - this essentially sends and then listens to a tonne of tests, in order to adjust and calibrate for the layout of your room. You can also tweak the channels individually yourself if you think you can do a better job.
It comes with a remote for day-to-day use, which is functional if a little strangely laid out. There are not many buttons on it, but all of the main stuff is there including volume control, mute, and a navigation ring.
It's worth being aware that you can use the app or the remote to control the soundbar day to day, although personally, I found using the app to be a bit fiddly every time I wanted to use the system.
As well as a single HDMI slot, it also offers optical input and a USB slot. It also supports eARC (enhanced audio return channel), which is something that console gamers will be grateful for.
It's worth noting that I couldn't find any support for HDR10+, which is something that a lot of rivals do offer, however, I'm not sure this will be a dealbreaker for many people. You can still loop through HDR video though, as well as Dolby Vision.
It also boasts AI Sound Pro, which apparently gives you the ideal sound balance by automatically adjusting bass, mid, and treble levels depending on what you're watching or listening to.
LG S80QR 5.1.3 Soundbar verdict: 5/5
The soundbar is undeniably a top contender when compared not only with its main rivals but also with the other systems offered by LG. It's easy to use, looks great, and gives really punchy sound quality across all areas of the spectrum.
As an audiophile, I find myself tuning into the bass, mids, and highs separately when I listen to music and films. I can spend a long time tweaking sound settings, and am rarely very satisfied.
This soundbar exceeded my expectations though, offering a cinematic experience when watching films, an immersive experience when gaming, and a great music-listening experience for multiple genres.
With all its AI systems and complex features, there's a lot going on under the hood - but it's important not to get lost in the technicalities. The main point is that it's honestly hard to fault, and it will be a welcome addition to any home setup.
The LG S80QR 5.1.3 Soundbar is available from the LG Website for £1099.98
