The LG SL6Y is a decent 3.1 soundbar setup that offers an alright price-to-performance ratio. It has a dedicated wireless subwoofer and is fairly affordable for a soundbar with a dedicated center channel. While it doesn't come with rear satellite speakers, these can be purchased separately, which is nice if your needs change and you want to upgrade to a more immersive listening experience. If you find you often have a hard time hearing dialogue while watching movies or TV shows, this soundbar will do a good job at helping to separate speech from background music and explosions, but those looking for a cinema-like listening experience may want to look to higher-end models like the LG SL10YG.
Our Verdict
The LG SL6Y is a decently well-rounded 3.1 soundbar. While it has a dedicated subwoofer, unfortunately, its bass response is sub-par and music or movies sound bright and piercing and are lacking thump and punch. It does a good job at handling dialogue, thanks to its dedicated center channel, though the center speaker won't get as loud as some other option available. This soundbar will downmix 5.1 surround sound content to its three front speakers, but this results in sound that appears as if it's coming from in front of you and you don't get as immersive of a listening experience as soundbar systems with dedicated satellite speakers.
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Good center channel performance due to 3.1 configuration.
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Premium and well-built design.
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Sub-par bass response even with dedicated subwoofer.
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Poor surround performance due to lack of satellite speakers.
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No Wi-Fi connectivity options.
The LG SL6Y is a decent soundbar for watching TV shows thanks to its good dialogue handling. Unfortunately, despite having a dedicated center channel, this speaker doesn't get as loud as some other options, but it still makes dialogue much clearer and easier to make out than soundbars without a dedicated center channel.
The LG SL6Y is a decent soundbar for listening to music. The sound profile from this soundbar is quite bright sounding, with a lack of thump or punch, despite having a dedicated subwoofer. While you can easily connect your phone to the soundbar via Bluetooth, unfortunately, it doesn't support any Wi-Fi connectivity options, so all your phone's audio will play through the soundbar, including phone calls and notification chimes, and your range will be limited to line-of-sight. There's also no 3.5mm aux port for easily sharing music via different devices, though it can play music files off of USB drives, which is a nice touch.
The LG SL6Y is mediocre for movies. This is a 3.1 soundbar setup that does a good job with stereo content, as well as making dialogue easy to hear via its dedicated center channel, but unfortunately, no satellites are included for surround sound content. Unlike some higher-end soundbars, it doesn't have upwards or side-firing speakers, so surround content will get downmixed and sound like it's coming from in front of you as opposed to around or above.
- 7.1 Mixed Usage
- 7.7 Dialogue/TV Shows
- 7.3 Music
- 6.6 Movies
- Updated Aug 04, 2021: Added more information about auto-off and app device casting features.
- Updated Jul 23, 2021: Updated results as the bar doesn't support 4k passthrough.
- Updated May 06, 2021: Updated results to include the new companion app. Also, changed Rear Level Adjustment to 'YES'.
- Updated Apr 01, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Jan 10, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Jan 06, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jan 06, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Jan 01, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The LG SL6Y is an alright soundbar that offers a decent price-to-performance ratio thanks to its fairly affordable price point. This 3.1 setup is good for dialogue thanks to its dedicated center channel speaker, but unfortunately sounds rather bright and lacking in thump, despite having a dedicated wireless subwoofer. See our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best soundbars with subwoofer, and if you're looking for something a bit cheaper, check out our picks for the best soundbars under $300.
The standalone Sonos Arc is better than the LG SL6Y. The Sonos is a 5.0.2 setup that's better built. It has better soundstage and surround performances. Unlike the LG, it supports Atmos content and has built-in voice assistant capabilities. However, unlike the Sonos, the 3.1 LG has a Full HDMI In port and EQ presets.
The Samsung HW-Q600A is better than the LG SL6Y. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup that's better built. Unlike the LG, it supports Dolby Atmos content. It also has a graphic EQ that's handy for sound customization.
The Samsung HW-Q70R is a better soundbar than the LG SL6Y. The Samsung has a better stereo frequency response, better center channel performance, more connectivity options, and has upwards-firing speakers for Atmos content. On the other hand, the LG downmixes surround channels to its front bar, which the Samsung doesn't do.
The LG SN6Y is the next generation of the LG SL6Y. They're both 3.1 soundbars with decent overall performances, and depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The SN6Y reproduces a bit more low-bass out-of-the-box, so you feel more thump and rumble in your audio. The SL6Y gets louder, making it ideal for filling up larger rooms with sound.
The Vizio SB36512-F6 is a better soundbar than the LG SL6Y. The Vizio is an Atmos-enabled 5.1.2 soundbar while the LG is only 3.1. The Vizio sounds much better, does a much better job with surround content thanks to its dedicated satellite speakers, and has Wi-Fi for better wireless music playback. On the other hand, the LG feels better-built and has a screen on the bar to better see your input selections.
The Sonos Playbar is a slightly better soundbar than the LG SL6Y. The Sonos feels slightly better built, has better center channel performance, and has a similar bass response even without a subwoofer. On the other hand, the LG has more connectivity options and a remote control.
The Samsung HW-R550 is a better soundbar for dialogue and TV shows than the LG SL6Y. The Samsung is better balanced for reproducing vocals, it can get loud enough for normal use, and it has a graphic EQ if you want to tweak its sound a little more. However, the LG has better center and surround performances even though all surround content is still downmixed into stereo. If you connect a device to it using its HDMI input, it can also easily pass a full 4k signal, although it won't pass HDR10 content through.
The Samsung HW-R650 is a better soundbar than the LG SL6Y. Both of them are 3.1 soundbar setups that are almost the exact same size and come with a dedicated wireless subwoofer, but the Samsung has better bass response, much better center channel performance, and a fully graphic EQ. On the other hand, the LG does a slightly better job at downmixing surround content and has a larger screen.
The Samsung HW-Q60R is a slightly better soundbar than the LG SL6Y. The Samsung produces great dialogue-centric content thanks to its fairly neutral sound profile. The Samsung also has a 3.5mm analog audio jack, and you can also adjust the sound using its graphic EQ. The LG however, supports slightly more audio formats through its HDMI In connection and you can fully control the soundbar's settings through its mobile companion app.
The Yamaha YAS-408 is a better soundbar than the LG SL6Y. Despite only being a 2.1 soundbar, the Yamaha's center channel performance is almost the same as the LG's, even with a dedicated center channel. Other than that, the Yamaha has more inputs, Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay support, and better bass response. On the other hand, the LG has more sound enhancement features.
The LG SL6Y is slightly better than the Klipsch Bar 48. While they're both 3.1 soundbars with a dedicated wireless subwoofer, the LG feels better built, is smaller, has an HDMI In port, and has a dedicated companion app that can be used as a remote control. On the other hand, the Klipsch has fewer artifacts when played at full volume.
The Samsung HW-Q60T is marginally better for mixed usage than the LG SL6Y. The Samsung is a 5.1 setup that's better built. Unlike the 3.1 LG, it doesn't have to downmix surround content into stereo in order to play it. It also comes with a graphic EQ, which some users may prefer for sound customization.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the LG SL6Y or the Samsung HW-A450. The LG is a 3.1 setup that's better built with better center and surround performances. It also comes with HDMI ports, unlike the Samsung soundbar. That said, the 2.1 Samsung can reproduce a more extended low-bass.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the LG SL6Y or the Samsung HW-A550. The LG is a 3.1 setup that's better suited for dialogue-centric content thanks to its discrete center channel. It also has a better surrounds performance. That said, the 2.1 Samsung is better for music. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it comes with a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound.
The Samsung HW-A650 is a bit better for mixed usage than the LG SL6Y. The Samsung is better-built, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. It also comes with a graphic EQ to help with customizing its sound, unlike the LG. Some users may also prefer its more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. That said, the LG has a better surrounds performance.
The LG SPD7Y is a bit better for mixed usage than the LG SL6Y. The SPD7Y is a 3.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the SL6Y. You can also use its Full HDMI In port for video passthrough. That said, both bars have pretty similar performances overall.
Test Results
The LG SL6Y looks very similar to the LG SL5Y but is quite a bit longer. It's made primarily of good quality, dense plastic, but with a metal grille on the front and rubberized buttons on the right-hand side. The screen is decently sized and is behind the grille in the center of the bar.
The subwoofer is mostly made of wood. The port is on the back of the subwoofer and the front is covered in fabric, which may get damaged or dirty over time.
The LG SL6Y is a wide bar that likely won't fit between the legs on most 55" TVs. Luckily, the bar isn't too high, so it shouldn't obstruct your screen if placed in front, unless your TV sits flush on the table, like the Sony A9F.
The subwoofer is about the size of an average desktop PC. You can place it anywhere in the room as long as there's power since it connects wirelessly to the system.
There are no satellite speakers in this setup.
The back of the LG SL6Y has an opening on one side for all of the input ports. On the other end of the bar is the plug for the power cable. There are universal wall-mounting holes on the underside.
The back of the subwoofer looks plain and is made of wood, with the port near the bottom. Unfortunately, the detachable power cable connects in the middle of the back and will stand out.
The LG SL6Y feels quite well built. It's made primarily of dense, good quality plastic, with a metal grille along the front that gives it a fairly premium feel. The weakest point is the fabric on the subwoofer that can get dirty or damaged if you're not careful.
- Remote & batteries
- Bar power cable
- Bar power brick
- Subwoofer power cable
- Optical cable
- Wall-mounting brackets and screws
- Manuals
The stereo frequency response of the LG SL6Y is mediocre. Despite the fact that this soundbar setup has a dedicated subwoofer, its bass range isn't very extended and it lacks a good amount of bass, especially compared to the newer LG SN6Y. This results in a sound profile that's bright, slightly piercing, and lacking in thump and punch. This likely won't be ideal for action movies or bass-heavy genres.
The stereo soundstage of the LG SL6Y is decent. Since this soundbar doesn't do anything to project the sound and make it appear wider, it feels about as wide as the bar itself. It's decently focused and while some objects may seem to come from an accurate pinpoint location, it won't perform nearly as well as bars with side-firing speakers, like the Samsung HW-Q80R.
The LG SL6Y is quite a loud soundbar, making it great to use in large rooms or at parties. It also has almost no compression even when pushed to the max, so there should be no audible artifacts even at full volume.
The THD performance of the LG SL6Y is fairly good. At normal listening volumes, it's all within very good limits, meaning you'll get a pure and clean sound. Unfortunately, when pushed to max volume there's a noticeable jump in THD, though not everyone will hear this, especially with real-life content.
Thanks to its dedicated center channel and 3.1 configuration, the center channel performance of the LG SL6Y is good. This results in a more clear and accurate audio reproduction of dialogue in movies and TV shows, though unfortunately, like most LG soundbars we've tested, the center channel doesn't get as loud as some other options.
Since the LG SL6Y is a 3.1 soundbar setup, all surround content is downmixed to stereo and played through the front three speakers. This results in poor localization and sound will feel like it's coming from in front of you as opposed to getting an immersive listening experience.
The LG SL6Y doesn’t have height channels and doesn’t support Atmos.
Update 05/06/2021: We updated our result for Rear Level Adjustment to 'YES' since you can adjust them through the remote and the app if the rear speakers are connected.
The LG SL6Y has a decent amount of sound enhancement features. While it's lacking room correction, you can change the sound profile via EQ presets as well as the ability to manually adjust bass and treble. This soundbar provides a Dialogue Enhancement feature to help make voices and dialogue clearer, as well as a Night Mode to help maintain a balanced volume between various shows or commercials.
The LG SL6Y has a fair amount of input options to connect your external devices. You can connect your gaming console or 4k Blu-ray player to the HDMI in port and then send the audio and video signal to your TV using the HDMI ARC port. While it has a USB port for playing music saved to a USB flash drive, unfortunately, it doesn't have a 3.5mm Aux port for plugging in older mobile devices.
Over HDMI ARC, the LG SL6Y supports Dolby Digital and DTS formats, though the surround channels will be downmixed to stereo. Dolby digital is very common on platforms like Netflix or on Blu-rays. DTS, though, isn't common on its own but rather as the fallback of the high-quality lossless DTS-HD MA format which is widely available on Blu-rays.
If you use the HDMI in port on the soundbar to connect your external devices to your TV, they'll be able to transfer audio using Dolby Digital, DTS, or 5.1 PCM. These formats should be enough for most 5.1 content.
The Optical port on this soundbar can play both Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound formats, though it'll downmix the surround channels to stereo.
While the LG SL6Y supports Bluetooth playback to wireless play music from your phone or tablet, unfortunately, it doesn't support Wi-Fi, so your range will be limited to line-of-sight.
Update 07/23/2021: Thanks to user feedback, we identified an error in our results. We retested this soundbar and updated our results to reflect that it doesn't support high-quality passthrough. The highest available option is 1080p.
The subwoofer connects to the bar wirelessly and only requires a cord for power.
This soundbar setup doesn't have any satellite speakers.
The LG SL6Y has a reasonably sized screen on the front that is placed behind the metal grille but is still easy to read. While it isn't the largest, it isn't as small as the screen found on the Samsung HW-R650. It shows you your current input as well as your volume level while changing it.
There are four rubberized buttons found on the side of the soundbar. They allow you to turn the bar on/off, adjust the volume, and change inputs.
The remote for the LG SL6Y is the same as the remote packaged with most current LG soundbars. It's fairly small and should easily fit in most people's palms. It allows you to control most of the bar's functions as well as scroll through EQ presets.
Update 08/04/2021: We added more information to mention that you can only cast files when a USB thumb drive is plugged into the soundbar. A window appears on the app that lets you see the list on songs on the thumb drive.
Update 05/06/2021: We updated our results to reflect that there's a new app for this soundbar.
The LG SL6Y is compatible with the LG Sound Bar app. While the app is available on both iOS and Android, we were only able to get the app to work on an Android device. It lets you control your music and some settings. However, it doesn't offer a lot of additional features.
Update 08/04/2021:Added more information to the text about the auto-off feature.
This soundbar supports HDMI CEC, so you should be able to use the TV remote to perform certain functions on your bar, though we couldn't get it to work properly on our test unit, and they wouldn't both power on together. There's an auto-off mode that shuts the bar off when the soundbar isn't connected to an external device and isn't used for 15 minutes.