The LG SN8YG is a well-built 3.1.2 soundbar from 2020. Thanks to its wireless subwoofer, it has a thumpy, bass-heavy sound profile that's sure to please fans of action flicks or electronic music. You can still enjoy its sound with other audio content as the rest of its range is fairly neutral and there are also a lot of sound enhancement features that can help you get the best sound for your needs. This bar offers a lot of connectivity options, and it even has Google Assistant integrated into its setup so you can use voice commands to play your audio. On the downside, it has a poor surround sound performance and it has to downmix it into stereo in order to play it, which isn't great if you want to be really immersed in your favorite audio. However, for a 3.1.2 soundbar, its up-firing speakers and Atmos support make it a unique addition to any home setup.
Our Verdict
The LG SN8YG isĀ alright for mixed use. It has a punchy, bass-heavy sound that's well-suited for action films as well as music genres like EDM. While some may find it too boomy or muddy, it comes loaded with a lot of sound enhancement features to help you get the best sound for your content. Its integrated Google Assistant also allows you to control your audio with vocal commands. However, its poor surround sound performance doesn't do any favors for creating an immersive sound. While can also get loud enough for you to enjoy most content, there are pumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
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Lots of sound enhancement features.
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Integrated Google Assistant available.
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Can get loud but pumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
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Wide bar.
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Poor surround performance.
The LG SN8YG isĀ unremarkable for dialogue and TV shows. Although it has a very bass-heavy sound profile, the rest of the range is fairly neutral. Its dedicated center channel helps to produce clear and more accurate dialogue, and it can get loud enough for you to enjoy your favorite soap operas. There's also a dialogue enhancement feature as well as an auto-volume mode to further enhance vocal clarity.
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Lots of sound enhancement features.
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Integrated Google Assistant available.
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Wide bar.
The LG SN8YG isĀ good for music. Its thumpy, bass-heavy sound is great for genres like EDM and hip-hop. Although it can sound boomy or muddy, if you like a different sound, there's four different EQ presets, including AI Sound Pro, and while we didn't test it, it's advertised to automatically EQ whatever content you're listening to. It has a decent soundstage, too, and this bar can get loud enough for you to enjoy favorite tunes in large or crowded rooms. However, there are pumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
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Bass-heavy sound.
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Lots of sound enhancement features.
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Integrated Google Assistant available.
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Can get loud but pumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
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Wide bar.
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Poor surround performance.
The LG SN8YG is decent for movies. Thanks to its wireless subwoofer, its sound profile delivers a thumpy, punchy bass that's well-suited for action flicks. While its soundstage is only about the size of the bar itself, it has a centered focus, which helps some objects to sound like they're coming from an accurate, pinpoint location. The bar can also get fairly loud but there are pumping and compression artifacts at max volume. Its surround sound performance is poor too and it has to downmix this content into stereo to play it, which can create a less immersive overall experience.
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Bass-heavy sound.
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Supports Dolby Atmos content.
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Lots of sound enhancement features.
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Can get loud but pumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
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Wide bar.
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Poor surround performance.
- 7.7 Mixed Usage
- 8.1 Dialogue/TV Shows
- 7.7 Music
- 7.4 Movies
- Updated Feb 25, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Sep 22, 2020: The Dynamics tests have been reconducted due to a value input bug.
- Updated Jun 17, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Jun 11, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Jun 03, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jun 02, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jun 01, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The LG SN8YG is a 2020 soundbar and is the next generation of the LG SL8YG. Unlike some other LG soundbars, it has a thumpy, bass-heavy sound, and its integrated Google Assistant feature allows you to command the soundbar with your voice. It also has an auto-volume as well as a dialogue enhancement feature, and it can loud enough for a large or crowded room. However, compared to other 3.1 setups, this is one of the few we've tested so far that has Dolby Atmos and eARC support. However, it has a similarly poor surround sound performance as them too. Check out our recommendations for the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, the best soundbars with a subwoofer, and the best soundbars for movies.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sonos Arc or the LG SN8YG. The LG is a 3.1.2 setup that reproduces a more extended low-bass thanks to its dedicated subwoofer. It also has EQ presets, a Full HDMI In port, and more wireless connectivity options. However, the 5.0.2 Sonos is better built, with better soundstage and surround performances. You can also upgrade it to the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers.
Depending on your preferences, you may prefer either the LG SN8YG or the Samsung HW-Q600A. The LG reproduces a more extended low-bass and offers a boomy sound profile out-of-the-box. It offers more sound enhancement features, including room correction, as well as more wireless playback options. It also has built-in Google Assistant. However, the Samsung comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization. It's also better-built and gets louder with less compression at max volume.
The LG SN6Y and the LG SN8YG are similarly well-built soundbars, but the LG SN8YG performs slightly better overall. The SN8YG's wireless subwoofer can produce a more thumpy bass, it can support Dolby Atmos as well as eARC content, and it has a room correction feature. You can also use Chromecast built-in or your Wi-Fi to connect to the bar, and it has Google Assistant integrated into its design so you can use vocal commands to control your soundbar. The SN6Y, on the other hand, has slightly less distortion at max volume, and if you're limited on space, its subwoofer isn't as wide.
The LG SP8YA is a better soundbar than the LG SN8YG. The SP8YA is the next generation of the SN8YG, and it comes with more EQ presets and supports Apple AirPlay. It also gets louder with less compression at max volume. However, while the SN8YG has built-in Google Assistant, the SP8YA requires a third-party device for its voice assistant support.
The LG SN8YG is better than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). The LG is a 3.1.2 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It offers more sound enhancement features like EQ presets, and wireless playback options like Bluetooth. There's also a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough. However, the 5.0 Sonos is still a solid option for listeners who want a small standalone bar. It's better built and has better soundstage and surround performances.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better 3.1.2 soundbar than the LG SN8YG. The Samsung is better built and gets louder with less compression at max volume. Its sound profile is more neutral out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. It also has better soundstage and surround performances, and it comes with a graphic EQ. That said, the LG comes with a room correction feature.
The LG SN9YG is a better soundbar than the LG SN8YG. The SN9YG is a 5.1.2 setup that's better built and offers a better surround performance. Some listeners may prefer its more neutral out-of-the-box sound to the SN8YG's more bass-heavy sound profile. However, the 3.1.2 SN8YG offers a better Atmos performance.
The LG SN8YG is better than the Sonos Beam. The LG has a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. Unlike the Sonos, it supports Dolby Atmos content and has a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough. It also offers more wireless playback options and sound enhancement features, like EQ presets. That said, the Sonos is better built with a better soundstage. Some listeners may also prefer its more compact design.
The Samsung HW-R650 and the LG SN8YG are similarly performing 3.1 soundbars. The Samsung has a less bass-heavy and more balanced sound profile than the LG and has a slightly better surround sound performance. However, the LG can support Atmos as well as eARC content and it has more sound enhancement features. You can also play music from your phone using its Chromecast built-in or via Wi-Fi. It even has Google Assistant integrated into its design so that you can use vocal commands to control your soundbar. That being said, the Samsung is a better choice if you're looking for a balanced sound straight out-of-the-box, while the LG offers more features for customization.
The LG SP9YA is better than the LG SN8YG. The SP9YA is better-built, and it has better soundstage and surround performances. Unlike the SN8YG, it also supports Apple AirPlay. That said, the SN8YG has a better Atmos performance and built-in voice assistant support.
The LG SN8YG is better for mixed usage than the Samsung HW-A650. The LG is a 3.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content and more wireless playback options. However, it isn't as well-built as the Samsung. Also, the Samsung gets louder with less compression at max volume. It's still a solid choice for dialogue-centric content and music, but movie loves will prefer the LG.
The LG SN8YG is better than the Samsung HW-Q60T. The LG supports Dolby Atmos content, and it has built-in voice assistant support. It reproduces a more extended low-bass and supports more wireless playback options. Also, it has a better center channel performance, and a room correction feature. That said, the Samsung is better-built, and it comes with a graphic EQ.
The LG SN11RG is better than the LG SN8YG. The SN11RG is a 7.1.4 setup that's better-built and comes with discrete satellite speakers. It also has better soundstage and surround performances compared to the 3.1.2 SN8YG.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the LG SN8YG or the Samsung HW-Q700A. The Samsung is better built, and it offers better soundstage and surround performances. It also gets louder and comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization. However, the LG reproduces a more extended low-bass. It also comes with a room correction feature and built-in support for Google Assistant, unlike the Samsung.
The Samsung HW-Q950A is better than the LG SN8YG. The Samsung comes with dedicated satellites, and it has better soundstage and surround performances. It also gets louder with less compression at max volume. Some users may also prefer its more neutral sound profile compared to the LG's bass-heavy sound.
The LG SN8YG is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The LG comes with a dedicated sub, so it's able to reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has more sound enhancement features, like dialogue enhancement, and a better Atmos performance. There's even built-in voice assistant support. That said, the JBL is better-built with a better surrounds performance.
The LG SN8YG is a better soundbar than the LG SP7Y. The SN8YG is a 3.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content and comes with built-in voice assistant support. It also offers a room correction feature and more wireless playback options. Thanks to its more extended low-bass, you can also feel the deep thump and rumble in your audio. That said, the SP7Y has better surround and soundstage performances.
The 7.1.2 Samsung HW-Q900A is better than the 3.1.2 LG SN8YG. The Samsung has better soundstage and surround performances. It gets louder, and it even comes with a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound.
The LG SN8YG is better than the LG SPD7Y. The SN8YG can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it has better center and Atmos performances. There are more sound enhancement features available, including room correction and more wireless playback options. It even has built-in voice assistant support. While it gets as loud as the SPD7Y, unfortunately, there's some more compression present when you push it to max volume.
The JBL Bar 9.1 is a bit better for mixed usage than the LG SN8YG. The JBL is a 5.1.4 setup with discrete satellites that help improve its surround performance. It's better-built, with a better soundstage, and it gets louder. That said, the 3.1.2 LG has more sound enhancement features and built-in voice assistant support.
The LG SN8YG is better than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The LG has built-in voice assistant support and it supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the JBL. It also has a better soundstage and more sound enhancement features, like dialogue enhancement. However, the JBL is better built with more wireless playback options. It also has a better surrounds performance.
The LG SN8YG is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The LG is a 3.1.2 setup with a dedicated subwoofer. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it has more sound enhancement features such as room correction. Unlike the Bose, it supports Atmos content and has a Full HDMI In port for high quality passthrough. That said, the standalone Bose is better built and has a better soundstage.
The LG SN10YG is a bit better for mixed usage than the LG SN8YG. The SN10YG is better built. It has a better stereo soundstage and a better surround performance since it doesn't have to downmix surround content into stereo to play it like the SN8YG.
The Samsung HW-Q900T is a bit better for mixed usage than the LG SN8YG. The Samsung gets louder, and it has better surround and soundstage performances. Also, its default sound profile is more neutral, which some listeners may prefer. It even comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization. That said, the LG has a better Atmos performance and more sound enhancement features like room correction and auto-volume.
The LG SN8YG is a better soundbar for movies than the LG GX Soundbar. The SN8YG is a 3.1.2 setup that feels better built, it has a better performing center channel, and since it has up-firing speakers on the bar, its height performance is more immersive than the GX. The SN8YG has a room correction feature too. However, the GX is a 3.1 setup with a better balanced and neutral sound profile. The GX also has a better surround performance, even though it downmixes this content into stereo in order to play it. The GX can also get louder and there are less thumping and compression artifacts present at max volume.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better overall soundbar than the LG SN8YG. Overall, the Samsung has a better-balanced, more neutral sound profile compared to the slightly boomy-sounding LG, which makes it better suited for music and movies. The Samsung also comes with a graphic equalizer, making it easy to customize the sound to your liking. However, unlike the Samsung, the LG comes with auto-volume and room correction features. It also has a slightly more neutral-sounding height channel performance, which may be preferred by fans of Atmos content.
The Samsung HW-Q70T is a better overall soundbar than the LG SN8YG. It has a more well-balanced sound profile than the slightly boomy sound of the LG, which makes it more suitable for listening to a variety of music genres. Thanks to its 7-band EQ, the Samsung also has more sound customization features so you can tweak the sound to match your preferences. It also has less distortion than the LG when played at max volume. However, the LG comes with a room correction feature that can improve its sound quality based on the acoustic characteristics of your room.
The LG SN8YG is slightly better for mixed usage than the LG SL10YG. The SN8YG is a 3.1.2 setup that has better soundstage and Atmos performances. It also comes with a room correction feature, unlike the SL10YG. That said, the SL10YG is better-built and it has a better surrounds performance.
The LG SN8YG is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-Z9F. The LG has a better Atmos performance, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass, so you feel the deep thump and rumble in your audio. Also, it comes with a room correction feature and built-in voice assistant support, unlike the Sony. That said, the Sony is better built.
The Samsung HW-Q70R is a better performing 3.1.2 soundbar than the LG SN8YG. The Samsung has a more neutral and balanced sound profile right out-of-the-box, but it can still deliver a satisfying, thumpy bass. It also has a graphic EQ if you like more control over your sound, and it can support all the same audio formats as the LG. However, the LG has more sound enhancement features, including a room correction feature and an auto-volume mode. It also has slightly better surround and height channel performances, and you can stream audio to it using Chromecast built-in.
The LG SN8YG is better than the Yamaha YAS-209. The LG is better built, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. It also comes with a discrete center channel and more sound enhancement features, such as room correction. It even supports more wireless connectivity options.
The LG SK10Y is a slightly better performing soundbar than the LG SN8YG. The SK10Y is a 5.1.2 channel soundbar that feels slightly better built and has a more neutral and balanced sound profile. Its surround sound performance is better too, and it has two HDMI In ports as well as an Analog Audio In port. However, the SN8YG supports eARC as well as DTS:X and DTS-HD MA content. It also has a slightly better height performance, and you can issue voice commands to it using its integrated Google Assistant.
The LG SN8YG is a better overall performing 3.1 soundbar than the Klipsch Bar 48. The LG feels slightly better built, it has a more thumpy, bass-heavy sound profile that's fairly neutral, and if you don't like it, it has a lot of sound enhancement features so that you can find the right sound for your needs. The LG can also support Atmos as well as eARC content thanks to its Full HDMI In port, and it also has an integrated Google Assistant feature so you can use voice commands to control the soundbar. The Klipsch, on the other hand, has a slightly better surround sound performance, and it has less harmonic distortion at a normal listening volume.
The LG SN8YG is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-G700. The LG offers a better soundstage performance, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass to help you feel the deep thump and rumble in your audio. Unlike the Sony, it comes with built-in voice assistant support, a room correction feature, and bass and treble adjustments. It also supports more wireless playback options.
Test Results
The LG SN8YG is a sleek soundbar made up of mostly good quality plastic. It has a metal grille on the front and bottom of the bar as well as round metal grilles on its top for its up-firing speakers.
The subwoofer is made from plastic, although it has fabric covering three of its sides. The fabric can easily rip or get dirty.
The LG SN8YG, while shorter in width than the LG SK9Y, is still fairly long and most likely won't fit between the legs of most 55" TVs. However, the bar isn't too tall, and it shouldn't cover any part of your TV unless the screen sits flush on the table.
The LG SN8YG subwoofer is about the size of an average desktop computer. As long as you have it connected to a power source, you can place it anywhere in the room as it connects wirelessly to the bar.
The LG SN8YG setup doesn't have any satellites.
There's one opening on the soundbar's back left side for inputs. There's also a plug-in towards the middle of the soundbar for power. You can mount this bar on the wall, too, thanks to the universal holes found on its underside.
This subwoofer has a plain back. There's just a power cable port found towards the middle of the sub.
This soundbar has a good build quality. It's mostly made of plastic that feels robust and sturdy. The up-firing speaker as well as the front and bottom of the bar have a metal grille protecting them. Only the subwoofer has a fabric covering, but it feels like it can get dirty or damaged.
- Manual
- Remote with battery
- Power cables
- Optical cable
- Adapter for the soundbar
- x2 Wall-mounting brackets
- Screws for wall-mounting brackets
The LG SN8YG has a decent stereo frequency response when you use its Standard Mode alongside its room correction feature. Thanks to its wireless subwoofer, it can produce a thumpy bass that packs a lot of punch. However, it can also sound a bit boomy and muddy, especially as the bass can push lead instruments and vocals to the back of the mix. In comparison, the Samsung HW-Q800T is a 3.1.2 setup with a much more neutral out-of-the-box sound profile. That being said, the rest of the LG's response is fairly balanced, which makes it suitable for dialogue-centric content like podcasts or TV shows.
The LG SN8YG has a decent soundstage. The width of the soundstage is about the size of the bar and the bar doesn't do anything to make it sound larger. At the same time, it sounds fairly focused and depending on the content, some objects seem like they're coming from an accurate, pinpoint location, rather than a general area.
Update 09/22/2020: We've discovered a value input bug that would cause the Dynamics box results to be slightly off. All soundbars reviewed since January 30th, 2020 have been updated.
This soundbar has okay stereo dynamics. While it can get pretty loud, there are pumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
The SN8YG's THD performance is satisfactory. At a normal listening volume, the amount of distortion falls within good limits, resulting in clean and pure audio reproduction. However, at max volume, there's a huge jump in THD, especially in the bass to mid-range, but this may not be noticeable to all listeners.
The SN8YG's center channel performance is remarkable. This 3.1.2 channel soundbar has a dedicated center channel, which helps to reproduce clearer and more accurate dialogue in your favorite TV shows or movies. Its frequency response is very balanced and its max volume should be enough for most listeners.
The LG SN8YG's surround performance is poor. It downmixes surround content into stereo in order to play it, and it sounds very bass-heavy. At max volume, it also produces a lot of distortion.
The LG SN8YG has a fair height performance. It uses up-firing speakers so that it can bounce sound off your ceiling to give you the impression of height. However, the localization of objects sounds diffused and it doesn't sound as real as discrete localization produced by down-firing speakers.
This soundbar's sound enhancement features are outstanding. Unlike the LG GX Soundbar, the LG SN8YG has a room correction feature, which helps to improve its sound quality based on the acoustic characteristics of your room. It also comes with four EQ presets including Standard, Bass Blast, AI Sound Pro, and DTS Virtual: X. Thanks to its companion app, you can also make level adjustments to rear and height channels, as well as turn the dialogue enhancement and auto-volume features on and off. If you prefer a 3.1.2 setup with a graphic EQ, consider the Samsung HW-Q600A instead.
The LG SN8YG has a good variety of inputs. While it lacks an analog audio port, there's still an HDMI In port that allows you to listen to higher-quality sound formats such as Dolby Atmos. It also has a USB port, so you can play audio directly from your external hard drive.
This soundbar has excellent support for audio content over its HDMI ARC port. Thanks to its eARC support, it can play lossless surround formats. It can playback formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS.
The SN8YG supports virtually every format via Full HDMI In. However, while it has to downmix surround content to stereo to play it, it's still able to offer a somewhat immersive sound experience.
Thanks to its optical port, the LG SN8YG can support Dolby Digital and DTS content, usually found on Blu-ray discs or on TV/movie streaming platforms. On the downside, it has to downmix surround content into stereo in order to play it.
The LG SN8YG has excellent wireless playback connections. You easily connect your mobile devices to this soundbar using Wi-Fi. You can also connect via Bluetooth too, but you need to configure the Wi-Fi first. However, it's worth keeping in mind that although it supports Wi-Fi, it doesn't have an ethernet port, so you won't be able to get a wired connection to your internet. If you prefer an easier connection to set up, you can cast your favorite tunes using Chromecast built-in. Unlike the LG SP8YA, it doesn't work with Apple AirPlay.
The LG SN8YG can passthrough the highest quality signal, so when you connect this soundbar to your TV and another source like a gaming console, the text on-screen appears clearly.
This subwoofer connects wirelessly to the bar. It only has an input for its power cord.
The LG SN8YG's interface is fairly simple. There's an LCD screen behind the grille that displays the input you're currently on as well as which settings you're currently changing, such as your volume levels. There are also four lights at the bottom of the screen that change color depending on which inputs you're on.
The controls on the bar are located on its top. You can turn the bar on/off, change inputs, turn volume up/down, play/pause, mute the microphone, and activate Google Assistant.
This remote looks very similar to the LG SK9Y's but now there's a button for Google Assistant. You can easily adjust the volume, switch inputs (by pressing the F button), switch EQ presets, and control audio playback.
The LG Wi-Fi Speaker app may look simple but it houses a lot of features for the soundbar. You can control a lot of the sound enhancement features directly from it, as well as use the app as a remote. You can also control all of the soundbar's settings, including sound effects, and your speaker levels.
