The LG SN9YG is a well-built 5.1.2 setup from 2020. Thanks to its wireless subwoofer, this soundbar has a bass-heavy but slightly boxy sound profile. It's still suitable for most audio content, and if you prefer a different sound profile, it has an outstanding amount of sound enhancement features to help tweak and customize it to your liking. Room correction is only available via the companion app, though. That said, it can get quite loud, and it supports Atmos content as well. It also has a wide array of physical inputs and wireless connectivity options, so it's easy to play your favorite content from the bar. You can even use it as a hub between your TV and another device like a gaming console. On the downside, there's distortion at max volume, but luckily, this can be hard to hear with real-life content.
Our Verdict
The LG SN9YG is good for mixed use. Its bass-heavy sound profile is well-suited for action films and there are also several other EQ presets available to better suit your audio content if you prefer. While it has a poor height performance, it supports Atmos, and it gets loud enough for a large or crowded room. If you're using it for TV shows, it can reproduce dialogue clearly, and there are other features like room correction and dialogue enhancement available.
-
Can get loud with few thumping or compression artifacts.
-
Supports Atmos for an immersive experience.
-
EQ presets available.
-
Has room correction feature.
-
Distortion at max volume.
The LG SN9YG is good for dialogue and TV shows. It has a balanced sound, particularly in the mid-range, which makes it well-suited for reproducing vocal-centric content like podcasts. There's a dialogue enhancement feature as well as an auto-volume feature available that can help to further improve your vocal content experience. If you like to stream audiobooks from your phone, this soundbar supports several different kinds of wireless playback, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
-
Several wireless connectivity options available.
-
Has room correction feature.
-
Dialogue enhancement feature only available on DTS-enabled content.
The LG SN9YG is very good for music. It has a bass-heavy and boxy sound profile but if you don't like it, there are four other EQ presets available, which can help you get the best sound out of your audio. The bar can also get loud enough for a large room or a crowded environment like a house party. There's even a room correction feature, but it's only available via its companion app.
-
Can get loud with few thumping or compression artifacts.
-
EQ presets available.
-
Has room correction feature.
-
Distortion at max volume.
The LG SN9YG is good for movies. This soundbar has a slightly bass-heavy sound profile that helps to bring out the excitement from explosion-packed action movies, and it can get loud enough to fill a large or crowded room. Although it supports Atmos, its height performance is poor. Luckily, this soundbar has an outstanding amount of customization features, which is nice.
-
Can get loud with few thumping or compression artifacts.
-
Supports Atmos for an immersive experience.
-
EQ presets available.
-
Has room correction feature.
-
Distortion at max volume.
- 7.8 Mixed Usage
- 8.0 Dialogue/TV Shows
- 8.0 Music
- 7.6 Movies
- Updated Feb 24, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Sep 21, 2020: The Dynamics tests have been reconducted due to a value input bug.
- Updated Aug 14, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Aug 11, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Jul 31, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jul 31, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jul 19, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The LG SN9YG soundbar is a 5.1.2 channel setup from 2020. Although it has a bass-heavy sound profile that some users may find boxy, it offers a wide array of sound enhancement features to customize its sound. When compared to the 2019 LG SL10YG, this soundbar has eARC support and it has an improved center, surround, and height performance. It's also a close rival of the Vizio SB36512-F6 as it can support DTS:X over an HDMI In connection. If you're looking for more soundbars, check out the best soundbars 5.1, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best soundbars for movies.
The JBL Bar 9.1 is marginally better for mixed usage than the LG SN9YG. The JBL comes with discrete satellite speakers, and it offers better soundstage, center, surround, and Atmos performances. However, the LG comes with more sound enhancement features, and it has built-in voice assistant support.
The LG SN9YG is a better soundbar than the standalone Sonos Arc. The LG has a dedicated subwoofer reproducing a more extended low-bass. It also has EQ presets, a Full HDMI In port, and wireless playback options. However, the Sonos offers better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. You can also upgrade it to the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers for better performance.
The LG SP9YA is the upgraded version of the LG SN9YG, and it has a better overall performance. The SP9YA has a better soundstage performance, and it gets louder. It also comes with more features, including more EQ presets and an LG TV AI Processor advertised to create a more immersive sound with compatible LG TVs. It supports Apple AirPlay too. That said, some users may prefer the SN9YG's built-in voice assistant support, while the SP9YA requires a third-party device to use the voice assistant.
The Samsung HW-Q80R is a better overall 5.1.2 setup than the LG SN9YG. While both soundbars are well-built, the Samsung has a more neutral sound profile and a better soundstage. It can get louder, albeit with more compression artifacts, and its center and height channels are significantly better performing. However, the LG has more sound enhancement features including a room correction feature, and its surround performance is much better. You can also stream audio to it wireless using Chromecast built-in.
The LG SN11RG is a bit better for mixed usage than the LG SN9YG. The SN11RG is a 7.1.4 setup that has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances than the 5.1.2 SN9YG.
The LG SN9YG is a better soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup that supports Atmos and has a better-balanced sound profile. It offers more sound enhancement features and supports more audio formats across its physical inputs. The JBL, on the other hand, has a better center channel performance. You can also wirelessly stream audio to it using Apple AirPlay.
The LG SN9YG is a better performing 5.1.2 soundbar than the LG SL10YG. While both soundbars feel well-built, the SN9YG has a slightly better-balanced sound profile and a better soundstage. Its center, surrounds, and height performance are also better too, it has more sound enhancement features including room correction, and supports eARC. However, the SL10YG has a better THD performance and it can get louder, although it has more compression artifacts at max volume.
The LG SN9YG is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup that reproduces a more extended low bass thanks to its dedicated sub. It supports Atmos content and has a better surrounds performance. It comes with more sound enhancement features, too, and its Full HDMI In port supports high-quality passthrough. That said, the 3.0 Bose is better built with a better stereo soundstage. You can also upgrade it to the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for better performance.
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 SN9YG is better than the Sonos Beam. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. Unlike the Sonos, it supports Dolby Atmos content and has a Full HDMI In port. It also has a better surround performance and EQ presets for sound customization. That said, the 3.0 Sonos has better soundstage and center channel performances.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the LG SN9YG or the Samsung HW-Q800T. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup that offers better surrounds performance and comes with a room correction feature. It also has a more bass-heavy sound profile out-of-the-box compared to the Samsung's more neutral sound. The 3.1.2 Samsung gets louder, albeit with more compression at max volume, and comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is better than the LG SN9YG. The Samsung is a 7.1.2 setup with better soundstage, center, surrounds, and Atmos performances. It also gets louder, albeit with a bit more compression at max volume. That said, the 5.1.2 LG is better-built.
The LG SN9YG is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q70T. The LG offers better surround and Atmos performances, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. It comes with more sound enhancement features like room correction and auto-volume mode, and it has built-in voice assistant support. It also supports Chromecast built-in. That said, the Samsung has a graphic EQ for sound customization, which some users may prefer.
The LG SN9YG is better than the Klipsch Cinema 600. The LG is a better-built 5.1.2 setup that supports Atmos content. It has a better surrounds performance, and it comes with more sound enhancement features. It also has built-in voice assistant support and a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough. That said, the 3.1 Klipsch has a better stereo soundstage.
The Samsung HW-Q850T is a slightly better soundbar than the LG SN9YG. The Samsung has a more balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, and it gets louder. It also comes with dedicated satellite speakers that help create a better surrounds performance, and it has a graphic EQ for sound customization. However, the LG comes with a room correction feature, it has a better Atmos performance, and it has Chromecast built-in.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the LG SN9YG. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup that offers a better soundstage performance to help you feel immersed in your audio. Also, it comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization. That said, the 5.1.2 LG comes with a room correction feature.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the LG SN9YG. The Bose is a better-built setup with satellites. It has better soundstage, center, surround, and Atmos performances. However, unlike the LG, it doesn't support DTS content. The LG also has a few more sound enhancement features, like EQ presets.
The LG SN9YG is better than the Yamaha YAS-209. The LG is better-built, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. It gets louder, and it has better center and surround performances. Unlike the Yamaha, it also comes with a room correction feature.
The LG SN9YG is better than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). The LG is a 5.1.2 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has less compression at max volume, and more sound enhancement features are available. However, the Sonos is still a solid choice for listeners who want a small, standalone setup. It's better built with better soundstage, center, and surround performances.
The LG SN9YG is better than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 900. The LG comes with a dedicated sub and reproduces a more extended low-bass. Unlike the Bose, it has DTS support and a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough. There are also more sound enhancement features, such as EQ presets. The Bose is better built with better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. You can also upgrade it with a dedicated sub and satellites for better performance.
The LG SP11RA is better than the LG SN9YG. The SP11RA is a 7.1.4 with discrete satellite speakers. It offers better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. Unlike the 5.1.2 SN9YG, it also supports Apple AirPlay connectivity.
The Samsung HW-Q950A is better than the LG SN9YG. The Samsung is an 11.1.4 setup with discrete satellites. It has better soundstage, center, surround, and Atmos performances. It even comes with a graphic EQ, unlike the LG. That said, the 5.1.2 LG is better-built.
The LG SN9YG is better than the Samsung HW-Q600A. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup that reproduces a more extended low-bass and offers a better surround performance. Unlike the Samsung, it has room correction and built-in voice assistant support. It also supports more wireless playback options. That said, some listeners may prefer the Samsung's graphic EQ for sound customization.
The LG SN9YG is slightly better for mixed usage than the Samsung HW-Q700A. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup that reproduces a more extended low-bass and offers a better surround performance. Unlike the Samsung, it has a room correction feature and built-in voice assistant support. However, the 3.1.2 Samsung has better soundstage and Atmos performances, and a graphic EQ for sound customization.
The LG SN9YG and the LG SN10YG are both 5.1.2 setups with similar performances but are priced very differently. While both are similarly well-built and have the same sound enhancement features, the SN9YG is a bit shorter in length. It also performs better for vocal-centric content like TV shows. However, the SN10YG has the edge for music and movies. Its height performance is significantly better, and it offers two Full HDMI In ports.
The Samsung HW-Q950T is better than the LG SN9YG. The Samsung is a 9.1.4 setup with better soundstage, center, surround, and Atmos performances. It also gets louder, and it has a graphic EQ for sound customization. However, the LG is better built with a room correction feature.
The Samsung HW-Q900T is a bit better than the LG SN9YG. The Samsung is a 7.1.2 setup with a better soundstage performance, a graphic EQ for sound customization, and a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. It also gets louder, albeit with more compression at max volume. However, the 5.1.2 LG is better built and comes with a room correction feature.
The LG SN9YG is better than the Sony HT-G700. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup that's better-built and reproduces a more extended low-bass. It has better soundstage and surround performances, and it supports more wireless playback options. It also comes with more sound enhancement features, like room correction, and it has built-in voice assistant support.
The LG SN9YG is better than the LG GX Soundbar. The SN9YG is a 5.1.2 setup that's better-built with better center, surround, and Atmos performances. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it comes with room correction. It also has built-in voice assistant support. That said, the 3.1 GX Soundbar has a better stereo soundstage.
The LG SN9YG is a better overall 5.1.2 soundbar than the LG SK9Y. The SN9YG feels better built, it's able to produce more bass, and it can louder. It has a slightly better center channel and surround performance, and there are also significantly more sound enhancement features. The SN9YG has eARC support as well as DTS:X support over its Full HDMI In port. However, the SK9Y has a significantly better height performance.
The LG SN9YG is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup with a dedicated bass that reproduces a more extended low-bass. It has better surround and Atmos performances. Unlike the Sony, it has room correction and built-in voice assistant support.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-Q70R or the LG SN9YG. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup with a better surrounds performance and more sound enhancement features. That said, the 3.1.2 Samsung has a better center channel performance. It also comes with a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound.
The Vizio SB36512-F6 and the LG SN9YG are similarly performing soundbars. The Vizio comes with two satellites, it has a slightly more neutral sound profile, and it can get as loud as the LG with less compression. Its center and height performances are better, and it has an AUX port for older devices. The LG, on the other hand, feels much better built, its surround performance is better built, and it has more sound enhancement features available, including room correction. It also supports eARC and DTS:X via its full HDMI In port.
Test Results
Just like the LG SL10YG, the LG SN9YG is a wide soundbar that looks sleek and sharp. It has a metal grille to protect its front and sides while there are two round metal grilles on its top to cover its up-firing speakers.
This sub has a fabric covering that protects its three sides which can get dirty or rip easily. The rest of the sub is made from hard plastic. The port is located on the back.
The LG SN9YG is a long soundbar and it won't fit between the legs of a 55" TV. Luckily, it shouldn't obscure your view if you place it in front of your TV unless the screen sits flush on the table.
The subwoofer is around the same size as an average desktop PC and it pairs wirelessly to the bar. You can place it anywhere in the room as long as you connect it to a power source.
There are no satellites in this setup. If you want a 5.1 setup with satellites, check out the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module.
The back of the soundbar has one opening for all of its inputs. There's also a power cable attached to the bar, but it can't be removed.
The back of the subwoofer is pretty plain. The port is found towards the bottom and it has a power cord right above it, which tends to stick out a bit.
The LG SN9YG has a great build quality. It's made from solid plastic and its metal grilles help to protect the speakers. However, the power cable is integrated into the bar and can't be removed. The subwoofer, in comparison, is mostly made from plastic. It has fabric covering three of its sides, which can collect dust or easily rip.
- Manual
- Remote and x2 AAA batteries
- Optical cable
- Power cable for subwoofer
- Wall-mounting brackets and screws
- Wall-mounting template
The LG SN9YG soundbar has a very good stereo frequency response. On 'Standard' mode, it has a bass-heavy sound that's a little boxy. That being said, it's still balanced enough for you to enjoy your favorite podcasts or albums. If you prefer a different sound, this soundbar has five EQ presets available as well. There's also a room correction feature that can further improve audio reproduction depending on the acoustics of your room, but this feature is only available via its companion app.
The stereo soundstage of the LG SN9YG is decent. While the bar is quite large, its soundstage is only about the size of the bar itself. That being said, it sounds focused, so objects come from accurate pinpoint locations rather than from a general area.
Update 09/21/2020: 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 good stereo dynamics and it gets loud enough to fill a large or crowded room. It also performs well at max volume, so you won't get a lot of compression artifacts or thumping.
The LG SN9YG's THD performance is fair. It falls within good limits at a normal listening volume, resulting in a clear and pure sound. However, when you push the bar to its max volume, there's a big jump in THD, particularly in the bass and mid-range. That said, it may not be as audible with real-life content. Consider the Monoprice SB-600 if you want a 5.1.2 setup that doesn't have much distortion present, even at max volume.
The LG SN9YG's center channel performance is great. Thanks to its 5.1.2 configuration, it has a dedicated center channel which results in clearer and more accurate audio reproduction of dialogue in movies. It doesn't get very loud, though, and it also sounds a little bass-heavy, but it shouldn't matter too much as there usually isn't a lot of bass on center channels.
The surround performance of the LG SN9YG soundbar is acceptable. It uses side-firing speakers to bounce sound off the walls, giving the impression of a wider surround sound. However, this setup won't provide the most accurate and clear representation of surround objects in its soundstage. It also won't feel as real as discrete surround produced by home theatre speakers.
The LG SN9YG supports Atmos, but its performance is poor. It uses up-firing speakers to bounce sound off of the ceiling, which helps to give the impression of height. That said, the localization of objects is diffused and it doesn't sound as real as discrete localization produced by down-firing speakers. If you're looking for a similar LG soundbar with a better height performance, consider the LG SN10YG.
This soundbar has superb sound enhancement features. While it doesn't have a more comprehensive EQ like the Samsung HW-Q850T, there are five EQ presets available to better customize your sound instead: AI Sound Pro, Bass Blast, Standard, Movie, and Music mode. There's also a room correction feature, but it's only available through the app. It should be noted that the dialogue enhancement feature only works on DTS-enabled content.
The LG SN9YG has a wide array of inputs, and it can even serve as a hub between your devices and your TV. However, it doesn't have an AUX port, so you won't be able to play audio from older devices.
The LG SN9YG has full audio format support via its HDMI ARC port. It also supports eARC, so it can play object-based surround signals and lossless formats.
The LG SN9YG has outstanding audio format support via its full HDMI In port. It supports all common audio formats including Dolby Atmos and DTS. You can also use it as a hub between external devices like a Blu-ray disc player and your TV.
This soundbar supports Dolby Digital and DTS content via its optical port. These formats are usually found on streaming platforms as well as on Blu-ray discs.
The LG SN9YG has outstanding wireless playback options. You can easily stream your favorite tunes or podcasts to it using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. However, unlike the LG SP9YA, you won't be able to use Apple AirPlay.
The LG SN9YG can be connected between your TV and another source like your PC or gaming console to play 4k @ 60Hz. Text on your screen looks crisp and clear.
As this sub connects to the bar wirelessly, it only has an input for its power cable.
The interface is behind the front-facing metal grille towards the right-hand side of the bar. It displays the volume level using the four dots located under the screen, and it lets you know what current input you're on using text.
The LG SN9YG has touch-sensitive controls located towards the top of the bar. You can turn the bar on/off, change inputs, adjust volume, mic mute, and activate Google Assistant.
The LG SN9YG has a small and easy-to-use remote. You can control most of the bar's functions and settings when using the remote. However, you can only access the room correction feature by using the companion app.
The LG Wi-Fi Speaker is a simple app. You can turn on/off the room correction feature and control some things like volume. You can also access a sleep timer and control the bar's dynamic range. However, you can only adjust the bass and treble when using the remote.