Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
We've recently launched Soundbars 1.3! Read the R&D Article to learn more.

  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Latency
    6. Video Passthrough To TV
    7. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

LG SP9YA vs LG SP8YA

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

LG SP9YA
LG SP8YA

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Jan 12, 2024 07:43 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jun 13, 2024 07:55 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
LG SP9YA Picture
LG SP8YA Picture

Variants

  • SP9YA (Black)
  • SP8YA (Black)

Our Verdict

LG SP9YA

LG SP8YA

The LG SP9YA is a 5.1.2 soundbar that offers better performance than the 3.1.2 LG SP8YA. The SP9YA is better built, with a better soundstage performance. Also, thanks to its side-firing speakers, it doesn't have to downmix surround content into stereo to play it.

0

Notice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our soundbars test methodology.

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

8.0
7.9

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.3
8.0

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

LG SP9YA Style photo - bar
LG SP8YA Style photo - bar

Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

LG SP9YA Style photo - sub
LG SP8YA Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported

Show text

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

LG SP9YA Style photo - satellites
LG SP8YA Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No

Show text

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

LG SP9YA Dimensions photo - bar
LG SP8YA Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

48.1" (122.2 cm)
41.7" (106.0 cm)

Height  

2.3" (5.8 cm)
2.2" (5.6 cm)

Depth  

5.8" (14.7 cm)
4.7" (12.0 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

LG SP9YA Dimensions photo - sub
LG SP8YA Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

8.7" (22.1 cm)
8.7" (22.1 cm)

Height  

15.4" (39.0 cm)
15.4" (39.0 cm)

Depth  

12.3" (31.2 cm)
12.3" (31.2 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

LG SP9YA Dimensions photo - satellites
LG SP8YA Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

LG SP9YA Bar Mounting Holes
LG SP8YA Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

LG SP9YA Satellite Mounting Holes
LG SP8YA Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Build quality photo  

LG SP9YA Build quality photo
LG SP8YA Build quality photo

Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

LG SP9YA In The Box photo
LG SP8YA In The Box photo

Show text

Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.3
8.0

Stereo Setup  

LG SP9YA Stereo Setup
LG SP8YA Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Tested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Slope 
 

-0.26
-0.58

Std. Err. 
 

2.22 dB
3.43 dB

Channels 
 

5.1.2
3.1.2

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.2 Hz
31.3 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz

Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

8.3
8.0

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

-1
0

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

1
0

Slope 
 

-0.06
-0.58

Std. Err. 
 

2.18 dB
3.43 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.2 Hz
31.3 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz

Show text

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.5
7.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.14 dB
2.15 dB

Show text

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.0
8.0

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

91.8 dB SPL
93.0 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

0.92 dB
1.19 dB

Show text

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.0
7.4

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.65
0.53

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.19
2.59

Show text

Center 
 

7.7
8.5

Center Setup  

LG SP9YA Center Setup
LG SP8YA Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

-1.47
-0.13

Std. Err. 
 

3.95 dB
2.11 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

86.8 dB SPL
89.6 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.10
0.63

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

7.83
2.63

Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

4.8
4.2

Surround Setup  

LG SP9YA Surround Setup
LG SP8YA Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Side Firing, Bar)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

1.67
-0.64

Std. Err. 
 

7.19 dB
3.44 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.5 dB SPL
93.2 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.85
0.47

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

7.18
2.53

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No

Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

5.3
5.5

Height Setup  

LG SP9YA Height Setup
LG SP8YA Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

-0.12
0.43

Std. Err. 
 

5.73 dB
5.06 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

79.4 dB SPL
81.2 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

2.00
1.01

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.29
0.29

Show text

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

9.2
8.9

Room Correction 
 

Yes
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Height Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

LG SP9YA Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
LG SP8YA Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

LG SP9YA Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
LG SP8YA Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

1 (shared)
eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

1
1

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

1
1

Ethernet 
 

No
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No

Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

10
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Yes
Supported

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Yes
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

10
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Yes
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

Show text

Latency 
 

7.5
7.4

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

82 ms
74 ms

Optical 
 

66 ms
61 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

75 ms
98 ms

Show text

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
6.3

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Yes

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Yes

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Yes

Show text

Wireless Playback 
 

10
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

LG SP9YA Interface photo
LG SP8YA Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

LG SP9YA Controls photo
LG SP8YA Controls photo

Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

LG SP9YA Remote photo
LG SP8YA Remote photo

Show text

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
No

Show text

LG SP9YA

LG SP8YA

Comments

  1. Comparison

LG SP9YA vs LG SP8YA: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones
You have 9/10 free reviews left
To access
unlimited full product reviews,
product prices
and
other exclusive site features
Become an Insider