Two-minute assessment
The LG SP11RA makes an impressive first impression. The truth that it includes 4 separate elements - wi-fi sub, wi-fi rears and the principle soundbar - instantly begins to justify its price ticket, as an illustration. Additionally, although, the design of the principle soundbar is severely engaging - slim sufficient to suit underneath most trendy TVs, sleekly completed and robustly constructed.
The SP11RA hits the precise notes with its options, too. The Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound codecs are each supported - help which extends to 4 up-firing audio system, two in the principle soundbar and one in every of the rears. These mirror their hold forth your room’s ceiling to ship overhead sound results.
There’s help for hi-res audio codecs too, in addition to a helpful built-in calibration system.
The SP11RA mainly differs from its SN11RG predecessor on audio processing, within the {shape} of a brand new AI Sound Professional system, which robotically acknowledges totally different supply varieties and optimizes their playback accordingly, and an intriguing new Meridian Horizon processing system that seeks to enhance the remapping of stereo music to the SP11RA’s giant roster of audio system.
Sadly neither of those new processing choices show to be an precisely unmitigated success.
That doesn’t cease the SP11RA, although, from nonetheless delivering a big, dynamic, open and exceptionally detailed soundstage that brings movies and music to life in a method few rivals can.
Should you’re on the lookout for a soundbar that appears good, delivers a big, open and detailed sound stage and may flip its hand effectively to music in addition to motion pictures, the SP11RA is a severely engaging possibility.
It lacks, although, a number of the focus and uncooked aggression with movie soundtracks you get with some rivals, and neither of the processing-based enhancements it provides to final yr’s SR11RG really feel like actually important additions to the LG soundbar combine. Definitely they don’t have as a lot affect on sound high quality as the additional two bodily rear facet channels launched by Samsung for 2021 in its dearer, 16-channel HW-Q950A soundbar.
LG SP11RA worth and availability
- Obtainable now in Europe and Australia, with the US to comply with
- £1,499 / AU$1,695 / about $2,000
- That is LG’s flagship soundbar for 2021
The SP11RA is a worldwide product - although unusually, on the time of writing it hadn’t but appeared in US shops or on LG’s US web site. It's extensively out there in different territories, although.
Its £1,499 / AU$1,695 (about $2,000) worth is identical as final yr’s SN11RG, which at first look appears honest sufficient provided that the brand new mannequin provides a few probably helpful new audio processing choices.
The value additionally will get you a ‘full’ encompass system, full with two rear and 4 up-firing channels in addition to a big subwoofer and a 7-channel major soundbar.
Design and options
- 4-piece system comprising the principle soundbar, wi-fi subwoofer and two wi-fi rears
- LED learn out
- 12 channels of sound in a 7.1.4 configuration
Aesthetically we couldn’t detect any important variations between the SP11RA and 2020’s LG SN11RG. That’s no dangerous factor, although - particularly on the subject of the principle soundbar.
Though that is wider than most of right this moment’s soundbars, it additionally sits decrease than you would possibly anticipate of a soundbar that carries two up-firing drivers on its prime edge in addition to entrance and side-firing audio system round its entrance and left/proper edges. It ought to match underneath the overwhelming majority of TV screens with out getting in the way in which of the image or infra-red receivers.
LG SP11RA specs
Energy: 770W | Audio system: 7.1.4 | Dimensions: Most important soundbar - 1443 x 63 x 146mm/Subwoofer 221 x 390 x 312.8mm/Rear - 130 x 211.5 x 191.2 (W x H x D) | Connections: Two HDMI inputs, one HDMI output with eARC, optical digital audio enter, USB port, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Subwoofer included?: Sure
The graceful darkish grey end of the soundbar’s prime edge contrasts superbly with the textured, grille-like end of its sides, too, and it’s good to seek out just a little LED learn out on the entrance that will help you maintain observe of quantity, chosen enter and so forth.
The end of the rear audio system picks up on the important thing design cues of the principle soundbar, too - although inevitably their {shape} has more in widespread with conventional bookshelf audio system.
The subwoofer is much less elegant than the remainder of the audio system - principally only a chunky black field. Subwoofers could be tucked away underneath sideboards or in corners, although, so wanting fairly issues a lot lower than being large enough to pump out baggage of bass.
The SP11RA’s 7.1.4 channel rely is backed up by a colossal 770W of energy, based on LG’s claims. Supplied the drivers are literally able to dealing with that a lot energy, it must be greater than sufficient to ship correctly potent and immersive experiences from the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks the soundbar is able to decoding.
The SP11RA may play a variety of hi-res audio codecs, in addition to supporting community streaming through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
You'll be able to management the SP11RA utilizing both the sparsely buttoned distant management, or use an app in your iOS or Android telephone. Handily there’s an possibility within the cell phone app for working a sensible calibration routine that robotically balances the audio system to greatest fit your room setup. That is one thing that LG’s closest premium soundbar rival, Samsung, doesn't provide, even on its newest flagship mannequin.
The SP11RA’s speaker system breaks down as entrance middle, left and proper, facet left/proper and two upfiring drivers in the principle soundbar, plus entrance and up-firing drivers in every rear speaker. The bass speaker, as typical, simply provides the low frequencies the principle soundbar can’t comfortably attain.
The SP11RA’s major benefit over its predecessor comes with the addition of two new processing programs. First up there’s LG’s AI sound system. This analyzes incoming sound on the fly and seeks to optimize the way in which the soundbar performs it, making an allowance for each the kind of sound and LG’s intimate information of the strengths of the soundbar’s particular speaker setup.
The brand new Meridian Horizon processing, in the meantime, is concentrated on music. Actually, to get it to kick in you have to choose the Music mode from LG’s record of audio profile choices. The concept behind it's to transform stereo music right into a multi-channel combine capable of make use of more of the SP11RA’s audio system.
That is hardly a brand new idea, in fact. Nevertheless, different soundbars don’t have the huge musical information of a model like Meridian behind their music ‘upscaling’ efforts.
The SP11RA’s connections embody two HDMI inputs, one HDMI output, and an optical digital audio enter. The HDMI output helps eARC, too, the place lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound mixes could be obtained from appropriate TV eARC HDMI ports.
Players would possibly wish to be aware, although, that the HDMI loopthrough system doesn't be a part of new soundbars from Klipsch and Sony in supporting go by way of of 4K/120Hz and variable refresh charge sport graphics.
You'll be able to work spherical this in case your TV helps eARC by connecting your new console or PC to your TV instantly after which having the TV output the sport’s soundtracks to the soundbar. It is a comparatively sophisticated course of, although, and may typically trigger points with audio lag that you simply don’t get with a typical loopthrough method.
The SP11RA’s HDMIs additionally don’t go by way of the HDR10+ HDR format. HDR10, HLG and Dolby Imaginative and prescient undergo positive, however HDR10+ sources are ‘downgraded’ to plain HDR10, with their further scene by scene knowledge gone.
It’s true that HDR10+ content material is way much less widespread than content material mastered in Dolby Imaginative and prescient. However many different premium soundbars help go by way of of each of the ‘advanced’ HDR codecs, so it might be good if a soundbar as costly because the SP11RA did too.
There’s one different compatibility challenge to report with the SP11RA. For some purpose, it received’t go Dolby Imaginative and prescient by way of to appropriate TVs from Panasonic 4K Blu-ray gamers. LG tells us that it’s conscious of the issue and is working exhausting to unravel it.
Audio efficiency
- Wonderful detailing
- Giant, highly effective sound stage
- Principally efficient Dolby Atmos and DTS:X playback
At first pay attention the SP11RA sounds nearly unfeasibly good. The facility and scale of the sound it produces immediately appears utterly inconsistent with the principle soundbar unit’s compact, elegant design. Actually, the soundbar is so good at throwing sound in all instructions, together with up, that the soundbar typically turns into nearly ‘invisible’ as a supply for the audio maelstrom occurring round you.
The SP11RA doesn’t simply throw its sound to the 4 corners of your room - and above your head - with reckless abandon, although. The sound distribution is expertly managed to create a convincing and immersive sense of three-dimensional house. Particularly, as you'd hope, with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X mixes.
Significantly placing is how precisely the SP11RA locations particulars within the seemingly effortlessly giant soundstage it might probably create. If a sound is meant to be coming from excessive and to the left, that’s the place it seems. If it’s speculated to be coming from someplace behind and above your proper shoulder, that’s the place it seems. Particulars are additionally at all times superbly clear and outlined.
The consequences placement is especially good versus most if not all rival Dolby Atmos soundtracks on the subject of peak/overhead sound results. So lengthy, anyway, as you don’t have both a vaulted or closely beamed ceiling that may impede the way in which the upfiring drivers mirror their sound.
There’s some efficient layering of scores, too, each vertically and horizontally, and as you'd hope with a system that’s so astute with its detailing, sound transitions as noisy objects transfer round a mixture are dealt with expertly.
The rears are comfortably highly effective sufficient to face their floor towards the principle soundbar, whereas the subwoofer kicks in potently and enthusiastically at any time when it’s required.
Soundbars that excel with film soundtracks typically - typically, even - battle to sound notably musical. As long as you’re cautious which sound settings you employ, although, the SP11RA can sound reasonably good with stereo music. Clear, stuffed with dynamic vary, and convincingly staged, particularly the place vocals are involved.
The Music mode that prompts the Meridian Horizon processing doesn’t sound nearly as good as we’d hoped. It does an honest job of tremendously enlarging the sound stage with out shedding the heat and core musicality of your favorite tunes, however it might probably additionally make low frequency sounds a bit muddy and muffled, whereas common readability ranges additionally appear subdued.
The brand new AI Sound Professional mode truly proves more fascinating than the Horizon processing. It, too, tremendously expands the soundstage and room-filling affect of stereo music, however sounds cleaner and more detailed than the Horizon setting. The outcomes are a bit too aggressive at instances, although, leaving the Normal mode as for me one of the best all-round music possibility.
With movie soundtracks the AI Sound Professional mode makes the soundbar sound louder, with a more expansive dynamic vary. It additionally, unexpectedly, manages to make the sound stage really feel prefer it’s wrapped more snugly round you. It additionally, although, doesn’t sound as pristine and detailed as the straightforward Dolby Atmos mode, and has an odd tendency to make trebles sound harsh.
There are one or two different niggles concerning the SP11RA’s efficiency, too. Aggressive, exhausting affect sounds, as an illustration, similar to loud gunfire, sudden bursts of rating or ‘Hollywood’ punches can lack affect.
Additionally, whereas element ranges and results steering are each extraordinarily good, typically, maybe associated to the earlier challenge, the sound stage turns into a bit imprecise - as if the soundbar doesn’t perceive the place the combo desires it to focus its consideration.
Extraordinarily heavy bass tracks can all of the sudden make the often nimble subwoofer sound a bit boxed in, and at last, whereas the SP11RA usually disperses its sound amazingly effectively, typically voices can appear just a little locked into the soundbar, reasonably than sounding as in the event that they’re coming from the TV display screen above.
Ought to I purchase the LG SP11RA?
Purchase it if...
You need Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
The SP11RA helps the newest object-based sound programs, which means you'll be able to take pleasure in one of the best soundtrack choices out there from any disc, stream or broadcast you play by way of it.
You desire a notably slim soundbar
In case your TV sits fairly low on its desktop stand, the SP11RA’s unusually slim profile may are available in very helpful. Particularly given how giant and wealthy a sound it will get out of its slender body.
Music issues to you as a lot as motion pictures
Regardless of its apparent deal with film soundtracks, the SP11RA sounds surprisingly participating with music. As long as you’re cautious what preset you employ, anyway.
Do not buy it if...
You don’t notably want a soundbar
If the space-saving comfort of a soundbar isn’t all that necessary to you, you possibly can put collectively a really stable separates system as a substitute of spending your cash on the SP11RA.
You want motion motion pictures to hit exhausting
Whereas the SP11RA excels on positive particulars in case your tastes favour subtlety, it suffers with a noticeable lack of assault and aggression with exhausting affect sounds and explosive soundtrack moments.
You could have a Panasonic 4K Blu-ray participant
On the time of writing, the SP11RA bizarrely can’t play Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR from Panasonic-branded 4K Blu-ray gamers. Although you possibly can probably work spherical this challenge with the eARC function.
First reviewed: August 2021
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