LG SP11RA review | SociallyKeeda

Two-minute evaluate

The LG SP11RA makes an excellent first impression. The incontrovertible fact that it contains 4 separate parts - wi-fi sub, wi-fi rears and the principle soundbar - instantly begins to justify its price ticket, for example. Also, although, the design of the principle soundbar is severely enticing - slim sufficient to suit beneath most trendy TVs, sleekly completed and robustly constructed.

The SP11RA hits the proper notes with its options, too. The Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound codecs are each supported - assist 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 assist for hi-res audio codecs too, in addition to a useful built-in calibration system.

The SP11RA mainly differs from its SN11RG predecessor on audio processing, within the {shape} of a brand new AI Sound Pro system, which routinely 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 massive roster of audio system.

Unfortunately 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 approach few rivals can.

If you’re searching for a soundbar that appears good, delivers a big, open and detailed sound stage and might flip its hand effectively to music in addition to motion pictures, the SP11RA is a severely enticing choice.

It lacks, although, a few 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. Certainly 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.

a closeup of the lg-sp11ra soundbar

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LG SP11RA worth and availability

Available now in Europe and Australia, with the US to comply with
£1,499 / AU$1,695 / about $2,000
This is LG’s flagship soundbar for 2021

The SP11RA is a worldwide product - although surprisingly, on the time of writing it hadn’t but appeared in US shops or on LG’s US web site. It is extensively obtainable 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 on condition that the brand new mannequin provides a few doubtlessly helpful new audio processing choices.

The worth 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 most important soundbar.

Design and options

Four-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 in relation to the principle soundbar.

Although that is wider than most of at present’s soundbars, it additionally sits decrease than you would possibly anticipate of a soundbar that carries two up-firing drivers on its high edge in addition to entrance and side-firing audio system round its entrance and left/proper edges. It ought to match beneath the overwhelming majority of TV screens with out getting in the way in which of the image or infra-red receivers.

LG SP11RA specs

Power: 770W | Speakers: 7.1.4 | Dimensions: Main 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?: Yes

The easy darkish grey end of the soundbar’s high edge contrasts superbly with the textured, grille-like end of its sides, too, and it’s good to search out a bit LED learn out on the entrance that will help you hold 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 extra in frequent with conventional bookshelf audio system.

The subwoofer is much less elegant than the remainder of the audio system - mainly only a chunky black field. Subwoofers will be tucked away beneath sideboards or in corners, although, so trying fairly issues a lot lower than being sufficiently big to pump out baggage of bass.

The SP11RA’s 7.1.4 channel rely is backed up by a colossal 770W of energy, in keeping with LG’s claims. Provided 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.

a close up of the lg sp11ra soundbar's connections

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You can management the SP11RA utilizing both the sparsely buttoned distant management, or use an app in your iOS or Android cellphone. Handily there’s an choice within the cell phone app for working a wise calibration routine that routinely balances the audio system to finest fit your room setup. This 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 normal, simply provides the low frequencies the principle soundbar can’t comfortably attain.

The SP11RA’s most important benefit over its predecessor comes with the addition of two new processing techniques. 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, bearing in mind each the kind of sound and LG’s intimate information of the strengths of the soundbar’s particular speaker setup.

The new Meridian Horizon processing, in the meantime, is targeted on music. In reality, to get it to kick in that you must choose the Music mode from LG’s checklist of audio profile choices. The concept behind it's to transform stereo music right into a multi-channel combine in a position to make use of extra of the SP11RA’s audio system.

This is hardly a brand new idea, in fact. However, 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 will be obtained from suitable TV eARC HDMI ports.

the remote control that comes with the lg sp11ra soundbar

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Gamers would possibly wish to notice, although, that the HDMI loopthrough system doesn't be part of new soundbars from Klipsch and Sony in supporting move by of 4K/120Hz and variable refresh fee recreation graphics.

You can work spherical this in case your TV helps eARC by connecting your new console or PC to your TV straight after which having the TV output the sport’s soundtracks to the soundbar. This is a comparatively difficult course of, although, and might generally trigger points with audio lag that you just don’t get with a normal loopthrough method.

The SP11RA’s HDMIs additionally don’t move by the HDR10+ HDR format. HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision undergo effective, however HDR10+ sources are ‘downgraded’ to plain HDR10, with their additional scene by scene information gone.

It’s true that HDR10+ content material is far much less frequent than content material mastered in Dolby Vision. But many different premium soundbars assist move by of each of the ‘advanced’ HDR codecs, so it could be good if a soundbar as costly because the SP11RA did too.

There’s one different compatibility problem to report with the SP11RA. For some cause, it gained’t move Dolby Vision by to suitable TVs from Panasonic 4K Blu-ray gamers. LG tells us that it’s conscious of the issue and is working exhausting to resolve it.

a closeup of the lg sp11ra soundbar

(Image credit score: SociallyTrend)

Audio efficiency

Excellent detailing
Large, highly effective sound stage
Mostly efficient Dolby Atmos and DTS:X playback

At first pay attention the SP11RA sounds nearly unfeasibly good. The energy and scale of the sound it produces immediately appears fully inconsistent with the principle soundbar unit’s compact, elegant design. In reality, 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 happening 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 area. Especially, as you'll hope, with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X mixes.

Particularly placing is how precisely the SP11RA locations particulars within the seemingly effortlessly massive 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 alleged to be coming from someplace behind and above your proper shoulder, that’s the place it seems. Details are additionally at all times superbly clear and outlined.

The results placement is especially good versus most if not all rival Dolby Atmos soundtracks in relation to peak/overhead sound results. So lengthy, anyway, as you don’t have both a vaulted or closely beamed ceiling which may impede the way in which the upfiring drivers mirror their sound.

the rear speakers of the lg sp11ra soundbar

(Image credit score: SociallyTrend)

There’s some efficient layering of scores, too, each vertically and horizontally, and as you'll hope with a system that’s so astute with its detailing, sound transitions as noisy objects transfer round a combination are dealt with expertly.

The rears are comfortably highly effective sufficient to face their floor in opposition to the principle soundbar, whereas the subwoofer kicks in potently and enthusiastically each time it’s required.

Soundbars that excel with film soundtracks generally - typically, even - wrestle to sound notably musical. So lengthy as you’re cautious which sound settings you utilize, although, the SP11RA can sound reasonably good with stereo music. Clean, 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 a good job of drastically enlarging the sound stage with out dropping the heat and core musicality of your favorite tunes, however it might probably additionally make low frequency sounds a bit muddy and muffled, whereas basic readability ranges additionally appear subdued.

The new AI Sound Pro mode really proves extra fascinating than the Horizon processing. It, too, drastically expands the soundstage and room-filling affect of stereo music, however sounds cleaner and extra detailed than the Horizon setting. The outcomes are a bit too aggressive at instances, although, leaving the Standard mode as for me the very best all-round music choice.

With movie soundtracks the AI Sound Pro mode makes the soundbar sound louder, with a extra expansive dynamic vary. It additionally, unexpectedly, manages to make the sound stage really feel prefer it’s wrapped extra 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 in regards to the SP11RA’s efficiency, too. Aggressive, exhausting affect sounds, for example, similar to loud gunfire, sudden bursts of rating or ‘Hollywood’ punches can lack affect.

Also, whereas element ranges and results steering are each extraordinarily good, generally, maybe associated to the earlier problem, 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.

Extremely heavy bass tracks can all of the sudden make the often nimble subwoofer sound a bit boxed in, and at last, whereas the SP11RA typically disperses its sound amazingly effectively, generally voices can appear a bit locked into the soundbar, reasonably than sounding as in the event that they’re coming from the TV display above.

Should I purchase the LG SP11RA?

the rear speakers of the lg sp11ra soundbar

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Buy it if...

You need Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
The SP11RA helps the most recent object-based sound techniques, that means you'll be able to get pleasure from the very best soundtrack choices obtainable from any disc, stream or broadcast you play by it.

You need a notably slim soundbar
If your TV sits fairly low on its desktop stand, the SP11RA’s unusually slim profile may are available in very useful. Especially given how massive and wealthy a sound it will get out of its slender body.

Music issues to you as a lot as motion pictures
Despite its apparent give attention to film soundtracks, the SP11RA sounds surprisingly participating with music. So lengthy as you’re cautious what preset you utilize, anyway.

Don't purchase 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 would put collectively a really strong separates system as a substitute of spending your cash on the SP11RA.

You like motion motion pictures to hit exhausting
While the SP11RA excels on effective 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 have a Panasonic 4K Blu-ray participant
At the time of writing, the SP11RA bizarrely can’t play Dolby Vision HDR from Panasonic-branded 4K Blu-ray gamers. Though you would doubtlessly work spherical this problem with the eARC function.

First reviewed: August 2021