LG’s Flagship Soundbar

Removing it from its cardboard and foam cradle packaging, it’s immediately obvious that LG’s SN11RG ($1695 at Harvey Norman) is one humongous soundbar. As wide as your average eleven-year-old is tall – let that sink in for a few seconds – and about a half-foot in depth, the first thing that came to mind during its unboxing was “This is a soundbar on steroids. Man, this thing is big”.

Checking out its spec sheet reveals that the 7.1.4 channel, Dolby Atomos/DTS:X soundbar system also is big on power. LG says the SN11RG – which consists of seven speakers and a tweeter up front in the main bar, a pair of drivers in each of the two satellites, and a ported subwoofer with 7-inch driver – can crank out a total of up to 770 watts of sonic punch.

But for my money, the biggest attribute of LG’s flagship soundbar is its ability to encompass listeners in sound. It’s difficult ranking audio components without the benefit of same-time, sideby-side comparisons, even if the setting and source material remain consistent. Nevertheless, I’m totally comfortable stating that the SN11RG’s soundstage is as expansive and its audio as immersive as any soundbar I’ve ever tested. So much so that given my pick of any soundbar – but only one – to live with for the next few years, LG’s flagship is the one I’d choose.

But because of its sheer size, it might not be for everyone. In addition to the massive main bar, this soundbar system comes with a pair of hefty satellites.

The subwoofer’s moderate size is an exception to the other components in that it’s about average for a premium soundbar. Yet, because the rest of the system will occupy a lot of real estate and its four up-firing and two side-firing speakers require proper placement (no obstructions nearby) for optimum sound, the SN11RG won’t work for everyone.

The subwoofer can be placed wherever it suits your aesthetic taste and/or delivers optimum bass because, like

the satellites, it connects wirelessly to the main bar. “Wireless” in this case means the components don’t have to be tethered to one another with audio cable or speaker wires. You’ve still got to plug each component into an AC outlet, so keep that in mind when you’re deciding where to place the sub and satellites.

LG’s wireless connectivity is as simple and effective as any soundbar I’ve ever tested. The sub and satellites synced immediately with the main bar as soon as all four components were plugged in and powered up. At that point, green indicator lights on the components confirm connectivity. That’s all there is to it. I wish all wireless connections worked this flawlessly (they don’t).

On the negative side of its setup ledger, the SN11RG requires two mobile apps for optimum configuration and to access all features and functions. One is Google Home, which many readers undoubtedly already have and use to control other smart home devices. This app serves a few purposes with this soundbar. It enables the system to connect to your Wi-Fi network so you can stream music from mobile devices, and it provides access to the SN11RG’s built-in Google Assistant, which enables voice control of several soundbar functions other Google Home-enabled devices.

This full-featured soundbar also has Chromecast built in and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. In addition to supporting high-resolution audio up to 24bit/192kHz, it can handle all the popular Dolby and DTS formats, as well as less popular formats such as LPCM, OGG, FLAC, AAC, WAV, and MP3. On the video front, the SN11RG offers 4K, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 passthrough, can play video from a USB thumb drive, and provides HDMI (HDCP 2.3) input and output with eARC support.

the biggest attribute of LG’s flagship soundbar is its ability to encompass listeners in sound.

The eARC support makes it possible to connect the SN11RG to a compatible TV with just one HDMI cable. But befitting a premium soundbar, LG’s flagship ranks right up there with any competitor in terms of connectivity options with two HDMI inputs along with one USB and one Toslink optical cable input. About the only thing missing is a 3.5mm minijack.

Now that you know what can or can’t be connected to the SN11RG, we’ll discuss the second app you’ll also need to fully enjoy it: “LG Wi-Fi Speaker.” In addition to serving as a secondary way to control the soundbar (primary way, if you find it more convenient than the included conventional IR remote), this app adds a few extra functions, such as a Dynamic Range Control and Auto Volume Leveler.

But its most important capability is arguably AI Room Calibration, which automatically measures a room’s acoustic characteristics and adjusts the SN11RG’s audio to best suit the environment.

The only way to take advantage of this sophisticated, built-in digital setup function is through the app. My very unscientific assessment is that AI Room Calibration is definitely useful. Before-and-after listening revealed that it definitely enhanced audio by sharpening imaging and making the soundstage larger and more immersive.

What I appreciated most about the SN11RG is the sound it delivered regardless of what I asked it to play.

I’m not an audiophile, so I was most impressed with the way it handled movies and television. The soundbar satisfied right from the first thing I threw at it, Dolby’s Amaze Atmos demo trailer. From the moment the synthesizer began thumping on the title screen, I was immersed in an immense jungle where I was soon caught in a massive tropical storm. Thunder cracked and the room trembled. Rain landed on leaves overhead. The realism and pinpoint location of the sound was palpable.

Conclusion

If you’ve got the space and the right location to accommodate LG’s SN11RG huge, flagship soundbar system – and you can afford its premium price – you won’t find a more full-featured soundbar that delivers a larger, more immersive or accurate audio soundstage. Because it’s also easy to set up and use, I have no qualms about recommending it to anyone whose home can handle it.

you won’t find a more full-featured soundbar that delivers a larger, more immersive or accurate audio soundstage.