LG S95TR.

The Gavler Review.

LG S95TR Review: The Most Channels on Paper, Not the Best Sound in the Room

The LG S95TR ranks number 7 on Gavler's Best Sound Bar Systems list with an 8.8. On paper it's the channel-count champion of the category — 9.1.5 channels, five upfiring drivers, and tuning from British audio house Meridian. In practice, What Hi-Fi's full test-room review delivered a more measured take: "The LG S95TR isn't bad in isolation, but it lacks some finesse and lags behind the best in class, particularly when it comes to 3D sound." That gap between spec sheet and lived experience is the entire story of this system.

What it is

The S95TR is LG's flagship sound bar package: a main bar, two wireless surround speakers, and a wireless subwoofer, adding up to 810W across a 9.1.5-channel configuration — the most discrete channels available in a consumer sound bar system. Five upfiring drivers, including a center-channel unit unique to this system, are designed to create a continuous height layer rather than the gap that four-speaker systems can leave when effects pan front-to-back.

LG's AI Room Calibration runs continuously rather than performing a single setup-time measurement, adjusting output as room conditions shift — doors opening, furniture moving, people walking through the space. The system also integrates with LG TVs via WOW Orchestra, folding the TV's own speakers into the mix, similar in concept to Samsung's Q-Symphony. Connectivity includes a dedicated HDMI 2.1 input with 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM passthrough — genuinely useful for gamers with a TV that's short on HDMI 2.1 ports.

In use

What Hi-Fi's testers ran the S95TR through both music and film content, and the results were mixed enough to be worth detailing. On music, the default AI Sound Pro mode "makes a dreadful first impression, primarily by defaulting to... up-mixing the stereo signal and sends it out to all channels," adding "a weird echo" to vocals and making guitars "sound very harsh." Switching to Standard mode fixed most of that — "everything is much tighter and better balanced" — but the reviewers noted they had to actively hunt for the right preset rather than getting good sound out of the box.

Movie testing surfaced the system's most persistent issue: "there's also a bit of a tonal mismatch between the soundbar and the surrounds," particularly noticeable as effects pan from front to back. The subwoofer came in for direct criticism too — "the distant, heavy rumble... produces some nasty, waffly chuffing from the bass driver, even in the Standard mode." As for the marquee height feature, Triple Level Spatial Sound, testers found "the effect to be very pronounced" was not accurate: "the sound predominantly inhabits a horizontal plane at about ear height."

Strengths

None of this means the S95TR is a bad system — What Hi-Fi's own conclusion was that "it will deliver a broadly satisfying movie experience that will surround you and provide some of the height generally associated with Dolby Atmos." The dedicated HDMI 2.1 passthrough is a genuine practical advantage over bars like the Sonos Arc, which lacks any HDMI input at all. Continuous AI calibration is a real step up from set-and-forget systems, adjusting as your room actually changes rather than locking in a single measurement. And Meridian's tuning does deliver a warmer character that some listeners will prefer over Samsung's more analytical voicing — AVForums praised the five height channels for creating "a dome of sound above the listener that no four-speaker system matches," even if What Hi-Fi's own testing found that dome less convincing in practice.

The trade-offs — who should skip it

The core problem is competitive, not absolute: the S95TR isn't a bad sound bar, it's a good sound bar priced and marketed against a better one. What Hi-Fi's verdict draws the comparison directly: "The Samsung HW-Q990D is a big step forward for the category. It's more detailed, direct and dynamically capable... The LG S95TR isn't bad, but it's a fair way short of that level." At $1,499 versus the Q990D's $1,299, the LG asks buyers to pay more for less — a hard sell for anyone shopping on measured performance rather than brand preference.

Buyers who care primarily about music listening should also be cautious. The system's up-mixing modes actively hurt stereo content, and even in the cleaner Standard preset, testers wanted "extra detail and richness... particularly in the vocals" that wasn't there. If music is a significant part of your use case, this isn't the strongest choice in its price bracket.

How it compares

The Samsung HW-Q990D is the system to beat in this category and the one LG is explicitly chasing. Ranked number 2 on Gavler's list with a 9.5 score, it delivers a genuine 11.1.4-channel configuration with wireless rears and subwoofer, Q-Symphony TV integration, and — critically — a $200 lower price than the S95TR. For most buyers who aren't specifically loyal to LG's ecosystem, it's the stronger buy.

At the top of the list is the Sonos Arc Ultra, ranked number 1 with a 9.7 score. It takes a different approach entirely — a single 14-driver bar with no satellites required — and while it lacks the S95TR's dedicated HDMI input, its Sound Motion woofer and Trueplay calibration deliver bass and spatial audio that Gavler's own data describes as unmatched by any standalone bar. It's worth cross-shopping for buyers who'd rather avoid running wireless rear speakers at all.

The Gavler verdict

The LG S95TR is a genuinely capable system undermined by strong competition rather than any fatal flaw of its own. The dedicated HDMI 2.1 input, continuous AI calibration, and Meridian tuning are real, tangible advantages for the right buyer — particularly one already invested in LG's TV ecosystem via WOW Orchestra. But judged purely on sound quality and value, What Hi-Fi's testing and Gavler's own scoring point the same direction: the Samsung HW-Q990D does more, for less money, with fewer rough edges. Buy the S95TR if the LG-specific integration or the warmer Meridian voicing genuinely matters to you. Otherwise, the Q990D is the better $1,300–1,500 sound bar system on the market right now.

Common Questions

Is the LG S95TR worth it in 2026?

Only if you specifically value channel count and Meridian's warmer sonic signature over outright performance. What Hi-Fi's testing found it "isn't bad in isolation, but it lacks some finesse and lags behind the best in class, particularly when it comes to 3D sound," and specifically called out "tonal inconsistencies between 'bar and surrounds" and an "occasionally overbearing and waffly" subwoofer. At $1,499, most buyers will get better value from the Samsung HW-Q990D.

How does the LG S95TR compare to the Samsung HW-Q990D?

What Hi-Fi's head-to-head was direct: "The Samsung HW-Q990D is a big step forward for the category... The LG S95TR isn't bad, but it's a fair way short of that level." The Samsung is also $200 cheaper.

What is LG's Triple Level Spatial Sound on the S95TR?

It's LG's attempt at adding a virtual height layer using the center upfiring speaker and processing modes. What Hi-Fi's reviewers found the effect wasn't very pronounced in practice: "whether we choose Cinema or Standard, the sound predominantly inhabits a horizontal plane at about ear height."