LG S90TR review

Sound

The discrete center channel gives speech its own place in the system, while the separate subwoofer carries the low-frequency workload. RTINGS found clear, natural dialogue and substantial bass from its 2024 sample.¹ That supports the S90TR as an everyday TV upgrade as well as a movie system, without implying that its default balance will suit every room.

Clear Voice Pro, night mode and level adjustments provide different ways to adapt playback. Begin with the normal presentation and change one setting at a time. Boosting speech, reducing the subwoofer and limiting dynamic swings address different problems; turning everything on can make it harder to identify what actually helps.

Surround Sound

The rear speakers create physical sound sources behind the seating area. Their small size makes shelves or stands more plausible than with bulky satellites, but placement still matters: a speaker immediately beside one listener can dominate that seat. Run room calibration after settling the final positions.

The three upward-firing drivers all sit at the front of the room. RTINGS found height effects less convincing than on the S95TR, whose rears add upward-firing drivers.¹ The center upward-firing driver should therefore not be read as a promise of a complete overhead envelope. Ceiling geometry and the listening position also influence reflected effects.

Room calibration and individual level controls are useful tools for integrating the package. They do not make an obstructed speaker or an impractical seating arrangement disappear. Leave the upward and side-facing drivers clear before relying on processing to improve the result.

Connectivity

A source can connect through the bar, or the television can return audio over HDMI. The separate input is especially useful when the TV cannot pass a desired disc soundtrack. Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Atmos and DTS:X support gives the soundbar a broad range of decoding options.

LG specifies 4K 120 Hz passthrough using YCbCr 4:2:0, alongside VRR and ALLM. That condition matters to a PC used for fine text as well as gaming. Connecting directly to the TV may be preferable when preserving its best available video signal is the priority; the TV’s audio-return capabilities then become part of the decision.

Dolby Vision and HDR10 passthrough are supported, but HDR10+ passthrough is not. There is only one source input, so several consoles and a disc player still require a plan for the television’s sockets. Optical provides a useful older-TV connection with more limited audio transport.

TV Integration

WOW Orchestra combines supported LG TV speakers with the soundbar, while WOWCAST can carry audio wirelessly from a compatible LG television. These features can make a matched installation convenient, but the TV’s exact model and supported settings matter more than the LG logo alone.

The current manual calls for eARC to be enabled when setting up WOW Orchestra and limits the function to supported combinations. Ordinary HDMI or optical operation remains available with other TV brands. Choose the bar on its complete package and connections first; treat the additional LG functions as benefits to verify for the television already in the room.

Streaming and Controls

Wi-Fi music support means the system can serve as a living-room player between TV sessions. Bluetooth is also available for a quick connection. A supplied remote handles everyday operation, while the current US manual uses LG ThinQ for setup and deeper adjustments.

ThinQ registration requires an account. Alexa and Google Assistant control depend on separate compatible voice devices, rather than a promise of an independently operating voice assistant in the bar. As with the music services, account, regional and software requirements remain part of ownership.

Design and Installation

The low bar may fit below a television, but its 1250 mm width needs a suitably wide surface or wall position. Check that the screen’s feet leave room for the full depth and that the upward drivers are not tucked beneath a shelf. The subwoofer is roughly 202 mm wide and 407 mm tall, so its footprint also deserves a place in the plan.

Each rear speaker plugs into power; wireless refers to the audio connection. Count four power locations for the complete system. The supplied bar bracket does not remove the need for suitable wall fixings, which the manual says are separate.

LG’s US warranty covers parts and labor for one year. The package’s compact satellites are a practical advantage only if they can be positioned well, so map their locations before deciding that the system will fit.

Alternatives

The S95TR is the closest step up within this generation. LG specifies 9.1.5 channels and larger rear speakers, including additional height hardware. RTINGS found its height presentation more effective, while several other aspects of performance were similar.¹ Pay the difference for the surround arrangement you intend to use, rather than assuming every soundtrack will change equally.

The S90TY is the related bar-and-subwoofer choice without the S90TR’s included satellites. RTINGS found the physical rear speakers made a clear difference to surround playback.¹ For an existing owner of a satisfactory bar and subwoofer, the useful upgrade question is whether the room can support real rear placement; a different model number alone is not a reason to replace it.

Verdict

The S90TR is a sensible complete-system choice when small rear speakers, broad format support and flexible TV connections matter more than the strongest possible height effects. Its value depends on using the included surround hardware well. Confirm the gaming signal and any LG-specific TV features, then judge the package against the space it must occupy.