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Research · 9.1.5-channel soundbar

LG S95AR: what the testing says

The S95AR is the full system for LG TV owners. The bar, sub, and two up-firing rears come in the box, RTINGS rates it great for movies and music and amazing for dialogue, and on an LG TV it adds WOW Orchestra and wireless WOWCAST. On October 26 it was $1,199.99 from a marketplace seller, $500 under LG's own price.

By The WhichTVShouldIBuy editorsUpdated Released 2025
LG S95AR soundbar, straight-on front view
Image: LG (official product page, opens in a new tab)
LG S95AR wireless subwoofer
Image: LG (official product page, opens in a new tab)
LG S95AR rear speakers
Image: LG (official product page, opens in a new tab)

Our take

The short version

LG's 2025 flagship is a 9.1.5-channel system: a 17-speaker bar with five up-firing drivers, an 8-inch wireless subwoofer, and wireless rear speakers with their own up-firing drivers. RTINGS calls it 'great for mixed usage', 'amazing for dialogue-filled TV shows', and great for music and movies, praising its 'great discrete satellites and competitive height channel performance'.

On an LG TV it goes further. WOW Orchestra plays the TV's speakers along with the bar, WOWCAST Built-in links them without an HDMI cable, and WOW Interface puts the bar on the TV's menus. LG names its OLED B, C, and G series as the match, though its US pages don't list TV years.

Two cautions. RTINGS says it can't pass HDMI 2.1-class bandwidth, so 4K at 120Hz through the bar drops to 8-bit color: plug consoles into the TV instead. And at 49.2 inches it's the widest bar here, so it only fits under a 65-inch screen or bigger by our width rule.

Pros and cons

What we like

  • Sub and up-firing rears in the box
  • RTINGS: great for movies and music, amazing for dialogue
  • WOW Orchestra, WOWCAST, and WOW Interface with LG TVs
  • Dolby Atmos and DTS:X; AI room calibration

Trade-offs

  • No HDMI 2.1-class bandwidth on its passthrough, per RTINGS
  • 49.2 inches wide: 65-inch screens and up
  • Amazon.com wasn't selling it on October 26

Who it's for

Buy it if…

  • Owners of a 65-inch or bigger LG OLED
  • Anyone who wants rears and a sub without buying them separately
  • DTS disc collectors who want an LG

Skip it if…

  • TVs under 65 inches: the LG Sound Suite H7 is narrower
  • Gamers who'd route a console through the bar
  • Samsung TV owners: the Samsung HW-Q990H matches it with Q-Symphony

Your TV

TVs it fits and syncs with

At 49.2 in (1,250 mm) wide, the S95AR fits under a 65-inch screen, whose picture is 56.7 inches wide, and anything bigger. It's wider than the picture on a 55-inch screen or smaller. Our rule: a bar fits when it's no wider than the picture, since every TV is a little wider than its picture and the bar then won't overhang it. Check the gap under the screen too: the bar is 2.5 inches (64 mm) tall.

LG names these features for LG TVs. Any other TV still works with it over HDMI eARC.

  • LG TVs: WOW Orchestra, WOWCAST Built-in, WOW Interface

    WOW Orchestra plays the TV's speakers and the bar together, WOWCAST connects the bar to the TV wirelessly, and WOW Interface puts the bar's settings and connection status on the TV screen and remote. LG's US pages say these need 'select LG TV and LG Soundbar models' without naming TV years, and LG says the S95AR pairs with its OLED B, C, and G series. LG's page (opens in a new tab)

TVs we cover that it fits under

Sizes are the ones each TV is sold in. A sync feature is listed where LG names one for that TV's brand and model year.

Spec sheet

S95AR specs

LG S95AR specifications
Channels9.1.5 (RTINGS counts 9.1.4, since the center doesn't play Atmos)
Drivers17 speakers in the system, including five up-firing
Audio formatsDolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS:X, DTS-HD Master Audio, LPCM
HDMIHDMI eARC to the TV, plus 1 HDMI input (from LG's rear-panel photo)
HDMI passthrough4K up to 120Hz, Dolby Vision and HDR10, VRR and ALLM, per LG
Optical1 optical input
WirelessWi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect
Voice / micsWorks with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Subwoofer8-inch wireless subwoofer included
Rear speakersWireless rear speakers with up-firing drivers included
Bar dimensions49.2 x 2.5 x 5.3 in (LG gives inches only; about 1,250 x 64 mm)
Bar weight12.5 lb (bar)
Room calibrationAI Room Calibration, using the bar's mic, which also locates the rears
Dialogue / night modesClear Voice mode; Night mode; Auto Volume Leveler
Also notableUSB host

From the manufacturer sources listed below. “Not specified” means those sources don't state it. Model number: S95AR.

Published testing

What the testing says

Other outlets tested the S95AR; we didn't. Each finding is theirs, with the page and its date.

Cross-shop

Alternatives to consider

  • Samsung HW-Q990H soundbar with its wireless subwoofer and two rear speakers, three-quarter view
    Image: Samsung (official product page, opens in a new tab)

    Samsung HW-Q990H

    Channels
    11.1.4 Atmos
    Approx. price
    ~$1,497.99
    In the box
    Bar, sub, and rears
    Fits under
    65" and up
    TV sync
    Samsung
    Width
    48.5 in

    A full 11.1.4 system in one box: bar, sub, and two rears, with RTINGS' top verdicts for movies and dialogue.

    Pros

    • Pro: Sub and two rears in the box: true 11.1.4 with nothing to add
    • Pro: RTINGS: amazing for mixed use and dialogue, impressive for movies
    • Pro: Two HDMI inputs with 4K 120Hz passthrough

    Trade-offs

    • Trade-off: 48.5 inches wide: fits 65-inch screens and up
    • Trade-off: RTINGS calls it largely unchanged from the Q990F

    Top fit scores

    Movies
    5 out of 5
    Dialogue
    5 out of 5
    Bass
    5 out of 5

    Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published testing and specs, not our own measurements.

    Check price

    Affiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.

    Read the breakdown: Samsung HW-Q990H
  • LG Sound Suite H7 soundbar, front view from slightly above
    Image: LG (official product page, opens in a new tab)

    LG Sound Suite H7

    Channels
    5.1.3 Atmos
    Approx. price
    ~$849.99
    In the box
    Bar only
    Fits under
    55" and up
    TV sync
    LG
    Width
    47.2 in

    LG's 2026 standalone bar: very good for music and great for dialogue, with LG speakers you can add later.

    Pros

    • Pro: RTINGS: great for dialogue, very good for music
    • Pro: Strong bass for a bar with no sub
    • Pro: Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify and Tidal Connect

    Trade-offs

    • Trade-off: No sub in the box; the W7 is $599.99
    • Trade-off: No HDMI input; latency a bit high, per RTINGS

    Top fit scores

    Dialogue
    4 out of 5
    Music
    4 out of 5
    Movies
    3 out of 5

    Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published testing and specs, not our own measurements.

    Check price

    Affiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.

    Read the breakdown: LG Sound Suite H7
  • Hisense AX5140Q soundbar with its wireless subwoofer and two rear speakers, three-quarter view
    Image: Hisense (official product page, opens in a new tab)

    Hisense AX5140Q

    Channels
    5.1.4 Atmos
    Approx. price
    ~$399.99
    In the box
    Bar, sub, and rears
    Fits under
    48" and up
    TV sync
    Hisense, Roku
    Width
    40.1 in

    A 5.1.4 system with sub and up-firing rears for $400; RTINGS' best budget soundbar.

    Pros

    • Pro: Sub and two up-firing rears in the box for $399.99
    • Pro: RTINGS: great for mixed use, dialogue, and movies; its best budget soundbar
    • Pro: Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, with an HDMI input

    Trade-offs

    • Trade-off: No Wi-Fi: Bluetooth only
    • Trade-off: Passthrough tops out at 4K 60Hz

    Top fit scores

    Movies
    4 out of 5
    Dialogue
    4 out of 5
    Bass
    4 out of 5

    Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published testing and specs, not our own measurements.

    Check price

    Affiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.

    Read the breakdown: Hisense AX5140Q

Sources

Manufacturer specs

Published testing

Manufacturer specs and published testing, researched October 26, 2026. The Amazon price is the buy-box price for a new unit that day ($1,199.99, sold by Video & Audio Center). We didn't test this soundbar ourselves; findings credited to an outlet are that outlet's.