LG has announced its 2021 soundbar lineup: LG SP11RA, SP9YA, SP8YA, SP7Y, and SPD7Y. For many soundbar enclosures, LG has changed materials. And new audio products are the first in the industry to receive SGS Eco Product certification. Numerous enhancements will help you compete against Philips soundbars. Or beat the 2021 Samsung soundbars in the race for consumer’s hearts.
All new soundbars support Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. And can be connected to external players via HDMI input or via TV via HDMI eARC / ARC. The three older models work with voice assistants Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri. Soundbars SP11RA through SP8YA boast AI Room Calibration. It uses spatial sensing technology to measure the size of a room and then adjusts the soundbar’s sound settings to suit the specific characteristics of the space.
This year, LG soundbars have again been developed in collaboration with Meridian. Moreover, the new additions offer Meridian Audio customization and new Meridian Horizon technology that converts two-channel stereo content into multi-channel audio.
Some devices will go on sale in key markets in Europe and North America at the end of April, with prices starting at 449 euros and the flagship soundbar starting at 1,599 euros. LG will unveil more affordable mid-range and low-end soundbars later this year, but there are no details yet.
Flagship soundbar SP11RA
Masthead soundbar LG SP11RA develops traditions, which laid the soundbar LG 2020 and is the successor SN11RG.
However, this premium model features a 7.1.4-channel configuration, 770W output power, and rear and up-firing speakers. The soundbar supports Dolby Atmos and DTS: X (DTS: Virtual X) object-based formats. And can also play high-resolution audio (Hi-Res Audio 24 bit / 96 kHz). It also helps stream music from iPhone using AirPlay 2 and guarantees 4K pass-through with Dolby Vision support.
Special attention should be paid to the new AI Sound Pro integration feature with LG TVs (in particular, these are LG QNED and OLED TVs of 2021 ). “The company’s new soundbars bring AI Sound Pro to tightly integrate with LG TVs. TV sound is played through the soundbar using TV Sound Mode Share. Thus delivering superior AI Sound Pro processing power to the more powerful speakers of the new soundbars. More, In addition, LG soundbars now offer all of the same sound modes as the latest TVs. Allowing users to easily switch between the soundbar and TV using the TV’s remote control, ”the company said.
More affordable LG 2021 soundbars
In addition to LG SP11RA, 4 more sound bars were presented:
- First LG SP9YA with 5.1.2 configuration and 520 W power;
- LG SP8YA with 3.1.2 configuration and 440 W power.
- Soundbar LG SP7Y with 5.1 configuration and 440W power;
- And LG SPD7Y with 3.1.2 configuration and 380W.
They come without rear speakers initially, but users have the option to purchase an optional upgrade package (SPK8 kit).
Standing out from its colleagues is the LG SP7Y soundbar with 5.1 base sound, which does not offer eARC and Dolby Vision pass-through and only supports DTS: Virtual X immersive sound. In addition, this model is devoid of AI Room calibration and does not work with voice assistants.
Soundbars LG SP9YA, SP8YA, and SPD7Y have a common set of functionality and differ mainly in configuration and power. Except that the SPD7Y does without AI Room Calibration and Google Assistant / Amazon Alexa, and the two older models are equipped with AirPlay 2.
