Sound quality: LG's S75Q has decent overall sound quality - this model reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. In the Standard sound effect mode the bass has good impact and goes fairly deep, but is somewhat prominent and boomy. The midrange is somewhat nasal, grainy and hazy, and a bit plasticky. Treble is extended, but is a bit prominent, sizzly, and smeared. Does a decent job of recovering the room ambience from the recording in the upper midrange but room ambience recovery is lacking in the upper bass and lower midrange and the overall sound is a bit constricted and congested. When playing back stereo program material the sound field extends somewhat above but not much beyond the width of the speaker array and there is no sense of depth. The various sound modes had a noticeable effect on the sound field and tonal balance. When 5.1 channel program material is played back in the Standard mode the width and height of the sound stage expands, and depending on the program material extends well beyond the height and width of the soundbar enclosure. The surround sound field mode setting had an effect on the sound field and tonal balance but it was minimal; the other sound modes had a more noticeable effect on the sound field and tonal balance. When playing Dolby Atmos or DTS:X material the width and height of the sound stage expands and depending on the program material can fill the front end of the room; audio imaging can extend up and above from the front of the room to almost directly overhead depending on the program material, but there was no rear surround effect, and sounds that should have been in the rear come from the front. The various sound modes had no effect when Dolby Atmos or DTS:X material is played back. There was no significant difference in sound quality between the HDMI, optical, USB, and Bluetooth inputs. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X program material can only be played through the HDMI input and through the HDMI ARC/eARC input when it is connected to a TV that has a HDMI ARC connection that supports Dolby Digital+ and/or DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, or a HDMI eARC connection that supports Dolby Digital+ or Dolby Digital TrueHD and/or DTS-HD Master Audio or DTS-HD High Resolution Audio. The system can provide satisfying volume in a medium sized room.
TV ease of use: Very good overall.
Features ease of use: Very good overall.
