LG XBoom RN5

Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers / Home

A LG Xboom RN5 wireless Bluetooth home speaker system.

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CR Expert Take

How did it perform in our expert lab testing?

Overall Score

The Overall Score for this model is derived from our expert lab test results.

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Current Range of Tested Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers

What goes into the Overall Score?

Sound quality

/ 5

Ease of use

/ 5

Versatility

/ 5

Color

/ 5

Detailed Test Results

Sound quality: LG's XBoom RN5 had Good overall sound quality. With the user EQ setting set for the most even tonal balance, the bass has good impact, and goes fairly deep, but is tubby and somewhat prominent. Midrange is fairly even, but is hazy, somewhat dark, grainy, and plasticy. The treble is fairly extended but somewhat subdued and smeared. It overall does a so so job recovering room ambience, and sounds somewhat congested. Although it is a stereo model, there isn't much apparent stereo separation unless you are very close to the front of the enclosure, which is not the normal listening position for a model this size (for a speaker this big, you would typically listen from further away). The various user EQ modes make an obvious difference in the sound. No significant difference between Bluetooth, USB and Optical input sound quality. It provides a substantial volume level in a large sized room.

Ease of use: We found the LG XBoom RN5 ease of use to be Very Good overall. Bluetooth pairing is excellent as the unit is always in pairing mode, has a pairing mode indicator, indicates when pairing mode has occurred and never times out. Volume controls are clearly labelled buttons and there is a non-persistent numerical volume display on the top of the unit. The input source button is prominent but ambiguously labeled (F) and there is a display on top of unit that clearly indicates with words which source has been selected.

About

A LG Xboom RN5 wireless Bluetooth home speaker system.

Features & Specs

Features

IP rating

Claimed battery life (hrs.)

Adjustable tone settings

Yes

Wireless stereo pairing

Speaker phone w/built-in mic

Optional multi-room sharing

Remote

Yes

Power source

Updatable software/firmware

Warranty (mos.): parts/labor

12/12

Other features

Has color changing LED lights and different selectable lighting modes. Has Party Strobe feature that creates a strobe lighting effect that syncs to the pulse of the music from up to three connected Android phones. Has 2 USB ports that can play compatible sound files from USB storage devices. You can record various sound sources to USB while listening to music at selectable bit rates. You can record sound using DJ PAD, MIC or GUITAR. Files can be copied from USB1 to USB2. Can connect to another LG XBOOM unit to play in TWIN mode. Has AutoDJ feature that blends the end of one song into the beginning of another. Has DJ PAD sound effects with 3 modes (Club, Drum or User), each mode as 3 sound effects. Has FM tuner that can store 50 preset stations and can be changed from stereo to mono to improve reception. Karaoke functions not compatible with FM radio input. Has Voice Canceller feature that reduces vocal tones from music playback. MIC input has various vocal effects. Has Key Changer feature that will allow you to sharpen or flatten audio pitch. LG Sound Sync compatible with LG TV's that support Sound Sync; can be connected by optical cable or Bluetooth to allow the TV's audio to be heard through speaker and control some of the speakers functions (Volume up/down, Mute) with the TV's remote. LG XBoom app available for Android 5.0 or later and iOS 10 or later. Has JUKEBOX function that enables you make a playlist of up to 100 files from a USB drive. Has CHILDSAFE mode that when enabled will gradually increase volume to desired level when unit is turned on. Has DRC (Dynamic range control). When DRC is turned on, it will prevent sudden sound increase at lower volumes. DRC function only operates on Optical function, Dolby Digital only.

Included accessories

Power cord, Remote control, FM antenna, and Simple manual.

WiFi content sharing technology

Wake timer

Yes

Sleep timer

Yes

Specs

Wireless type

Bluetooth

Audio format

Stereo

Height (in.)

Width (in.)

Depth (in.)

Weight (lbs.)

Dimensions HxWxD (in.)

27 x 13 x 14.25

Connections

Stereo analog audio input

Optical digital audio input

Yes

Headphone jack

Active subwoofer pre-amp out

Other connections

1 Mic input (1/4"), 1 Guitar input (1/4"), 2 USB audio host mode ports. FM antenna input.

iPod Docking

Price & Shop

LG XBoom RN5

CR Expert Take

Overall Score

What goes into the Overall Score?

Detailed Test Results

About

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