Brought this soundbar to replace an older surround sound system 3 years ago. At the time it was a bit of an upgrade from the nearly 10 year old 5.1 HTIB I had been using but after a while I found myself wanting a bit more than what this soundbar could offer, especially when it came to the subwoofer performance. I specifically remember watching Ford v Ferrari and deciding I wanted to go back to a receiver and speakers. It took a while as I started looking in the height of the pandemic and chip shortages but finally found a good starter system that I can slowly upgrade over time (already upgraded my center speaker and more to come down the line) and it's a big difference over the soundbar in clarity and bass. I did put this in the bedroom to give the better half better sound than the tv speakers. In all honesty, it's a good sounbar and most people will be more than happy with it. I'm definitely not the average person.

I have the 2017 version in my bedroom. It is ok for a small room but probably not for a large room. The Netflix Atmos experience is very good.

Just got my SK9Y a week ago and for $459.00 at Costco its well worth it. Great review as usual and I agree 100% of your specs of the SK9Y Love the sound and features going to enjoy this for years to come Thanks again for a great review.

I just bought the Onkyo SBT-A500 3.1.2 Ch. Dolby Atmos Sound Bar System. It's not a world beater, but not bad for $327. I can't justify spending more than $400 on a sb. Anything higher than that I might as well get a real surround system.

The rear channels are a must. Completely changed the experiancefor me.

There it is! Been waiting for this!

Could you review the JBL Bar 5.1 and I give us your thoughts between LG SK9Y and the JBL Bar 5.1?

I bought this along with the SPK8-S wireless speakers. It definitely adds so much more depth to the viewing experience. I have it paired with my LGB7A65. I had the SJ9 but sold it, i love that this years sound bar line up can pair with the wireless speakers. Great review its really what sold me on upgrading.

my friend i bought the sky9 lg sound bar and i want to see your video on wireless speakers. i watched so many videos of you on my you tube tv but i wanted to go on my computer and send you some love for the great job you do. thank you bobby ps what is the best setting on the sound bar can you help me here.

Still no DTS-X support, still only one HDMI input. I'd rather just have a ATMOS and DTS-X compatible reciever and roll my own. No excuse for no DTS-X support in 2018. One HDMI input is too limiting with people who have streaming boxes and BD players.

I was having issues to get hdr @60hz in my computer and I fix it connecting the soundbar to the computer internal sound and my video card directly to another hdmi port of my tv. My xbox one X has always performed very well. No issues there. I also have the real speakers. I watched Ready Player one and I was very pleased.

Thank you for the detailed review.

Great review, sound bar looks great. Keep up the great work.

I have the SJ9 and love it. This looks promising as well.

How did u manage to get Dolby Atmos info on the bar ?

I have the SJ9 I replaced a Sony StR-860 mainly because I have Fibromyalgia now and am unable to sort out rewiring when the wife wants the room moved. It's a fab piece of kit and when I finally watched Dunkirk on the Sky UHD feed it blew the house apart. Explosions were immense in Dolby Atmos which I think is probably a preferred soundtrack now than DTS which I had on the Sony. The plus side as you said too is the lack of wires and seven speakers. My livingroom is quite small but I love my films so this was perfect. Kind of pissed though that it's already been updated but I guess that's the whole planned obsolescence we as consumers have to put up with these days. We're never gonna catch up.

Nice review, honest as always, not a product for me though

Take a look at the Damson S-Series Atmos set up. Its small and compact. I did some videos on it over the last few days. I don't think its worth $800 but provides nice full surround atmos in a small, fully wireless kit.

Hey SpareChange, will you check out the Atmos/DTS:X soundbars from Samsung and Nakamichi in the near future?

Hi Shane and other posters, just ordered this, as is within my price range and am just wondering 2 things: 1: Does this support HDR and DV passthrough? 2: Anyone use this with additional rear speakers? If so, does it sound better? (great review as always btw ;-)

What’s the difference between this and the SJ9 besides that you can add rear speakers to the SK9Y? I noticed that the the SJ9 is still more expensive than the newer SK9Y at Best Buy. Also do you think it’s possible for LG to have a firmware update on the SJ9 so you can add rear speakers? Hope to hear from you. Thanks

Awesome man, love soundbar reviews and thank you for being honest.

Can you disable or dim the display?

Great job your one the best reviewers on you tube.

How are you going to make something have Atmos for sound coming above your head , but then not have surrounds from things coming behind you. Marketing is getting ridiculous.

Thanks for sharing.

Hi I just purchased a LG CX what sound bar do you recommend?

Does anyone have any idea what the hell happened to HTiBs after 2014?? Our options now are either crappy sound bars or separates which may not be suitable for all consumers due to many reasons. Love my 7540TW but am gonna have to replace it once I move to 4K for UHD audio but seems like I’m gonna have to go for separates and lose the wireless rear speakers built in function this HTiB has.

Well I expected more from LG. My son has the Sony 5000 soundbar impressive and powerful but you pay more for it. Anyway good review. Thanks.

The msrp was too high on this set for me. But recent sales have it priced at 399. Do you feel it's a good buy at the lower price?

Quick question So what is the difference between the lg sj9, sk9y, sk10y. Most people have said that you can get rear speakers for the sk9y and sk10y but the sj9 does not support rear speakers.I know they all have dolby atoms but Is that the only difference?

great review

Please help: What means CHROMCAST built in?.... is as same a chromcast device that can Cast Netflix or youtube from computer?

A suggestion, could you also specify metric parameters (even if just on the screen) for those of us using the correct measuring system :)

Does Meridian Technology worth to go for SK10 over SK9 and pay extra money?

This or a New Bose 130? Any thoughts? I have a chance to buy a new Bose 130 which is a few years older in technology but was $1500 in its hey day.

Which hdmi earc cable r u using

I bought the LG SJ9 last year.. the SJ9 is compatible for rear speakers as well and has a better sub woofer. So really this new model only has a variant volume control.. the most pointless upgrade.

What's the difference between the sk9 and skc9? I purchased one from LG but received a skc9

So when playing DTSx what will it sound like? Still good just not as good ?

Hi. What is the difference between sj9 and this model

Why does it have a Ethernet port ? Is it smart

Help! I just bought this soundbar to go with my 2017 65" OLED BA7. It sounds wonderful; HOWEVER, when movie has Dolby Atmos I CANNOT sync lips & dialogue either using the remote or the AV sound adjustment options on the TV. I've tried every option. So frustrated. Help!

Guy at Best Buy told me that the LG SK9Y is the best sound bar on the market. Is that true?

So if I plug in A hdmi to the arc on my new LG tv and then into the arc on the back of the speaker I'm good for sound for anything plugged in my TV like a Blu Ray player?

Why the hell does the Chromecast not work? I try to play music through Google home or Spotify and it just says unable to play music or just doesn't show as a castable device

Thanks, it was good review, have you done the SK10Y by any chances?

I have a OLED C7 and I bought an SJ9 sound bar. Had them both for about 8 months now. I firmly believe these things are too damned expensive for the quality you (don’t) get. The sound out of the SJ9 though deeper and louder, was a lot muddier and less refined than the native sound out of my C7. It sounded like the TV had more speakers in play than the sound bar. Atmos thru the sound bar was better than the TV though. When I could get the sound bar to work properly.... the ARC input fritzed out in month 3 and now it only plays TV sound through the optical and maybe tv sync. No hdmi output. . And this problem is apparently common on the SJ9. If anyone knows what to do about this please let me know. It’s a bad product and this 2018 version looks like merely a re-skin. 2017 was crap and 2018 probably is too. For $900 go get a full surround sound theatre system with top firing speakers and keep the change.

So you have a vaulted ceiling this soundbar is basically useless with the dolby atmos. I'm waiting for my Yarra3DX soundbar with a different 3D sound tech which hopefully will solve this problem.

Good review! I have this model Lg with rear surround. I noticed in your initial explanation of Atmos you showed both the bar and surround speakers reflecting off the ceiling? Are their upward firing speakers for the Lg Sk9y?

please correct me if I am wrong but if you connect your bluray player to the sound bar input, wouldn't you sacrifice HDR? I read this soundbar does not support HDR passthrough.

has anyone tried to pair this with the offer sj9?!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does it fit in front of LG C9??

Can you review the Sony HTZ9F next? I’m really interested in that sound bar.

So what you think has the better sound the LG Sky9 or Sony HTZ9F?

So i have the LG sj9 Its good and all but would you upgrade to this?

Just bought mine today. Two thumbs down. Will be returning it. I only sit 10 feet max from my oled and I turn it up to max volume and I feel like it’s not loud enough. Also I’ve tried Dolby Atmos and it’s definitely a gimmick. Will be investing in the Sony 1080 receiver and some real speakers.

I may have missed it but the Woofer is not wireless?

Great review. Hopefully you will review the Sony HTZ9F which is the same price as this one and compare them.

I got SK9Y yesterday bundled with a LG OLED C8. I have a Marantz SR Receiver with a Canton 7.1 system but it's quite old so I thought the LG soundbar would be a fresh improvement even if they´not in the same league. So I hooked up the soundbar after fiddeling with the TV a bit and oh.. so disapointed I am. Totally crap sound. Even the OLED C8 internal speakers leaves a better all around audio sound when watching Live TV in general. I may miss something as yet haven't watched a movie but this unit will be returned in favour for the old system that has bottom even without a woofer. I've been a sound engineer for 30 years but is not updated on the Video/TV but I'm very surprised that people actually buy this kind of crap, not worth the money. Very thin sound lacking the ump. I believe the woofer will push in on sound effects but who cares when the over all sound is so poor lacking bottom. My 5c :)

My question is my tv is a b6 oled so it’s a few years old and the specs don’t mention Atmos. But I have this sk9y Atmos soundbar, if I get an Xbox one s can I play Atmos content or do I need an av receiver or new tv?????

Hi are you going to do a review for the rear spk8-s speakers?

Whats the difference between this one and SJ9

Looking for input... I paid 180 recently for an sk8y. Worth the price?

Blue ray player has only 1 hdmi output so its only for tv not for sounbar

Hi! I can had a middle sizes of led tv ! But , sound 's ,song s and music ! I will have to buying the highend speakers ! Because sounds are very important thatn the tv ! So

Hey Shane, Do you have the LG wireless speakers for the sk9y to review as well? I believe the model number for those is spk8-s.

Sonos or bose all the way. Prefer natural sounding 5.1 setup more than virtual 5.2 or 5.4 my sonos playbase with beam and 2 read play one incredible and real.

Is there a better gauge speaker wire for the rear?

Thanks sparechange for the review so far it’s not better than the Sony Ht-ST5000 maybe that’s the soundbar I may get

I guess there is no rear speaks included, you have to buy them seperately?

Hi, great channel. I just bought the SK9Y on black friday but got confused about extra speakers. Does the SK9Y work "just as good" or good enough without the extra speakers (sold separately)? Or do you lose channels if you don't get the extra units? Also, I've noticed that it sounds better through Bluetooth than HDMI ARC. Is ARC better for extra speakers or is it for the basic setup as well? Cheers

How can we hear the sounds of the mobile phones, pets (dogs & cats), dolphins, earthquakes, so on, come from the ground up in the movies? I think we should make the ground speakers for those sounds. 🔊 🔊 🔊

can you connect the sk9y to a Samsung tv?

is it 4k pass through sir?

Does this one support HDR pass through?

Do you think there is a way since I have the sj9 model 2017 if I can order rear speakers?

Does it have 4k play through?

Review the sk10y vs sony best soundbar. Also review deon HEOS vs bose vs sonos for cheaper sounbars please

Man, youre mean.. I did just bougt SK9Y.. Now im so sad now ;) LOL. It feels like it got much more power then it lets out, and the smal Subwoffer 7", is lite better then i thugt. But a 10" wold be better iThink. Here my question, is ther ant 10" subbas to this or does it breake?? I like the cylinder like sub if it can makes. I cant find any round berral like Sub.

I see Sony's hi-res audio technology

Nah, I've heard these & they're not convincing at all. For the $800 LG's asking. you can buy an AVR and a 5.1 speaker setup that will embarrass this sound bar. Hey Folks? Stick to a real surround sound setup, you'll be glad you did. Why? Today's manufacturers sell AVR, 5.1 speaker combos for under $500 that are virtually invisible & will knock your socks off. Especially if you're used to regular old TV speakers or a sound bar. ~ peace

You said the sound bar has 5 speakers... but then you named 7 speakers on the sound bar.

Any recommend soundbar for LG 55sj800t?

Nice review, except 1 thing this bar can't play DOLBY ATMOS, as the HDMI ARC doesn't pass it. The ARC is only able to pass Dolby Digital+, and stream with signal not more than ~1 Mb/sec. So this is technically impossible. Except playing content from stream services (Netflix,Amazon etc) which stream ATMOS content downcoded to lower bit stream.

Think I stay with my sonos system..

ST-5000 so expensive though lol. May have to splurge...

Another Sound Bar review, my heart hurts Shane :P

Nice video, but a bit robotic:/

Next: Samsung HW-N950?

Sony o Lg?

LG app is terrible. might as well say its a no buy.

Receiver and proper set up > sound bar

Just buy this shit at costco. Its 649.99

Sony looks better as well.

Sound bars are to good audio as video pizzeria's are to UHD TV's.