LG - 4.1-Channel Hi-Res Soundbar System with Wireless Subwoofer and Chromecast Built-In - Black
Model: SJ8
SKU: 5733426
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I purchased the sound bar to go with an LG 55 inch curved OLED TV. The good news is it sounds great. It also looks great when the power is off. The bad news is that it doesn't look great when the power is on as the input signal LED lights are constantly lit on the front of the speaker. There is absolutely no way to shut it off and according to LG customer support I wouldn't remember which input it was on if it wasn't constantly lit. I don't understand why it doesn't have an LCD that goes to sleep while you aren't changing inputs or give me the option to turn it off completely. It's a shame, really.I like it a lot but I can't deal with the distracting lights. Unless I hear that this will be fixed via software update it will be returned.
Posted by Bryan
There are more expensive sound bars but this one was exactly what I was looking for to match with my new 4K LG TV.. it has good sound separation and good base. I had it mounted to the bottom of the TV and the TV wall mounted - looks seamless very clean. Being that it is also an LG it matched with the TV. It has Bluetooth capability so you can play your music from your other devices.
Posted by DrewT
Pros Doesn’t distort even at max volume Automatic on/off Automatic input control Built in Chromecast Can be extended with extra speakers wirelessly Responds to TV remote for volume controls Sleek design Dialog is very good even with heavy bass Sound range is very good compared to most soundbars Cons Sound is almost completely heard from front more like 2.1 Max volume could be higher Bass is so carefully controlled that hard hits from things like explosions are muffled EQ settings limited to only bass and treble Bottom speaker mounts limits use of third party mounts hanging from TV Manual soundbar controls are on the back and potentially blocked Midrange depends too much on subwoofer Soundbars are becoming increasingly popular as a solution for the typically anemic sound from TV speakers for those who want better sound but don’t want a full surround system. They offer a sleek and easy to install solution that is simple and out of the way while vastly improving sound. The problem is that many soundbars create more low frequencies and allow a heavier punch for more realistic TV viewing while losing the higher or midrange frequencies that make dialog understandable. LG markets the SJ8 as 4.1 channel a high-res 4K. That’s a lot of tech speak to make it sound very sophisticated but the term 4K sound is just marketing. The question is beyond all this technical jargon if the soundbar sounds good. The short answer to this question is yes. When you first see the box for the SJ8 you will notice the box is very large. Upon opening you will be surprised that most of the space is filled by styrofoam. That’s because the box needs to accommodate the long soundbar plus a boxy subwoofer. Don’t let the thin size of the soundbar fool you. The combination is able to put out more sound than much larger, cheaper soundbars with more dynamic range. In plain English, it just sounds better and clearer. Installation is a bit different than other soundbars though. Most others mount to the wall from the back. This one mounts from the bottom. Unfortunately, if you wanted to use one of those nice universal soundbar mounts that hangs off your TV bracket you are out of luck. For everyone else, wall mount brackets are included. Inputs are limited to one HDMI for more modern flat screens or optical and that’s it. For most people looking for a soundbar that should be just fine. If you have a modern LG TV, you also have a wireless option which allow pairing it with your TV very cleanly. Oddly though, in the pursuit for a sleek look the buttons are on the back of the soundbar likely hard to reach or see. A nice touch in this clean appearance is a very straightforward LED text display hidden in the speaker grill showing what input you are using in plain English. That’s a welcomed change from many other sound bars which you often need to memorize a combination of lights to figure out what input you are on. As helpful as the display is, you likely won’t need it much because this sound bar is smart enough to switch inputs for you making things even simpler. In fact, when you turn on your TV the soundbar will automatically turn on for you. Just the same, when you turn it off it will turn off shortly afterwards even using the optical input. It’s a novel idea that makes things so much better. Even if you have an older TV it can take care of itself. If that isn’t simple enough the soundbar also knows the volume controls for other TVs meaning regardless of what TV you have or how it is connected you can use your original TV remote to control the volume. After using for a short time you will begin to wonder why all soundbars don’t do this. It seems that everything about the LG SJ8 is about simplicity. This includes adjusting the sound. EQ adjustments are limited to Subwoofer and Treble. You get four modes called Cinema, Standard, Bass, and ASC. In most cases, the best mode is ASC because it automatically figures out the best settings based on what you are listening to. Often automatic modes are best avoided even with on high end stereo equipment. ASC is one of the best tested so far and allows you to set it and forget it. A common problem with soundbars is that while increasing the amount of bass in your TV viewing experiencing they often leave something out. Many times, other soundbars can achieve floor shaking bass while you can barely understand dialog. What is nice about the SJ8 is it has enough range that you can still clearly understand people speaking while still enjoying the bigger sound. The system was carefully calibrated to where even at max volume the system still outputs clean sound with no distortion. You won’t get the extremely hard hitting bass from an explosion but you also won’t hear that odd subwoofer pop or flutter from it being pushed beyond the limits. If there was anything to complain about, it would be that the system relies too heavily on the subwoofer for midrange sounds. What this means is the subwoofer needs to go in front or things sound odd. In a living room this could be ok but in a bedroom with the subwoofer sitting on the floor it will be likely blocked partially by your bed. This can lead certain dialog to have an odd placement that you know is in front of you but oddly somewhere on the floor instead of matched with the dialog up near the screen. Considering the overall sound though, most people would easily stop noticing this after a short time and just enjoy the great sound range. The other aspect that falls a little short of claims is the 4.1 sound. The sound in most cases is distinctly 2.1. You can sort of fake some sounds coming from the back in Cinema mode but overall the sound is very much right in front of you. This doesn’t really take away from the experience so much as point out that marketing doesn’t always live up to hype. A bonus though is if you really want full surround sound you can buy extra wireless speaker and pair then to the soundbar and upgrade your listening experience. If you love listening to music, the SJ8 comes with a bonus. It has Chromecast Audio built right in. No odd, third party solutions but real Chromecast. This is great because you can easily include it as part of a whole home audio system just by purchasing Chromecast audio adapters instead of needing to buy LG speakers for your whole house. You can also pair it with other brand speakers with Chromecast built in leaving the choice completely up to you. It’s another nice touch to what overall seems to be a very thoughtfully designed system. It’s refreshing to see a company design a product more for the customer than profit and locking a customer into buying only more of their products. In fact, this openness could potentially encourage one to purchase more LG products just to reward them for giving the customer the choice. Only a few small flaws keep this unit the SJ8 from getting 5 stars. If possible, it would be rated 4.5. If you are in the market for upgrading your TV sound and want a sleek solution that has good dynamic range, dialog that is actually understandable, a small footprint, simple operation, and operates seamlessly with little fuss the LG SJ8 is a great solution.
Posted by CraigB
Customers value the 4.1-Channel Hi-Res Soundbar System for its exceptional sound quality, easy setup, and sleek design. Many customers rave about the soundbar's ability to deliver crystal clear audio, while others appreciate the simplicity of the installation process. The soundbar's Bluetooth connectivity and affordable price point are also mentioned as positive aspects. However, some customers have expressed concerns about the bass and maximum volume levels, which they feel could be improved.