LG DS95QR Review

Summary / TL;DR

In the realm of home entertainment, the LG DS95QR soundbar stands out as a top performer. Crafted by electronics giant LG, this device aims to elevate your audio experience with its sleek design, superior sound quality, and smart features. It caters to various user needs, whether you're a movie buff, sports enthusiast, or music lover.

The soundbar's elegant design, solid build quality, and compact size make it a versatile addition to any home setup. It offers immersive sound with Dolby Atmos technology, deep bass, clear mids, and highs. The connectivity options, including Bluetooth 5.0 and high-resolution audio support, ensure seamless integration with modern and traditional setups.

While priced in the mid to high range, the LG DS95QR delivers exceptional value with its premium features, durability, and immersive sound experience. It's a worthy investment for those seeking top-notch audio quality and versatility in a sleek package.

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Introduction

In the vast universe of home entertainment, a standout performer has emerged: the LG DS95QR soundbar. This audio device, from the globally recognized electronics giant, LG, is designed with the core aim of enhancing your entertainment experience. It promises a unique blend of sophisticated design, superior sound quality, and a host of smart features that are meant to take your audio experience to a stellar level. The LG DS95QR is more than just a pretty face in your living room; it's a clear testament to LG's dedication in delivering top-notch sound in a stylish package. It's an audio accessory that suits a wide range of user needs, whether you're an avid movie buff seeking theater-quality sound, a sports fan wanting to catch every snippet of the stadium ambiance, or a music enthusiast longing for a crisp and clear audio delivery. This review will delve into the specifics of the LG DS95QR, offering an in-depth analysis of its design, sound quality, connectivity options, and numerous other features. In the 'Remote Control and User Interface' section, we will scrutinize its user-friendliness, and under 'Installation and Setup', we will discuss just how easy it is to get this soundbar up and running. We will also evaluate its price point and overall value in the 'Price and Value' section. The LG DS95QR soundbar is a device that claims to offer a remarkable blend of form, function, and performance. But does it live up to these claims? Let's find out.

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Design and Build Quality

Upon first glance, the LG DS95QR soundbar conveys a sense of refined elegance that aligns neatly with its premium positioning in the market. The design is sleek, with a smooth, streamlined aesthetic that is both modern and minimalist. This makes it a versatile addition to any home decor, whether you're aiming for a cutting-edge tech atmosphere or a more understated look. The build quality is impressively solid. The soundbar's body is encased in a high-quality, brushed metal finish which not only adds to its visual appeal but also enhances its durability. This is a device that has been built to last. Moreover, its heft and substance convey an assurance of quality that is immediately palpable. The speakers are covered by a fine, metallic grille that not just protects the internal components but also contributes to the overall sleek aesthetic of the soundbar. The grille is non-removable, ensuring that the speakers stay dust-free and maintain their performance over time.

The soundbar measures in at a comfortable size, allowing it to fit conveniently under most TV setups without being obtrusive. It's substantial enough to deliver powerful sound, but not so large that it dominates the room or becomes an eyesore. This thoughtful design balancing act makes the DS95QR an easy fit in most home entertainment setups. However, the LG DS95QR is not just about good looks. Its sturdy construction, along with high-grade materials, ensure it can withstand the rigors of daily use. This is a soundbar you can trust to deliver not just today, but for many years to come. In the next section, we'll be discussing "Sound Quality", so you'll get a clearer idea about the performance this design and build quality translates into. For now, it's safe to say that the LG DS95QR is a stylish, robust, and well-constructed piece of audio equipment that promises to elevate your home entertainment experience.

Sound Quality

With any soundbar, the key consideration will always be the sound quality it offers. The LG DS95QR certainly delivers on this aspect, boasting a rich and immersive audio experience. It's fitted with a 3.1.2 channel, which works in tandem with Dolby Atmos technology to create a three-dimensional soundscape. This makes you feel as if you're right in the middle of the action, whether you're watching an action-packed movie or listening to your favorite music album.

When it comes to the bass response, the DS95QR doesn't disappoint. Thanks to its built-in subwoofer, the soundbar produces deep, resonating bass that adds depth to any audio playback. On the other hand, the mids and highs are clear and detailed, ensuring that dialogue in movies and lyrics in songs come out crisp and distinct.

One particularly noteworthy feature is the soundbar's adaptive sound control. This smart technology recognizes what you're watching or listening to and automatically adjusts the sound settings for optimal audio. For instance, if you're watching a dialogue-heavy drama, it'll boost the dialogue and reduce background noise; if it's an action movie, it'll emphasize the sound effects. However, for those who like to tweak their settings, the DS95QR also offers customizable EQ settings.

The soundbar also features LG's unique Meridian Audio technology, which enhances the overall sound quality. This British audio company is known for its high-end audio equipment, and its touch on the DS95QR is evident in the superior audio performance. This feature, combined with the rest of the soundbar's audio capabilities, makes for an impressive sound experience.

While the DS95QR may not match up with a full home theater setup, it certainly brings you a step closer. It's a great choice for anyone who wants to upgrade their TV's built-in speakers with a single, stylish device that provides excellent sound quality.

Connectivity Options

The LG DS95QR Soundbar provides a variety of connectivity options that cater to both modern and traditional setups. The backbone of its connectivity suite is the built-in Bluetooth 5.0, which enables seamless wireless audio streaming from your favorite devices. This feature offers a stable connection and a range of up to 50 feet. Furthermore, the Bluetooth standby mode allows the soundbar to turn on or off automatically based on the connection status, making it highly convenient for users.

On the more traditional side of things, the LG DS95QR features an array of physical connection ports. These include a pair of HDMI ports (in and out), an Optical Digital Audio Input, and a USB port. The HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) offers the simplicity of a single-cable connection to your TV, ensuring high-quality audio transmission while also allowing you to control the soundbar with your TV remote. The Optical Digital Audio Input, meanwhile, provides a reliable wired alternative for transmitting high-quality sound.

Worth mentioning is the inclusion of a 3.5mm Audio Jack, a somewhat rare find in current soundbars. This connection option opens up possibilities for hooking up older devices or using headphones for personal listening. Additionally, the soundbar also supports Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling features like multi-room playback and voice control when connected to a smart home network.

The LG DS95QR also supports high-resolution audio, ensuring your music or movies sound as its creators intended, regardless of the connection method you choose. The range of connectivity options, coupled with high-resolution audio support, makes the LG DS95QR a versatile solution for your home entertainment needs.

Features and Technology

The LG DS95QR is an impressive piece of audio technology, designed with a range of features to optimize your sound experience. The first noteworthy aspect is its built-in Dolby Atmos technology. This technology creates a thrilling surround sound experience by processing the audio to give the illusion of sound coming from all directions. It's as if you're sitting in the middle of an action-packed movie scene or a live concert! Enhancing its ability to deliver top-notch sound is DTS Virtual:X technology. This technology is innovatively designed to create a three-dimensional sound experience even from soundbars that do not have physical height speakers. It adds more depth to the sound and extends the surround effect, resulting in a more immersive audio experience. Another significant feature of the LG DS95QR is the AI Sound Pro. This smart technology automatically adjusts the sound levels based on what you're watching. So, whether it's an action movie, a sitcom, or a concert, you can rely on AI Sound Pro to optimize the audio for the best experience.

For music lovers, the High-Resolution Audio technology delivers sound that can rival a dedicated Hi-Fi system. It can play back lossless stereo sound at up to 24-bit/96kHz quality, which is higher than CD-quality. This means that you can enjoy your favorite music in exceptional detail and clarity. The LG DS95QR is also built with Bluetooth Surround Ready technology, allowing it to work seamlessly with LG rear speakers. This creates a more captivating and expansive sound experience, bringing the cinema audio experience right into your living room. Lastly, for those with Google Home and Amazon Alexa devices, the LG DS95QR soundbar includes Built-in Google Assistant and Alexa capabilities. Once connected, you can control the soundbar with your voice, ask for information, set reminders, and control other smart home devices, making it a flexible and convenient addition to your smart home system. As detailed in the 'Installation and Setup' section, setting up these features is quite straightforward, ensuring that you can start enjoying superior sound quality with minimal fuss. With such an array of features, the LG DS95QR is sure to cater to a wide variety of audio preferences and needs. It's not just a soundbar; it's a comprehensive audio solution that delivers a remarkable and immersive sound experience.

Remote Control and User Interface

The LG DS95QR comes equipped with a sleek remote control that carries a user-friendly interface, making it easy for users to navigate through various settings and options. It doesn't take long to get acquainted with the remote, as the buttons are clearly labeled and intuitively placed for ease of use.

An essential feature of the remote control is the sound adjustment buttons. These allow for quick and easy tweaking of bass, treble, and other sound elements to your preference, without having to dive into intricate settings menus. The mute button also comes in handy when you need to quickly silence the sound.

Also present on the remote is a button dedicated to the soundbar's 'AI Sound Pro' feature. This feature, as discussed in the "Features and Technology" section of the review, automatically optimizes the audio based on the content being played.

The user interface of LG DS95QR is quite intuitive, even for a first-time soundbar user. It's displayed on your connected TV screen, offering a clear and easy-to-navigate layout. This interface allows you to access all the soundbar's features and customizations, including the various sound modes and connection settings. It also displays the status and volume levels, providing a visual aid to your adjustments.

The remote control and user interface of the LG DS95QR are notably user-friendly, making it a breeze to control your audio experience. Whether you're an audiophile or a casual listener, you'll find it easy to adjust the sound to suit your liking and to navigate your way around the various settings and options.

Installation and Setup

Once you've chosen the perfect location for your LG DS95QR, the process of setting it up is quite straightforward. The soundbar is designed to work seamlessly with LG’s proprietary setup interface. This interface guides you step by step, making the process almost effortless. You don’t need to be a tech whiz to get it up and running.

Essentially, you just need to connect the power cords to your soundbar and subwoofer, then attach the soundbar to your TV using the provided HDMI cable. It's noteworthy to mention that the HDMI cable utilizes Audio Return Channel (ARC) technology, which allows you to control the soundbar's volume directly from your TV remote. This is a terrific feature that greatly simplifies the operation.

Once the physical connections are done, turn on the soundbar and it should automatically recognize and connect to your LG TV. For non-LG televisions, you may have to manually select the soundbar in your TV’s audio settings. The manual provides clear instructions on how to do this for various TV brands.

If you're planning to use the soundbar with Bluetooth devices, pairing is also straightforward. Just press the Bluetooth button on the soundbar or remote control, and select the soundbar from the list of available devices on your Bluetooth-enabled device.

Overall, the installation and setup process of the LG DS95QR is quite intuitive and user-friendly, which should make it a stress-free experience for most users.

What's in the Box

 

Upon unboxing the LG DS95QR, you're met with the sleek soundbar itself, a wireless subwoofer, and a variety of essential accessories. The wireless subwoofer is a significant element as it ensures a deep, robust output for low-frequency sounds. This is crucial for immersive, cinema-like audio experiences.

Alongside the primary components, LG provides all the necessary cables for a standard setup. This includes the power cables for the soundbar and subwoofer, and an optical cable for digital audio connection. It's worth noting that the optical cable is a high-quality component, ensuring lossless, superior audio transmission.

A mounting bracket with its associated screws is also part of the package. This is a significant inclusion for those who prefer a wall-mounted setup. While it's not a complex process, you might need some handyman skills to get it right.

There's also a detailed, user-friendly instruction manual included. It provides simple, step-by-step instructions for setting up and optimizing the LG DS95QR. It's a great reference point, especially for those new to soundbar installations.

Lastly, you'll find a remote control with batteries, so you can start using the soundbar straight away. The remote control is well-built and intuitive to use. However, we'll delve deeper into its specifics under the 'Remote Control and User Interface' section.

Overall, the LG DS95QR package is comprehensive, offering everything you need for a straightforward setup and enjoyable audio experience. It's a testament to LG's dedicated customer focus, ensuring that users have a hassle-free, enjoyable unboxing experience.

 

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Price and Value

When considering the LG DS95QR soundbar, it is important to weigh in its price against the overall value it brings to the table. Retailing at a mid to high-end price point, this soundbar is not exactly a budget buy. However, when we delve into the features and the performance it offers, the pricing begins to make sense. The sound quality and the technological features that the LG DS95QR offers are typically found in more expensive soundbars. Given its Dolby Atmos compatibility and the immersive sound experience it provides, it stands tall among its competitors. This soundbar gives you a home theatre experience, turning your living room into a personal cinema. That's a valuable feature, especially for movie enthusiasts and gamers.

Furthermore, the build quality and design of the LG DS95QR are top-notch. The sleek and modern aesthetics of this soundbar, paired with its durability, ensure it's not just a short-term investment. It's designed to last while adding a touch of elegance to your entertainment setup. Connectivity options too are comprehensive. With multiple input options, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth capabilities, the LG DS95QR ensures seamless connection with a variety of devices. This enhances the value, making it versatile and convenient to use. To sum it up, while the initial investment for the LG DS95QR might seem a tad high, it's worth considering the superior sound experience, connectivity features, and durable design this soundbar brings. It scores high on value and is a worthy investment for those seeking an immersive audio experience. It's a purchase you won't regret if you're looking for a soundbar that checks all the boxes, delivering high-quality sound and being a good fit for most home setups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the LG DS95QR is a solid contender in the premium soundbar market. The blend of quality, technology, and design it brings to the table is hard to ignore. Its powerful and immersive sound quality, a result of its superior technology, would surely enhance your home audio experience. The solid build quality, coupled with its sleek and modern design, gives it an edge over other soundbars in the similar price range. The wide range of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, adds to its usability, making it a highly versatile product. Despite the slightly complex setup process, the intuitive remote control and user interface make navigating through the features a breeze once it's up and running.

However, the steep price tag might be a deterrent for budget-conscious buyers. But considering the impressive features and top-notch technology of the LG DS95QR, it's worth every penny for those who are after superior sound quality and the latest features. In final words, if you're in the market for a high-end soundbar that delivers in terms of design aesthetics, sound performance, and versatility, the LG DS95QR is worth considering. It's not just a soundbar; it's a piece of technology that enhances your overall home entertainment experience.

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Pros & cons

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Technical specifications