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LG S40TR Soundbar

LG S40TR Soundbar

By LG · Soundbars · Desk & Streaming Setup · More from LG

  • 4.1-channel system (4 channels + wireless subwoofer) with wireless rear surround speakers
  • Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround decoding
  • Soundbar 28.4 x 2.5 x 3.4 in (3.6 lb)
  • Rear speaker 3.9 x 6.9 x 4.7 in, wireless
  • Bluetooth, Optical input, USB host and HDMI ARC connectivity

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Used, refurbished, open-box

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Problems, parts and running costs

Summary

A 2024 LG 4.1 soundbar with a wireless subwoofer and two rear speakers for small-to-medium rooms, decoding Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround over HDMI ARC or optical. Check your TV and outlets before buying: it has no HDMI inputs, no Dolby Atmos, and the rear speakers are not fully wireless.

Strengths

  • Two physical rear speakers widen the sound field for movies and games, unlike front-only bars that simulate surround.
  • A separate subwoofer adds low-frequency weight beyond what a TV’s built-in speakers can deliver.
  • HDMI ARC with CEC/Simplink lets the TV remote control volume and keeps setup simple.
  • Clear Voice Plus, a three-band EQ, Night Mode and four sound modes offer useful tuning for dialogue and rooms.
  • At $199.99 (LG US, October 29, 2026) it includes rears and a sub, which few rivals match at that price.
  • El País’s July 2026 side-by-side test found quick setup, balanced sound, crisp voices and pleasing Bluetooth music playback.

Weaknesses

  • No dedicated center channel; dialogue comes from the two front drivers plus processing, so a 5.1 system localizes voices better.
  • No Dolby Atmos, DTS:X or up-firing drivers despite Dolby trademark text on some listings.
  • Zero HDMI inputs: sources connect to the TV, with no 4K/120 or HDR passthrough and no eARC.
  • Rear speakers are not fully wireless: the passive satellite cables to the powered rear, and both rear and sub need outlets.
  • Bluetooth 5.3 without Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Chromecast or Spotify Connect limits streaming options.
  • At $199.99 (LG US, October 29, 2026) it is fair but not exceptional value, with Hisense HS5100 5.1 at $179.99 offering a center channel.

Verified specifications

Channels4.1 (two front, two rear, one subwoofer); five physical speaker units; no dedicated center or height channels.
DecodingDolby Digital, DTS Digital Surround, linear PCM; optical and HDMI sampling 32 kHz to 192 kHz. No Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, TrueHD or object-based audio.
Connectionsone HDMI OUT (TV ARC) with CEC/Simplink, one optical IN, one USB-A host, Bluetooth 5.3 (SBC/AAC). No HDMI inputs, eARC, analog 3.5 mm, Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
Sound modesAI Sound Pro, Standard, Cinema, Game, Clear Voice Plus, Night Mode, three-band EQ, LG sound control, smart upmixing.
LG TV featuresWOW Orchestra, WOW Interface and Sound Mode Share only on compatible LG TV series and years.
Rear speakersthe active rear receives audio wirelessly from the bar; the passive satellite connects to it by cable. Both need AC power, as does the subwoofer.
Dimensionsfront bar 28.4 × 2.5 × 3.4 in (720 × 63 × 87 mm), about 3.6 lb; subwoofer 6.7 × 12.6 × 9.9 in (171 × 320 × 252 mm), about 9.3 lb; each rear 3.9 × 6.9 × 4.7 in (100 × 176.5 × 120 mm), active about 2.6 lb, passive about 1.9 lb.
Power adapter100-240V AC, 50/60 Hz; 23V DC at 1.31A (A702-230131W-M21). Genuine replacement EAY65911503.
Rated power usebar 22W, subwoofer 35W, powered rear 20W (77W combined); standby under 0.5W each.
In the boxsoundbar, wireless subwoofer, two rear speakers, LG remote, two AAA batteries, optical cable, rear speaker cable, warranty documentation. No HDMI cable included.
Warrantyone year parts and labor from original purchase or delivery (LG US).
Identitymodel S40TR, US UPC 195174084564; subwoofer SPT41-W, rears SPT8-S and SPT8-SPK. Different from the S40T 2.1 package and the SQC4R 4.1 package.
Full research notes and sources

Which model this is

This page covers the 2024 LG S40TR 4.1 system: model S40TR, US UPC 195174084564, with wireless subwoofer SPT41-W and rear units SPT8-S and SPT8-SPK. Do not confuse it with the S40T 2.1 package or the SQC4R 4.1 package, which are different products with different boxed hardware. LG’s US support pages list the variants as S40TR.DUSALLK and S40TR.DUSABLK.

Sound and setup

The S40TR puts two physical speakers behind the listener, which El País’s July 2026 comparison found broadened the sound field and movie ambience against front-only bars. Its separate subwoofer supplies bass a TV cannot, and HDMI ARC with CEC/Simplink keeps setup simple. Dialogue is handled by the two front channels plus Clear Voice Plus processing, so an actual 5.1 system with a physical center localizes voices better. There is no Dolby Atmos, DTS:X or up-firing driver, despite Dolby trademark text and some retailers’ generic Atmos filters. The bar has one HDMI ARC output and no HDMI inputs, so streaming boxes and consoles connect to the TV first; optical is the fallback. Setup also means running a cable between the two rear units and finding outlets for the powered rear and the subwoofer.

Reliability and pairing

Two 2025 owner reports on Reddit describe rear speakers that would not link and the LG ThinQ app not discovering the bar; a second commenter advised returning the set. These are two accounts, not a measured failure rate. LG’s manual gives the diagnostic path: solid green means linked, flashing green means attempting, red means standby or failed link, and off means no power. Turn the bar off, press the rear unit or subwoofer PAIRING control until green blinks, then power the bar back on and look for solid green. Check that the active rear is powered and the inter-rear cable is connected, and keep the units away from obstructions and interference. There is no firmware download on LG’s current S40TR support page, so app discovery problems may need the app, permissions and manual pairing checked before assuming dead hardware. LG’s US warranty is one year parts and labor from original purchase or delivery, and retail return windows vary by seller; the Walmart restored listing carries a 90-day warranty rather than LG’s new-product coverage.

Running costs and parts

There are no compulsory consumables: the only recurring items are two AAA batteries for the remote. Rated power is 22W for the bar, 35W for the subwoofer and 20W for the powered rear, 77W combined, with each component under 0.5W in standby. That is a manufacturer rating, not a measured household load; an illustration at 4 hours a day at 77W plus 20 hours at 1.5W works out to 123.37 kWh a year, or $24.67 at $0.20 per kWh. Genuine replacement parts observed include the remote AKB74935642 at $17.95 and the power adapter EAY65911503 at $53.95; the adapter was shown with a future availability date of November 1, 2026. The rear interconnect cable, wireless rear kit and SPT41-W subwoofer have no verified standalone replacement price, and internal components are listed as contact-for-availability. Replacing the adapter or remote is optional and only makes sense if the part actually failed.

Is it worth it?

At $199.99 (LG US, October 29, 2026) the S40TR is fair value: it buys physical rear speakers and a subwoofer at a price where most rivals are front-only. The editorial bands put $110 or below for tested used with all components as strong value, $111 to $150 new or reliable refurbished as good, and $151 to $180 new as worthwhile for physical rears and ARC. Hisense’s HS5100 5.1 with a center channel is $179.99 at Best Buy, and Samsung’s HW-B550F 2.1 is $179.99 promotional on Samsung US, so compare those if a center channel or fewer cables matter more than rear speakers. Above $230, look at more modern 5.1 or Atmos systems before paying for a 2024 4.1 design. Buyers who do not need rears can also consider the simpler Samsung HW-B550F.

Sources

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