LG S90QY Soundbar: Review, Pros & Cons

Summary

A 5.1.3-channel soundbar with a wireless subwoofer, built for people who want clear dialogue and strong bass from one box instead of separate surround speakers. Check your room before you buy: the height and surround effects come from psychoacoustic processing, so they need walls close to the ends of the bar.

Strengths

The forward-firing center channel keeps dialogue clear even at low volume.
The 220W wireless subwoofer adds real weight to bass-heavy scenes.
Wide stereo separation; the soundstage stays broad rather than collapsing to the center.
Two HDMI 2.1 ports with eARC, plus optical, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast.
AI Sound Pro tunes itself to the room on setup.
Owners report a big jump over TV speakers and easier setup than separate components.

Weaknesses

The surround and height effects are virtual, so they collapse in an open-plan living room.
Only the center channel has a physical up-firing driver; the rest of the height layer is processed.
No graphic equalizer — you get presets plus basic bass and treble sliders.
At 47.2 inches wide and 11.1 lbs, it will not fit between narrow TV stand legs.
HDMI 2.1 handles 4K@60Hz only; 4K@120Hz needs a direct TV connection.
Some owners hit inconsistent Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections.

Verified specifications

Audio configuration	5.1.3 channels, 9 speakers total.
Power output	570W total — soundbar 350W, subwoofer 220W.
Speaker configuration	forward-firing left/center/right at 45W/40W/45W, side-firing surround left/right at 45W/45W, up-firing left/center/right at 45W/40W/45W, wireless subwoofer 220W.
Audio formats	Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, IMAX Enhanced.
HDMI	two HDMI 2.1 ports with eARC, 4K@60Hz passthrough up to HDR10; no 4K@120Hz.
Other inputs	digital optical, USB port (5V/0.5A/2.5W).
Wireless	Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi Direct, Miracast, Bluetooth 5.0, Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, LG WOWCAST.
Room calibration	AI Sound Pro with automatic room optimization.
Sound modes	AI, Standard, Music, Cinema, Clear Voice, Sports, Game, Bass Blast, Night Mode.
Voice assistants	Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant through compatible devices.
Power	120V AC, 60Hz.
Dimensions	soundbar 47.2 × 2.5 × 5.3 in (1200 × 63 × 135 mm); subwoofer 7.9 × 16 × 15.9 in (201.7 × 407 × 403 mm).
Weight	soundbar 11.1 lbs; subwoofer approximately 22 lbs.
In the box	soundbar, wireless subwoofer, remote control, HDMI cable, wall mounting brackets, quick start guide, warranty card.
Warranty	1 year standard, handled through LG authorized service centers.

Full research notes and sources

Sound and room shape

The fundamentals are strong. The forward-firing center channel gives very clear dialogue, the subwoofer produces deep, thumpy bass for films and music, and stereo separation is wide. Independent testing found bass building between 35-50Hz and a flat response above 80Hz, with a slight bass emphasis in the default signature.

Surround is where it gets conditional. The 5.1.3 label uses psychoacoustic processing for the surround and height channels; only the center channel has a dedicated up-firing driver, and the up-firing center channel itself gave only marginal gains over a conventional forward-firing center in testing. For proper effects you want walls within 1 meter of the soundbar ends and a standard 2.4m ceiling. In an open-plan space, testers rated surround as a pass, and Atmos effects sit more forward than immersive. No owner has published a failure rate for the psychoacoustic approach, so treat it as a room limitation rather than a defect.

Either way, it is loud enough for normal rooms without being a theater-grade system. Measured latency was 85ms over ARC and optical and 75ms over full HDMI.

Connectivity and setup

Setup is straightforward, with AI Sound Pro handling room calibration automatically. Owners with compatible LG TVs like the TV Sound Mode Share feature, which pushes the bar’s optimized settings to the TV.

WOWCAST allows adding wireless speakers later. The catch is that no HDMI 2.1 passthrough supports 4K@120Hz. Some users also report inconsistent Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections; wired HDMI or optical input is the fallback.

Running costs, parts and warranty

There is no subscription and no mandatory consumable. Electricity is the only running cost, and no published figure for standby or active draw is available. The optional rear speaker kit, model SPQ8-S, costs $299 (LG, 2026) and is the main add-on if you want real rear speakers.

Repair is limited. Individual drivers, including the side-firing surround and up-firing units, have no separate replacement parts, so a failed speaker means replacing the soundbar. The subwoofer rarely needs replacing, and the included wall mounting brackets are also supplied with new units. Warranty service runs through LG authorized service centers, and owners report generally positive experiences there, though response times vary by location.

Is it worth it?

At $599 or less it is excellent value for a 5.1.3 system with wireless subwoofer and this much connectivity. Between $600 and $699 it is very good value, especially if you want strong dialogue with minimal setup. Between $700 and $799 the value is fair, and above $800 it is weak — at that level you should be looking at a system with discrete satellite speakers or better room correction.

Buy it for dialogue clarity, strong bass and tidy setup rather than for true Dolby Atmos immersion. It suits rooms with walls close by and owners who mostly watch films and stream music.

Which model this is

This page covers the LG S90QY 5.1.3-channel soundbar system, model S90QY, in black finish, released in 2022 as part of LG’s premium soundbar line. Regional listings show no color or revision differences in the core specs. The Amazon listing is ASIN B09RZ59SJV. Do not confuse it with the higher-end S95QR or with other LG soundbar models.