A combination of LG’s latest TV and soundbar will set the stage for any home
Taking home entertainment experiences to new heights, the LG C2 OLED TV alongside the S95QR soundbar elevate the experience with clarity and detail, for lifelike images, as well as immersive sound, and stylish design.
A screen that amazes
The LG C2 is a 4K display that is part of the brand’s 2022 lineup of OLED TVs. It is the first-ever 42-inch OLED TV and comes in five other sizes – 83-, 77-, 65-, 55- and 48-inch models. Besides the slim and sleek design – featuring thinner bezels – that seamlessly fit into our living room space.
To test run LG’s self-lit OLED technology, we simply logged into Disney+ to watch an episode of Moonknight. Right off the bat, the brightness was on point thanks to the LG OLED Evo technology. The scenes were clear, and detailed and popped out of the screen as if the action was happening right in front of us. This quality is enhanced even further by the TV’s Brightness Booster.
Taking it a step further, we hooked up a next-gen console to the 65-inch model and launched the latest installation of FIFA, a soccer simulator video game. It was also clear that the quality was stunning – the black shades were deep while the colours were ultra-realistic. Also, the infinite contrast ratio is a piece of technology that stays true to its name.
As for the gaming-specific features, we dimmed the lights, drew the curtains, and activated the new Dark Room Mode. Like clockwork, the brightness was adjusted and it didn’t feel uncomfortable looking at a massive screen of green for long hours. Of course, we selected the highest possible frame rate via Game Optimizer and that made the gaming experience even more realistic.
We also had a go at the TV’s webOS 22, the newest version of LG’s innovative Smart TV platform. The user interface is smooth and easy to use, while the remote adds that dash of seamless connectivity that we enjoyed. Creating unique profiles is also intuitive and it allows anyone to tailor their viewing experience and enjoy easier access to preferred channels, apps and content services.
To check out the audio capability, we purposefully didn’t connect a soundbar to hear the quality of sound dished out by the new Alpha9 Gen5 processor that comes with AI Sound Pro – on top of AI Picture Pro and Brightness Booster technology that worked like a charm for playing FIFA. Via the AI Sound Pro feature, the TVs’ built-in speakers produced sound on par with some of the leading sound systems in the market. We even turned up the volume to mimic a real-life stadium. It turns out, the TV’s speakers truly deliver virtual 7.1.2 surround sound of top-notch quality.
Sounds of excellence
Moving on to the S95QR soundbar – it is the flagship model of LG’s 2022 lineup, offering an 810W output, 9.1.5 channels and centre up-firing speakers. An upgrade from last year’s release which featured up-firing rear speakers that provided 4 channels of audio with 2 rear and 2 up-firing height channels, LG has improved this year with dual speakers, each having two unique and angled rear drivers and an up-firing driver.
Setting up the S95QR soundbar was easy – just plug-and-play. The four-piece set comes with a wireless subwoofer and upgraded wireless rear speakers this year, making for even sound distribution around our living room.
Still, on FIFA, we found that the speakers perfectly sync the sound with the gameplay on screen, and thanks to an improved wireless connection, we didn’t experience any drops or lag in the audio output. But to truly test the premium quality of the speaker, we had to turn on some music.
Connecting to Spotify was a breeze too. We simply tapped on the Bluetooth icon on the soundbar and it immediately appeared on the devices list via our mobile phone. Rocking to ‘Shakira’s Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),’ we could hear how the S95QR’s rear speakers distribute sound evenly across an impressively wide 135-degree angle. And as expected, the bass didn’t disappoint either.
Switching over to a rock classic in Queen’s ‘We Are the Champions,’ we were able to experience how the speakers enhance the sounds to make the voices feel more lifelike. We also tried our hand at Meridian Audio’s Horizon technology via Music Mode. On paper, it can up-mix two-channel audio to 7.1 channels for more realistic acoustic surround sound. And on that front, it delivered.
S95QR Soundbar: S$1,999
C2 OLED TV (65”): S$5,099
www.lg.com/sg
