When it comes to the cinema experience, one of the standout elements is the sound. The thunderous, room-shaking bass and immersive audio bring movies to life. Even without full-blown surround sound, the sheer power of the audio can be captivating. LG has harnessed this cinematic power and delivered it to our living rooms with the new LG sound bar SH7Q.
Priced at $799.00, the LG Sound Bar SH7Q packs a whopping 800W of Dolby DTS Virtual:X 5.1 surround sound into your home. This behemoth features five front-firing 3-inch speakers and a 200W wireless subwoofer that’s ready to rumble.
For those fortunate enough to own a compatible LG Smart TV, such as the LG OLED Evo G3, the SH7Q seamlessly integrates with features like WOW Interface that lets you control all the sound bars setting via your TV menu and remote. But even if you have a different TV, fear not; it comes with a robust iOS and Android app for fine-tuning its settings.
A Monolithic Presence
The SH7Q makes a bold statement with its massive form, measuring 1.2mm in width and standing at a towering 14cm in height. LG suggests it’s best suited for TVs that are 65 inches or larger. This soundbar means business, stretching almost the entire width of a companion LG QNED81 65-inch TV. However, it’s essential to note that its height might block the IR blaster on the TV, despite LG recommending them as a good pairing.
In terms of aesthetics, there’s nothing particularly extraordinary about the SH7Q’s appearance. It presents itself as a sizable black bar with visible front speakers and an LED indicator concealed behind the speaker grill. The soundbar boasts five 3-inch drivers, each delivering 120W of power. On top, you’ll find touch controls, and around the back, there’s an array of connection ports, including HDMI 2.1 eARC for 4K 120Hz support for gaming consoles, Digital Optical in, and a USB 2.0 port.
The subwoofer, on the other hand, takes on an elegant black cuboid form that can easily find its place in a corner or alongside your TV cabinet. Being wireless, you have the flexibility to position it wherever it suits your room. The subwoofer pairs seamlessly with the soundbar, eliminating any need for complicated pairing procedures.
Setting up the SH7Q is a breeze if you happen to own an LG TV. Just plug it into the TV’s HDMI eARC port, and you’re good to go. The soundbar will appear as a speaker in your TV’s audio settings, granting you immediate access to various sound profiles without leaving the comfort of your TV. Unfortunately, the SH7Q doesn’t support LG’s WOW Orchestra feature which allows LG TV’s to use both the internal speakers and the Sound bar to create a more immersive and impactful sound.
If you don’t have an LG TV, don’t fret; you can control the SH7Q using the included remote or, even better, the LG Soundbar app on your smartphone. In my months of using the SH7Q, I rarely touched the remote, relying instead on the app for control.
However, it’s worth noting that, unlike the LG Sound bar SC9S, the SH7Q lacks Wi-Fi connectivity, so Bluetooth is your only wireless connection option. This might be a minor inconvenience, making casting to the SH7Q a bit more cumbersome. In my experience, it didn’t appear in my list of available devices when trying to cast from Spotify or YouTube.
The Power of Sound
Now, let’s dive into the most critical aspect: how does the SH7Q sound? To capture the essence of cinema sound, LG has successfully replicated that same experience. In a single word, it’s all about “power.” The sound feels like a relentless wave crashing over you, akin to the cinema experience. What sets the SH7Q apart from other soundbars is its raw, loud, and potent audio delivery. It’s so powerful I never even used it higher than 15% volume because it was simply irresponsible.
If you relish sound that can rattle windows, then the SH7Q has your number. When watching content like Ahsoka on Disney+, this soundbar will make the room tremble when battle cruisers swoop by. Blaster shots are loud and punchy, while lightsabers emit a delightfully lush hum that transports you back to your childhood.
However, when it comes to music, the bass output left me a bit underwhelmed, even after cranking up the subwoofer. It’s not as refined as one might hope, delivering very loud sound but lacking that finesse. It’s perfect for a lively party but not ideal for appreciating the nuances of Inon Zur performing the Starfield soundtrack with the London Symphony Orchestra.
The most prominent drawback of the SH7Q is its limited refinement and channel separation. Despite being a 5.1 setup, the audio doesn’t convey that sense of spatial separation. Instead, it feels like you’re listening to extremely loud TV speakers or a single powerful speaker right in front of you. Whether watching movies, playing games, or listening to music, the absence of distinct layers and positions is a noticeable letdown.
Certainly, gunshots and explosions in games like Call of Duty: Warzone can jolt you out of your seat and potentially prompt your neighbors to call the authorities. However, there’s a lack of genuine spatial separation; everything seems to come straight at you. The result is a louder, bass-heavy sound, but without the detailed depth that one might expect from a $800 sound system.
Final Thoughts
The LG Sound Bar SH7Q is undoubtedly a robust extension of your TV’s built-in speakers, offering a colossal amount of power that can shake your room and perhaps even irritate your neighbors. But, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility, and the SH7Q falters a bit in this department.
If you revel in thunderous, chest-thumping sound, the SH7Q delivers that and more. However, if you value a more critical listening experience with distinct channel separation and a layered soundstage for your movies and games, you might want to explore other options, especially considering the price point.
LG Australia kindly loaned PowerUp the SH7Q for the purpose of this review
