LG S95TR soundbar 9.1.5, Dolby Atmos, Bluetooth

In a 9.1.5 layout the first number stands for the main channels at ear level, the second for the bass channel and the third for the height channels. Nine main channels let sounds be placed more widely than on a standard 5.1 system, so moving sound such as a car, footsteps or a voice travels smoothly from one side to the other. Five height channels add a layer of sound from above.

Dolby Atmos places sounds in height too: rain, an aircraft or a helicopter are heard above the listener. Five height channels give noticeably more headroom for this than soundbars with two or three height channels, and overhead sound is spread more evenly around the listener. Atmos content from streaming services and Blu-ray discs plays without a separate AV receiver.

Among the main channels is a centre channel that keeps speech in the middle of the screen and clear even when loud music or a shootout is going on behind it. The dedicated bass channel adds depth that slim TV speakers cannot. You can watch a film at an even volume without turning it up for quiet dialogue and down again for action scenes.

Over Bluetooth you can connect a phone, tablet or laptop and play music straight through the soundbar, and there is also one USB port. The supplier data does not list TV connections such as HDMI eARC or an optical input. As this is a large system, check both the ports and the box contents in the official LG product information before choosing.

The LG S95TR suits people who want the fullest possible home cinema sound field from a soundbar, including sound from above, without an AV receiver and a room full of wired speakers. 9.1.5 channels and Dolby Atmos are aimed at films, series and concert recordings, while Bluetooth covers everyday music. It has no radio and no karaoke.