LG Launches Flagship S95AR Soundbar with True Dolby Atmos and Wireless Surround Sound

The soundbar market has come a long way from its early days of simply boosting flat-screen TV audio. Today’s best soundbars aim higher—offering multi-channel surround, support for streaming platforms, and even integration with gaming and smart home ecosystems. But not every model that advertises “Dolby Atmos” actually delivers a true spatial audio experience. Many rely on virtualization or psychoacoustic tricks that fall short of the real thing.

That’s why models like JBL’s Bar 1000 MK2 —and now LG’s new flagship S95AR—stand out. These are full-featured systems with discrete up-firing drivers, wireless surrounds, and enough power and processing to recreate Dolby Atmos the way it was meant to be heard: with height, depth, and clarity that pulls you straight into the action.

LG S95AR: Flagship Dolby Atmos Soundbar with True 9.1.5-Channel Immersion

While LG’s 2024 soundbar lineup carries over into 2025 with minimal changes, the standout exception is the new LG S95AR—a next-gen update to the well-received S95TR, which we previously reviewed. This new flagship soundbar is designed to push LG’s home theater capabilities even further, delivering a more immersive and cinematic audio experience.

At its core, the S95AR features a true 9.1.5 channel configuration, powered by 17 speaker drivers. That includes five upfiring units for height effects and six discrete channels across the wireless rear speakers—allowing for real Dolby Atmos and DTS:X performance without virtualization tricks. From blockbuster movie nights to high-intensity gaming, the S95AR aims to recreate a full surround sound environment in your living room, no AVR required.

Real Dolby Atmos: Not All Soundbars Are Created Equal

Plenty of soundbars advertise Dolby Atmos support, but many rely on virtualization—simulated height effects without actual upward-firing speakers. The result? A flatter, less immersive soundstage that doesn’t live up to the Atmos promise.

The LG S95AR stands apart as one of the few systems that delivers the real deal. With five dedicated upfiring drivers across the soundbar and wireless surrounds, it produces authentic overhead effects that bring movies and shows to life. While ceiling-mounted speakers are still the gold standard, the S95AR gets impressively close—offering a room-filling, cinematic experience without drilling holes in your drywall.

Multi-Directional Speaker Configuration

The S95AR features a true 9.1.5 channel layout with carefully positioned drivers for optimal immersion. It uses front-firing drivers for the main left and right channels, dedicated up-firing drivers for the center and height effects, and side-firing drivers to widen the soundstage. The wireless rear speakers add even more dimension with side-firing, rear-facing, and up-firing drivers—delivering surround and height effects from behind. Combine all of that with a dedicated subwoofer, and you’ve got one of the most complete soundbar systems available.

Enhanced Bass Performance

LG redesigned the S95AR’s subwoofer with a larger 8-inch driver to better handle deep bass frequencies. This improves the low-end response, correcting a common weakness in many soundbar setups. Whether you’re watching an action film or listening to music, the added impact and control make the entire experience feel more powerful and dynamic.

Immersive Sound

The S95AR doesn’t just support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X—it elevates them. With wireless Dolby Atmos support and LG’s Immersive 3D Spatial Sound technology, it creates a wider, more enveloping soundfield that pulls you deeper into the action without relying on hardwired speaker placement.

WOW Features: LG’s Wireless Audio Ecosystem

LG’s WOW label bundles several smart audio features designed to work seamlessly across LG devices.

• WOWCAST lets select LG soundbars and TVs connect wirelessly, eliminating extra cables and simplifying setup.
• WOW Orchestra synchronizes audio between your LG TV and soundbar to deliver a unified, immersive listening experience.
• WOW Interface puts convenient control right on your TV screen, letting you adjust volume, audio settings, connection status, and sound modes using your TV remote.

While the S95AR works well with any TV brand, it’s specifically optimized for LG OLED TVs, where WOW features enable synchronized audio and streamlined control for a smoother, integrated user experience.

AI Room Calibration

The S95AR uses a built-in microphone to precisely measure the room dimensions and detect rear speaker placement. The built-in AI analyzes the spatial information provided through the microphones and optimizes audio settings accordingly to produce a richer, deeper, and clearer surround sound experience.  

HDR: The soundbar also incorporates HDR pass-through for HDR10 and Dolby Vision. This means that if you have an HDR10 or Dolby Vision physical source connected through S95AR’s HDMI inputs, it will pass that info to the TV for the best viewing experience. 

HDMI: The S95AR provides 2 HDMI ver 2.1 connections, one of which is HDMI-ARC/eARC enabled. This provides an easy wired connection between the TV and the soundbar. The HDMI connections also support 4K/120Hz, ALLM, and VRR pass-through support, which is great for gamers.

Streaming and Smart Features: Connected Sound Made Simple

The LG S95AR comes equipped with built-in Wi-Fi, enabling it to connect directly to your home network and access a variety of popular streaming services without needing extra devices.

It’s also fully compatible with the LG ThinQ app (available on iOS and Android), giving you advanced control over your soundbar. Through the app, you can easily manage settings, browse content, and customize your listening experience—far beyond the basic functions offered by standard remote controls.

Comparison

The Bottom Line

With very little changed over last year’s model we reviewed, the S95AR soundbar should deliver equal if not better performance. The design and feature set between the two models are nearly identical.

LG reports that the S95AR includes an improved subwoofer with increased interior volume (from 18 liters to 20 liters), which should translate to deeper, punchier bass. There are also refinements to the AI Sound Pro technology and the addition of HDMI 2.1 ports.

Maintaining the 9.1.5 channel configuration of the S95TR, the S95AR promises immersive, room-filling sound. However, as with most soundbar systems, performance can be influenced by room size and the distance from walls and ceilings. We also noted some quirks with the S95TR’s side channels, which may persist in the S95AR.

For the best experience, especially to fully utilize LG’s WOW features, pairing the S95AR with select LG TVs is recommended.

Price & Availability

• LG S95AR – $1,699 at Amazon
• LG S95TR – $1,599 at Amazon

Tip: We’ve spotted the S95TR on sale for $500 off at various times of the year.

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