LG S40TR 4.1 Channel Soundbar with Rear Speakers Review
4.3 / 5
Overall Rating
LG S40TR 4.1 ch. Home Theater Soundbar with Rear Surround Speakers and Wireless Subwoofer, Wow
True 4.1 surround sound under $200 used to be impossible. The LG S40TR makes it real, with wireless rears and a subwoofer that actually thumps.
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TL;DR
LG's S40TR 4.1 channel soundbar with wireless rear surround speakers and subwoofer is the right pick for living-room home theater under $200. "4.1" means a proper four-speaker layout — front-left, front-right, rear-left, rear-right — plus subwoofer. The rear surrounds connect wirelessly to the soundbar, and the subwoofer thumps without overpowering. For renters, apartments, and second-room setups, this hits the surround-sound sweet spot at a price most users assumed required $400+.
Why It Matters
Most "surround sound" soundbars under $300 are virtual surround — algorithms processing front-firing speakers to simulate rear sound. The illusion is okay; real rear speakers are obviously better. The S40TR delivers actual 4.1 with wireless rears, and at this price that's noteworthy. "Wow Orchestra" and "Wow Interface" features bring the audio close to the LG TV's built-in capabilities.
Key Specs
- Channels: 4.1 (front L/R, rear L/R, sub)
- Power: 300W total
- Bluetooth: 5.3 with multi-pair
- HDMI: HDMI ARC
- Optical: included
- Subwoofer: wireless, 6.5" driver
- Rear speakers: wireless, included
- Wow Orchestra: enhanced audio with compatible LG TVs
- Voice control: works with Alexa, Google Assistant
Pros
- Real 4.1 surround — not virtualized
- Wireless rear surrounds eliminate cable runs
- Subwoofer adds bass impact without overpowering
- HDMI ARC provides clean audio passthrough
- Wow Orchestra integration with LG TVs is genuinely nice
Cons
- Not Dolby Atmos — no height channels
- Wireless rears need outlets nearby — they're not battery-powered
- 300W total is plenty for living rooms but not for large home theaters
- Wow features only fully unlock with LG TV pairing
- Some users report rear-speaker pairing requires re-syncing occasionally
Who It's For
Apartment renters and small-home owners wanting real surround. Living rooms 12x15 feet or smaller. Anyone leveling up from soundbar-only setups. Skip it if you have a dedicated home theater (need Atmos with 7.1+ channels), if your room is over 18 feet (need bigger speakers), or if you're OK with virtual surround in a 2.1 setup.
How to Use It
Mount or place the soundbar centered under the TV. Place rear speakers behind your seating, facing the seating area, with outlets within reach. Pair the soundbar to a Wi-Fi network for firmware updates and Wow features. Use HDMI ARC for cleanest passthrough. Calibrate with provided remote test tones.
How It Compares
Vs. Sonos Beam Gen 2 + One SLs: Sonos is brighter sound, more app-driven, $700+ for equivalent 4.1. Vs. Vizio M-Series 5.1: Vizio has more channels at slightly higher price, similar tier. Vs. virtual-surround soundbars (LG S60T, etc.): virtual is fine; real 4.1 is obviously better.
Bottom Line
The right $200 surround-sound system for apartments and living rooms. Buy it for real 4.1 without home-theater commitment. Skip it for Atmos-required setups or large rooms.
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