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The LG 4.1 wireless Bluetooth soundbar most shoppers mean is the LG SQC4R, a budget 220 watt (W) system with a wireless subwoofer and two rear speakers, and in 2026 it only makes sense at a clearance or open box price. Best Buy sold it under the name “LG 4.1 Channel Bluetooth Sound Bar,” and LG made several other 4.1 bars over the years, so this review focuses on the SQC4R and explains how it differs from its siblings. It gives you real rear surround channels for little money, but it skips High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connections, Wi-Fi, and Dolby Atmos.
Quick verdict: The SQC4R is an easy way to add rear speakers and deeper bass to a small or medium room. Owners praise its sound for the price and its simple setup, but it connects to your television (TV) only by optical cable or Bluetooth, it doesn’t get very loud, and LG’s newer S60TR offers more for a similar sale price. Check the LG SQC4R price on Amazon.
Key takeaways
- What it is: A 4.1 channel soundbar system with a 26-inch bar, a wireless subwoofer, and two rear speakers rated at 220W total.
- Who it’s for: Renters and bedroom setups with 32- to 50-inch TVs that need simple surround sound without HDMI.
- Price: It listed at $400, and Best Buy sold it for $160 to $200 in 2023 and 2024 sales. Prices change often.
- Main weaknesses: No HDMI port, no Dolby Atmos or Digital Theater Systems (DTS) decoding, and modest maximum volume.
- Status: Largely sold out in the US; LG’s 5.1 channel S60TR is the closest current replacement.
Which LG 4.1 soundbar is this?
LG has sold at least five 4.1 channel bars with wireless rear speakers in the US. They look alike, so check the model number before you buy:
- SQC4R (2022): 220W, optical and Bluetooth, no HDMI. Best Buy called it the 4.1 Channel Bluetooth Sound Bar. This review covers it.
- SJ4R (2017): 420W with HDMI input, output, and Audio Return Channel (ARC). Read our LG 4.1 Channel 420W soundbar review.
- SNC4R (2020): 420W with HDMI and DTS Virtual:X, the SJ4R’s successor.
- SLM3R (2021): A 420W Walmart model with optical and Bluetooth only. See our LG SLM3R review.
- SJ8 (2017): A slim 4.1 bar whose extra channels sit inside the bar, with no rear speakers. See our LG SJ8 soundbar review.
LG SQC4R at a glance
| Spec | LG SQC4R |
|---|---|
| Channels | 4.1 (bar, two wireless rear speakers, wireless subwoofer) |
| Rated power | 220W: 2 x 30W front, 2 x 30W rear, 100W subwoofer |
| Inputs | Digital optical, Universal Serial Bus (USB) for MP3 and WMA files, 3.5 millimeter (mm) auxiliary input |
| HDMI | None (no HDMI ARC or 4K pass-through) |
| Wireless | Bluetooth 4.0; LG TV Sound Sync over Bluetooth or optical; no Wi-Fi |
| Audio formats | Dolby Digital and linear pulse code modulation (LPCM); no Dolby Atmos or DTS |
| Sound modes | Standard and Bass Blast |
| Soundbar size | About 25.9 x 2.2 x 3.9 inches; 2.9 pounds |
| Subwoofer size | About 7.3 x 11.9 x 8.1 inches |
| Rear speakers | About 3.5 x 4.8 x 3.2 inches each; they plug into a powered wireless receiver |
| Launch price | $399.99 list in the US |
Specs come from LG’s Italian product page and Abt’s US listing. Pricing history comes from Slickdeals and a February 2024 Slickdeals post.
Design and setup
At roughly 26 inches wide, the SQC4R bar suits 32- to 50-inch TVs and fits on narrow stands and dressers. Its height of about 2.2 inches keeps it below most screens. LG includes wall brackets, so you can hang the bar under a mounted TV; our guide to the best TV wall mounts covers mounts that leave room for one.
The word “wireless” needs a footnote. The subwoofer connects without a cable but still needs an outlet. The two rear speakers connect by speaker wire to a small receiver box, and that box needs power too. You can tuck the box behind a couch, so you only run short wires near your seat rather than across the room. Owners on Best Buy most often praise how easy the system is to set up.
Connectivity and features
The SQC4R keeps things basic. You connect it to your TV with the optical cable, then your TV remote can control volume on many brands, including LG, Samsung, Sony, Vizio, and others, according to Abt’s US listing. On LG TVs, Sound Sync turns the bar on and off with the TV over Bluetooth or optical.
The lack of HDMI ARC matters more than it sounds. Optical carries Dolby Digital 5.1 but not lossless formats, and it can’t pass HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) commands, so some TVs need extra setup. If your TV has no optical port, the SQC4R won’t connect except over Bluetooth. Check your TV’s back panel first, and grab a spare optical audio cable if yours is short.
Bluetooth 4.0 handles music from your phone, and the USB port plays MP3 and WMA files from a flash drive. There’s no Wi-Fi, no app control, no voice assistant, and no Dolby Atmos height channel.
Sound quality: what owners report
We found no major lab review of the SQC4R, so owner reviews carry the most weight. On Best Buy, the system has about 593 ratings, averaging roughly 4.2 out of 5, and 80% of reviewers say they would recommend it. Sound quality draws the most praise, with many buyers calling it a big step up from TV speakers, and several describe the bass as deep for the price.
The complaints form a clear pattern. Some owners say the bar doesn’t get very loud at maximum volume, which makes sense for a 220W system with small drivers. Others say the small satellite speakers sound better than the subwoofer, and one reviewer found that the rear speakers stayed quiet until they changed the sound mode. Rear channels only carry discrete sound when the source sends 5.1 audio, so stereo TV shows and most YouTube videos will sound front heavy.
The SQC4R also lacks a center channel. Voices come from the two front drivers, so dialogue can get buried in loud action scenes. If clear speech is your priority, a 3.1 channel bar or a 5.1 system with a center speaker usually does better.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Real rear surround speakers at a budget price
- Wireless subwoofer adds deep bass
- Simple optical and Bluetooth setup
- Compact 26-inch bar suits smaller TVs
- Wall brackets included
Cons
- No HDMI ARC or enhanced ARC (eARC)
- No Dolby Atmos or DTS decoding
- Limited maximum volume
- No center channel for dialogue
- Rear speakers still need wires and power
- Hard to find new in 2026
LG SQC4R vs. current alternatives
Amazon is our main affiliate partner, and it carries the SQC4R’s replacements and several budget surround systems. Here’s how they compare:
Compare similar soundbars on Amazon
| Soundbar | Channels | HDMI | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG SQC4R | 4.1 with rear speakers | No | Cheap surround over optical | Check price |
| LG S60TR | 5.1 with rear speakers | Yes (ARC) | LG’s current budget surround pick | Check price |
| Vizio V-Series 5.1 (V51x-J6) | 5.1 with rear speakers | Yes (ARC) | Low sale prices and DTS Virtual:X | Check price |
| Hisense AX5100G | 5.1 with rear speakers | Yes (ARC) | Dolby Atmos on a budget | Check price |
| LG SP8YA | 3.1.2 with wireless subwoofer | Yes (eARC) | A bigger Atmos upgrade | Check price |
- LG S60TR: This 2024 system adds a center channel, HDMI ARC, and 440W of power. It listed at $400, and Best Buy sold it for $249.99 in November 2025, according to Slickdeals. Which? lists HDMI ARC and optical inputs. See the LG S60TR on Amazon.
- Vizio V-Series 5.1: A frequent sale item with a center channel and HDMI ARC. Our Vizio V-Series 5.1 soundbar review covers it in detail.
- Hisense AX5100G: It adds Dolby Atmos processing and rear speakers for not much more money.
- LG SP8YA: Skip the rear speakers and get a stronger bar with Atmos and a center channel. Read our LG SP8YA review.
For more low-cost options, see our Onn 5.1 soundbar review and Samsung A430 soundbar review.
Who should buy the LG SQC4R?
Buy the SQC4R if you find it open box or on clearance for well under $200, your TV has an optical output, and you want rear surround effects in a bedroom, dorm, or small living room. Skip it if your TV lacks optical, if you watch a lot of dialogue-heavy shows, or if you want Atmos. In those cases, the S60TR or Vizio V-Series 5.1 makes more sense, and both connect over HDMI ARC.
Frequently asked questions
Does the LG SQC4R have HDMI?
No, the LG SQC4R doesn’t have an HDMI port. LG’s spec sheet and Abt’s US listing list optical, USB, and 3.5mm auxiliary inputs plus Bluetooth, so you connect it to your TV with an optical cable.
Are the LG SQC4R rear speakers fully wireless?
No, the LG SQC4R rear speakers aren’t fully wireless. They connect by speaker wire to a wireless receiver box that needs an outlet, while the subwoofer connects wirelessly but also needs power.
Does the LG SQC4R support Dolby Atmos?
No, the LG SQC4R doesn’t support Dolby Atmos. It decodes Dolby Digital and LPCM, and it has no up-firing drivers.
What replaced the LG SQC4R?
The LG S60TR is the closest current replacement for the SQC4R. It adds a center channel, HDMI ARC, and 440W of power in a 5.1 channel system with rear speakers.
Final verdict
The LG SQC4R does one job well: it adds rear speakers and real bass to a TV for very little money. Its optical-only connection, modest volume, and missing center channel keep it a budget system, and it’s hard to find new now. Buy it only at a clearance price; otherwise, the LG S60TR is the better LG surround buy. Check the current LG SQC4R price on Amazon.