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The LG SP8YA is a 2021 3.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar with a wireless subwoofer, and in 2026 it’s still a solid buy for clear dialogue and easy setup if you find it at a clearance or refurbished price. It launched at $699.99 with 440 watts (W) of power, Meridian audio tuning, and a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) input with 4K pass-through. This LG SP8YA review covers its design, features, what reviewers found about its sound, its successors, and the best alternatives on Amazon.
Quick verdict: The SP8YA packs an impressive feature list for its size: Dolby Atmos and DTS:X from Digital Theater Systems (DTS), Chromecast, AirPlay 2, room calibration, and an upgrade path to wireless rear speakers. Reviewers praised its room-filling sound and clear voices but found its subwoofer a little soft and its height effects behind the Sonos Arc. Buy it at a discount; otherwise, look at newer options. Check the LG SP8YA price on Amazon.
Key takeaways
- What it is: A 2021 3.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar with a 220W wireless subwoofer and 440W of total power.
- Price: It launched at $699.99, and in fall 2026 it sells mainly refurbished or as leftover stock. Prices change often.
- Main strength: A dedicated center channel that projects dialogue forward, plus Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and 4K Dolby Vision pass-through.
- Main weakness: What Hi-Fi? found its subwoofer bass a little undefined and its height effects less precise than the Sonos Arc’s.
- Successor: The 2022 LG S80QY replaced it, and LG’s 2026 flagship is the Sound Suite H7 at $999.99.
LG SP8YA at a glance
| Spec | LG SP8YA |
|---|---|
| Release and launch price | 2021; $699.99 |
| Channels and power | 3.1.2; 440W total (220W subwoofer) |
| Drivers | Left, center, and right channels, each with a 20-millimeter tweeter and a racetrack driver; two up-firing height speakers; a 7-inch subwoofer driver |
| Audio formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and linear pulse code modulation (LPCM); high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/96 kilohertz (kHz) |
| HDMI | One HDMI 2.1 input with 4K, Dolby Vision, and high dynamic range 10 (HDR10) pass-through; one HDMI output with enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) |
| Other connections | Digital optical input and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Chromecast built-in, Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect |
| Voice control | Works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa |
| Expansion | SPK8-S wireless rear speaker kit (5.1.2) |
| Soundbar size and weight | 41.7 x 2.2 x 4.7 inches; 9.7 pounds |
| Subwoofer size and weight | 8.7 x 15.4 x 12.3 inches; 17.2 pounds |
Specs come from LG’s spec sheet, LG’s SP8YA product page, and What Hi-Fi?.
Design and build
The SP8YA uses an understated black design with a fabric front grille and two round grilles on top for the up-firing speakers. At 41.7 inches wide and just 2.2 inches tall, it suits 50-inch and larger televisions (TVs) and sits low enough to avoid blocking most screens.
The wireless subwoofer pairs automatically and holds a front-firing 7-inch driver with a rear port, so leave a few inches of space behind it. If you’re setting up a new TV at the same time, our guide to the best TV stands for 65-inch TVs lists stands wide enough for a 42-inch bar, and a soundbar wall mount bracket works if you hang the bar under a mounted TV.
Features and connectivity
The SP8YA is unusually well connected for a 2021 soundbar. Its HDMI input passes 4K video with Dolby Vision and HDR10, so you can run a streaming box or Blu-ray player through the bar, while the eARC output sends lossless Atmos back from your TV’s apps. Gamers should still connect a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X directly to the TV to keep 4K at 120 hertz (Hz) and variable refresh rate, then let eARC carry the audio back. Our guide to the best gaming TVs for PlayStation 5 and Xbox explains those features.
For music, Chromecast, AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect let you stream directly from your phone, and Bluetooth covers everything else. LG’s Music mode came from a partnership with British audio company Meridian, and the Meridian Horizon upmixer spreads stereo content across the bar in Cinema mode, according to What Hi-Fi?. LG’s artificial intelligence (AI) Sound Pro automatically switches sound profiles by content, and a microphone on top runs room calibration and voice control.
Owners of 2021 LG TVs get extra perks: TV Sound Mode Share lets the bar use the TV’s own sound processing, and the TV remote controls the bar. The LG app also offers channel levels, a two-band equalizer, a night mode, and a height boost of up to 6 decibels (dB).
Sound quality: what reviewers found
What Hi-Fi? summed up the SP8YA as “a forthright and detailed soundbar package that delivers beyond its size.” Its reviewer found the soundstage expansive and action scenes focused and punchy, and noted that the bar “effortlessly projects the voices forward,” even in busy scenes. The Meridian-tuned Music mode “blooms the soundstage while also enhancing the bass and treble without sounding synthetic.”
The same review flagged two weaknesses. The subwoofer adds scale but “is a little undefined,” and it sounded slightly limp with funk bass lines. The height effects made “a fair attempt” at overhead sounds but lacked the precision of the Sonos Arc, which What Hi-Fi? called a better Atmos performer for not much more money. The SP8YA’s strength is dialogue clarity and room-filling width rather than pinpoint overhead effects.
Upgrading with rear speakers
LG’s SPK8-S wireless rear speaker kit turns the SP8YA into a 5.1.2-channel system. The kit includes two wired satellite speakers and a small wireless receiver, so you still need a power outlet near the back of the room. What Hi-Fi? listed easy expansion with surround speakers among the bar’s strengths. You can find the kit through a search for the LG SPK8-S on Amazon.
Successors: S80QY and the 2026 Sound Suite
- LG S80QY (2022): It replaced the SP8YA and added an up-firing center channel for a 3.1.3 layout. RTINGS found that the two perform very similarly and that the extra channel only slightly improves voice placement, so a discounted SP8YA loses little.
- LG Sound Suite H7 (2026): LG’s current flagship is the first soundbar built on Dolby Atmos FlexConnect. It lists at $999.99 and expands with wireless M5 or M7 surround speakers and a W7 subwoofer, according to LG’s Sound Suite announcement.
If you prefer LG’s older, cheaper bars, our LG SJ8 soundbar review covers a 2017 model without Atmos.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clear, forward dialogue from a dedicated center channel
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding with up-firing height speakers
- HDMI input with 4K, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 pass-through
- Chromecast, AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect built in
- Room calibration and an optional wireless rear speaker kit
Cons
- Subwoofer bass lacks definition and impact
- Height effects less precise than the Sonos Arc’s
- Only one HDMI input
- Replaced by newer LG models and hard to find new
LG SP8YA vs. other Dolby Atmos soundbars
Amazon is our main affiliate partner, and it carries LG’s newer soundbars along with strong Dolby Atmos rivals in the same class. Here’s how they compare:
Compare similar Dolby Atmos soundbars on Amazon
| Soundbar | Configuration | Subwoofer | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG SP8YA | 3.1.2 | Wireless, included | Clear dialogue at a clearance price | Check price |
| LG S80QY | 3.1.3 | Wireless, included | A slightly newer LG with a center up-firing channel | Check price |
| LG Sound Suite H7 | Modular, expandable | Optional W7 | LG TV owners who want FlexConnect | Check price |
| Samsung HW-Q800D | 5.1.2 | Wireless, included | Samsung TV owners | Check price |
| Vizio Elevate | 5.1.4 | Wireless, included | Rotating Atmos speakers | Check price |
- LG S80QY: The closest replacement, with nearly identical performance in RTINGS’s comparison. See the LG S80QY on Amazon.
- Vizio Elevate: Its speakers rotate upward for Atmos and forward for music, and it includes rear speakers. Read our Vizio Elevate review.
- Samsung HW-Q800D: A good match for Samsung TVs, with Q-Symphony support. Our Samsung HW-Q990B review covers Samsung’s flagship line if you want more channels.
Who should buy the LG SP8YA?
The SP8YA suits viewers with a 50- to 75-inch TV who mostly want clearer dialogue and a bigger sound than TV speakers, with real Atmos and DTS:X support and the option to add rear speakers later. LG TV owners get the most from it. Skip it if you want deep, tight bass, precise overhead effects, or more than one HDMI input.
Frequently asked questions
Does the LG SP8YA support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X?
Yes, the LG SP8YA supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, plus Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Two up-firing speakers on top of the bar create the height channels.
Can you add rear speakers to the LG SP8YA?
Yes, the LG SP8YA works with LG’s SPK8-S wireless rear speaker kit, which turns it into a 5.1.2-channel system. The kit includes a small wireless receiver that powers the two rear speakers.
Does the LG SP8YA pass through 4K and Dolby Vision?
Yes, the LG SP8YA’s HDMI input passes through 4K video with Dolby Vision and HDR10, according to LG’s spec sheet. It has one HDMI input, so connect extra devices to your TV.
What replaced the LG SP8YA?
The LG S80QY replaced the SP8YA in 2022 and added an up-firing center channel. RTINGS found the two perform very similarly. In 2026, LG’s flagship is the modular Sound Suite H7, which lists at $999.99.
Final verdict
The LG SP8YA remains a capable, feature-rich Dolby Atmos soundbar, with clear dialogue, wide sound, 4K Dolby Vision pass-through, and excellent streaming support. Its soft subwoofer and modest height effects keep it from greatness, and newer LG models have replaced it, so buy it only at a clear discount. Check the current LG SP8YA price on Amazon.