The LG Eclair QP5: Is This the Best Super-Compact Soundbar for Your Home Theater?
The LG Eclair QP5 is touted as the smallest soundbar with Dolby Atmos support, a tantalizing proposition for those looking to upgrade their home theater experience without sacrificing precious space. Priced at Rs. 59,990, this compact soundbar system packs a 3.1.2-channel speaker setup with a rated output of 320W, tuned by Meridian Audio. But can this pint-sized package deliver the immersive sound you crave? We delve into the design, features, performance, and value of the LG Eclair QP5 to see if it justifies its price tag.
Design and Specifications: Tiny Bar, Powerful Subwoofer
The LG Eclair QP5 challenges the conventional notion of a soundbar. Its bar speaker, measuring under 30cm in length and weighing just 1.55kg, is unusually compact. LG suggests pairing it with a 40-inch television, making it seem almost miniature compared to larger screens.
The ports on the rear of the bar speaker include HDMI-in, HDMI-out with ARC support, a Digital Optical-in, a USB Type-A port, and a DC-in socket for the power adapter. Basic controls like power, volume, source selection, and Bluetooth are conveniently located at the back. While there’s no display, three LED lights on the front indicate power, connectivity status, and volume.
The included wireless subwoofer takes a starkly different approach, significantly larger than its compact counterpart. This size differential presents a striking visual contrast, which might not appeal to everyone. The subwoofer weighs a hefty 7.7kg and offers flexibility in positioning thanks to its absence of visible buttons when upright and a pairing button on its underside for initial setup.
The bar speaker boasts a 3.1.2-channel speaker setup, featuring three forward-firing drivers, two upward-firing drivers, and dedicated drivers for the subwoofer with two bass ports. This configuration aims to deliver wider sound than its size might suggest, while the upward-firing drivers direct sound toward the ceiling to create a virtualized overhead channel experience.
The system’s rated output is 320W, with the subwoofer alone accounting for a hefty 220W. The bar speaker’s five drivers are rated for 20W each, totaling 100W of output. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 4 with SBC and AAC codec support, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio formats, and Meridian Audio tuning, reflecting a long-standing partnership between LG and Meridian.
The bundled remote offers similar controls to the on-device buttons, along with additional sound mode options and a navigation d-pad activated in specific situations. It relies on two AA batteries for power. With HDMI ARC connectivity, you can seamlessly control power and volume via your TV remote, minimizing the need for the soundbar’s remote.
LG Sound Bar App: Comprehensive Control at Your Fingertips
While the LG Eclair QP5 lacks a display and offers a minimalistic remote, it embraces comprehensive customization through the LG Sound Bar app (available for iOS and Android). This app connects via Bluetooth, allowing you to take control of various settings and preferences.
The app’s user-friendly interface provides a clear visual representation of controls. You can easily adjust volume, switch sources, change sound effect presets (Automatic, Music with Meridian, Game, and Cinema), and fine-tune sound levels for the woofer, center speaker, and overhead speakers. For those seeking deeper customization, the app also allows firmware updates, enabling you to adjust settings like sound format activation and HDMI CEC activation. While not a necessity for everyday use, the app is a valuable tool for initial setup and occasional tweaking of preferences.
Sound Performance: A Mixed Bag of Strengths and Quirks
The LG Eclair QP5’s compact design encourages effortless installation and positioning. While this is an attractive feature, its size inevitably raises questions about its sonic capabilities. In our evaluation, the soundbar’s performance exhibited a blend of both strengths and inconsistencies.
The angled drivers on the bar speaker are touted to deliver a wider soundstage, and indeed, we experienced a more expansive soundscape than typically expected from a soundbar of this size. Using HDMI ARC to connect it to a Sony KD-43X75K television, we had access to a range of audio formats, including Dolby Atmos.
We observed that the soundstage felt spacious in all directions thanks to sonic reflections off walls, particularly in "Bad Travelling" episode of Love, Death & Robots. While the upward-firing drivers weren’t capable of true overhead virtualisation, they did contribute to a sense of height, encompassing the TV screen area, if not the entire room. This virtualized soundstage effectively enhanced the immersive experience in nature scenes from "Our Great National Parks."
The subwoofer’s power and size were immediately apparent and created a noticeable imbalance in the sonic signature. Lows were noticeably louder and more aggressive compared to the mid-range and highs. While the app offers some control over the subwoofer’s volume, we found it consistently overpowering, particularly during the eerie soundtrack of "Better Call Saul: Season 6."
With content centered around vocals, such as the sitcom "Kim’s Convenience," the QP5 system relied more on the bar speaker’s center-channel driver rather than the subwoofer. Although the sound was undeniably louder than the TV’s speakers, it sometimes felt somewhat awkward and shrill, requiring us to lower the volume to levels that weren’t ideal. Surprisingly, the occasional hip-hop tracks sounded impressive, albeit with sudden volume spikes that required quick adjustments.
While the QP5 is capable of reaching high volume levels, the unpredictable volume spikes and rumble from the subwoofer made it a bit risky. However, at moderate volumes, the QP5 filled a 100-square-foot room effortlessly, delivering a noticeable improvement in crispness compared to the standard bottom-firing television speakers.
Bluetooth and Music Performance: A Stellar Addition
The LG Eclair QP5 utilizes Bluetooth for wireless connection to a television or to pair it with smartphones and tablets for music playback. We found the QP5 incredibly enjoyable for music, offering room-filling, punchy sound and a beautifully expansive soundstage even at low volumes. Fast-paced tracks like “Show Me Love” by Steve Angello and Laidback Luke were a delight to listen to, showcasing the system’s affinity for music.
Occasional Glitches: Minor Disruptions in Otherwise Positive Performance
During our time with the LG Eclair QP5, we encountered a few instances where the sound intermittently blanked out and resumed for a few seconds, even while using HDMI ARC. This issue occurred sporadically, only once every few days, but it was undeniably frustrating when it did. Additionally, when adjusting the volume using the TV remote, the volume levels jumped by 3-4 increments rather than seamlessly adjusting. While not a major problem, this inconsistency felt odd and lacked smooth transitions when trying to refine volume levels.
Verdict: A Luxurious Yet Pricey Experience
The LG Eclair QP5 stands out as a unique soundbar primarily due to its compact design and user-friendly installation. Despite its small size, the sound delivered is significant. While we encountered some audio stability issues and occasional sonic imbalance, the overall experience was largely positive. The support for Dolby Atmos, impressive Bluetooth music playback, and the powerful subwoofer certainly contribute to a compelling audio experience.
However, at Rs. 59,990 (or even the lower online price of Rs. 42,990), the LG QP5 is undeniably expensive for what it delivers. It’s best suited for TVs up to 43 inches, making its price tag higher than most TVs of that size.
Furthermore, the absence of Wi-Fi or smart connectivity and the occasional glitches we experienced further reinforce the notion that the price might be too high. Despite this, the LG Eclair QP5’s design, compact size, and capabilities make it a tempting option for those seeking a premium soundbar system with limited space constraints. Ultimately, the choice hinges on whether the overall experience justifies the premium price tag for you.
