Compact Power: The LG Eclair QP5 Soundbar Rewrites the Rules on Home Audio

A significant advantage of a soundbar system lies in its compactness and the straightforward installation process associated with a one- or two-speaker setup. Typically small enough to comfortably rest on a TV stand and requiring minimal wiring, a soundbar presents an efficient solution for enhancing your home TV audio experience. However, since soundbars are generally elongated, finding a safe spot for them in tight spaces can be a challenge. A particularly compact option, like the model reviewed here, seeks to remedy this issue.

The LG Eclair QP5 is promoted as the smallest soundbar from the manufacturer that supports Dolby Atmos, retailing for Rs. 59,990 in India, although you can find it for a significantly lower price on various online sites. What distinguishes this soundbar system is the size of its speaker bar paired with the inclusion of a subwoofer. The QP5 features a 3.1.2-channel configuration and a total output power of 320W, with sound tuning by Meridian Audio. Is this the ultimate compact home theater system available today? This review aims to clarify that.

The LG Eclair QP5 offers connectivity through HDMI, Digital Optical-in, USB, and Bluetooth

Design and Specifications of the LG Eclair QP5 Soundbar and Subwoofer

While the LG Eclair QP5 is branded as a soundbar system, a glance at the main speaker might challenge this characterization. The ‘bar’ speaker measures just under 30cm in length and weighs a mere 1.55kg, resulting in a form factor that diverges from traditional soundbars. LG recommends pairing the QP5 with a 40-inch television, and in my review, the bar speaker seemed particularly diminutive when set alongside the 43-inch Sony KD-43X75K television.

All ports are located on the rear of the bar speaker, which includes an HDMI-in port, an HDMI-out port with ARC support, a Digital Optical-in (Toslink) port, a USB Type-A port, and a DC-in socket for the power adapter. Basic control buttons are also situated at the back, positioned above the ports, and comprise power, volume, source selection, and Bluetooth. The speaker system lacks a display, but features three LED indicators on the front indicating power, connectivity, and volume levels.

While the bar speaker is compact, the accompanying wireless subwoofer is notably larger, creating a striking visual contrast within the LG QP5 system. Even though both components share similar shapes and fabric textures, the size difference is quite pronounced, which is typically uncommon in this category. The subwoofer weighs in at 7.7kg.

The subwoofer has no visible buttons in an upright position and can be placed in virtually any orientation that is convenient. I positioned it parallel to the wall to minimize its protrusion. There’s a pairing button located underneath, likely to be used only once during the initial setup to establish a wireless connection to the bar speaker.

The LG Eclair QP5 bar speaker features a 3.1.2-channel configuration, with three forward-facing and two upward-firing drivers, complemented by two bass ports in the subwoofer. The arrangement of drivers aims to deliver a broader soundstage than might normally be expected from such a compact speaker, while the upward-facing channels direct sound towards overhead surfaces for virtualized effects.

The overall output of the LG Eclair QP5 is rated at 320W, with the subwoofer contributing 220W. The five drivers on the bar speaker are each rated for 20W, summing up to 100W of output. The speaker is equipped with Bluetooth 4 for connectivity, supporting SBC and AAC codecs. Additionally, it accommodates Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio formats, with tuning by Meridian Audio, continuing their long-standing partnership.

A remote control is included with the LG Eclair QP5, providing controls that mirror the on-device buttons while adding extra options for sound modes and navigation via a d-pad, which is activated under certain conditions. It uses two AA batteries for power. For this review, I connected the QP5 using HDMI ARC, enabling HDMI CEC support, which allowed me to control power and volume through my TV remote, minimizing the need for the soundbar’s remote.

LG Eclair QP5 Soundbar and Subwoofer Application

Despite the LG Eclair QP5 system lacking a display and featuring a minimalist remote, it does not fall short in terms of customization and settings adjustment. The QP5 utilizes the LG Sound Bar app (accessible on iOS and Android) for controlling and personalizing preferences. The app connects to the QP5 via Bluetooth, akin to how wireless headphones, earphones, and speakers utilize their respective apps.

The LG Eclair QP5 includes a remote that allows sound mode changes and playback controls, in addition to basic power and volume features

Once Bluetooth is activated and linked to your smartphone, the app provides an organized visual interface for managing various settings of the LG QP5. You can select the audio source, modify the volume, switch sound mode presets based on audio type (Automatic, Music with Meridian, Game, and Cinema), and customize sound levels for the woofer, center speaker, and overhead speakers.

You can also update firmware, tweak several other settings such as sound format activation and HDMI CEC settings, and more. Post-initial setup, I found myself rarely needing the app aside from adjusting the subwoofer volume on occasion. Sound effect modes could be switched using the remote, making the app a handy, though not essential, companion.

LG Eclair QP5 Soundbar and Subwoofer Performance

The dimensions and design of the LG Eclair QP5 soundbar suggest a simpler installation and positioning process compared to larger traditional speaker systems. Nevertheless, this size raises questions regarding the sound capabilities of the system, and my experience revealed a somewhat varied performance.

The five drivers on the QP5’s bar speaker are angled to maximize sound width and staging, providing a wider audio experience than typically anticipated from a soundbar of this size. For the review, I connected the speaker system to the Sony KD-43X75K television via HDMI ARC, accessing an array of content and audio formats extending to Dolby Atmos.

Setting up the LG QP5 in my bedroom with a 43-inch television meant that most of my viewing occurred in the evening or night, focusing on light viewing of sitcoms, F1 races, or game shows, the majority of which utilized basic audio or 5.1 surround sound encoding. Nevertheless, I also viewed some Dolby Atmos content, especially episodes of Our Great National Parks and Love, Death & Robots Season 3.

The LG Eclair QP5’s subwoofer is significantly larger than the bar speaker, with an output rating of 220W

Implementing Dolby Atmos on such a compact soundbar was always going to be a challenge, but the device did enhance audio quality when paired with suitable content. The soundstage felt expansive in various scenes, particularly during the eerie maritime scenes in the ‘Bad Travelling’ episode of Love, Death & Robots.

While the forward-firing drivers managed to produce some sound reflection from the walls, the upward-firing drivers fell short of providing effective overhead virtualization. That said, they contributed to an element of height, with the virtual soundstage largely covering the TV’s screen area, if not the whole room. The same applied to Our Great National Parks, where the natural sounds adequately filled the smaller space I was using for the soundbar.

The subwoofer for the LG Eclair QP5 not only looks larger than the bar speaker but also possesses more power, often leading to an imbalance in sound profiles where low frequencies overshadow mid-range and high frequencies. It is possible to reduce the subwoofer’s intensity using the app, but it consistently felt overpowering, especially with the chilling score of Better Call Saul: Season 6.

When watching dialogue-centric content such as the sitcom Kim’s Convenience, the LG QP5 system emphasized the center-channel driver over the subwoofer. While this ensured louder output compared to the TV, there were instances where the sound came off as harsh and unpleasant, requiring volume adjustments to less than ideal levels. Intriguingly, occasional hip-hop cuts sounded impressive, though they did lead to sudden volume fluctuations that required quick corrections.

The QP5 can reach considerable sound levels, but high volumes could come with unexpected spikes and strong rumble from the subwoofer. At moderate settings, it effectively fills a 100-square-foot room, delivering noticeably crisper sound than the standard bottom-firing speakers of a television.

The Bluetooth feature of the LG Eclair QP5 can be utilized for connecting wirelessly to a compatible television or for music playback when linked to a smartphone or tablet. I found the QP5 enjoyable for music listening, as it produced resonant, engaging sound while maintaining depth even at low volumes. Tracks like Show Me Love by Steve Angello and Laidback Luke offered an enjoyable listening experience, with the tuning appearing to favor music over its primarily intended TV viewing.

During my time with the LG Eclair QP5, I experienced occasional audio dropouts that lasted a few seconds, even while using HDMI ARC from the television. Generally, these incidents resolved themselves and were infrequent, but they were certainly disruptive. Adjusting the volume using the TV remote occasionally resulted in jumps of 3-4 increments in either direction to match the soundbar’s volume levels. While this wasn’t a major issue, it did appear somewhat erratic and lacked consistency when trying to fine-tune volume settings.

Conclusion

The LG Eclair QP5 stands out as a distinctive soundbar, especially due to its design and the ease of installation facilitated by its compact dimensions. Despite this, the audio performance is commendable, even though I encountered some issues with sound stability and an occasionally unbalanced output. Overall, the experience remained largely positive, bolstered by Dolby Atmos support, effective Bluetooth performance, and a robust subwoofer.

At Rs. 59,990 (or even the reduced online price of Rs. 42,990), the LG QP5 does seem a bit pricey for its offerings. It’s a soundbar system that pairs best with a 43-inch television, positioning it as more expensive than many TVs of that size currently available.

Additionally, the absence of Wi-Fi or smart features and the issues I encountered further highlight that the price point might be excessive. Nonetheless, the design and features of the LG Eclair QP5 are impressive, making it a consideration for those in search of a high-end soundbar system with limited installation space.