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Audio

LG US40T review

A sensible budget step up from TV speakers if you want a wireless subwoofer for fuller films and do not need Dolby Atmos or Wi-Fi.

Great ifYour TV's own speakers sound thin and you want more bass in films
Think twice ifYou want Dolby Atmos height effects
£159Standard retail package, Price recorded 1 Aug 2026
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Our verdict

The LG US40T is a simple soundbar-and-subwoofer set. The bar holds three speakers for the front of the room, and a separate wireless subwoofer (a box that plays only the deep bass) sits on the floor, adding weight to films and music that thin TV speakers cannot manage. LG quotes 300W of audio power; that is a maximum figure, not a measure of quality. It connects to your TV by HDMI ARC, the HDMI connection that carries sound back from the TV, or by an optical cable, and HDMI CEC lets your TV remote control the volume. It does not support Dolby Atmos and has no Wi-Fi. The Standard retail package was listed at £159 in the UK when checked on 1 August 2026.

Buy it if

  • Your TV's own speakers sound thin and you want more bass in films
  • You have floor space and a spare socket near the TV for the subwoofer
  • You want a simple one-cable set-up that works with your TV remote

Skip it if

  • You want Dolby Atmos height effects
  • You want a soundbar that streams music over Wi-Fi
  • There is no room for a subwoofer, or you live somewhere bass may disturb neighbours

How it would fit your home

Films on a budget

The wireless subwoofer adds the rumble to explosions and soundtracks that thin TV speakers leave out.

Everyday TV

Connect it by HDMI ARC and your TV remote controls the volume, so there is no extra remote for daily use.

An older TV

If your TV has no HDMI ARC socket, the optical input still lets you connect it.

The details, in plain English

Sound

The bar has three speakers facing into the room, and the wireless subwoofer handles the lowest notes. Splitting the work this way gives films and music a fuller, bigger sound than the small speakers inside a thin TV. LG quotes 300W of audio power. Treat that as a maximum figure rather than a promise of quality, and remember that channel counts on the box do not guarantee clear dialogue.

Connecting to your TV

There is one HDMI port with ARC (Audio Return Channel), which sends sound from the TV to the soundbar over a single cable. HDMI CEC lets your TV remote turn the volume up and down. If your TV lacks ARC, you can use the optical (Toslink) input instead. The bar also has its own controls and display, and LG offers a smartphone app for settings.

What it leaves out

There is no Dolby Atmos, the format that adds a sense of height for sounds above you, so films mixed in Atmos play without that effect. There is no Wi-Fi, so music has to come from your TV or a connected device rather than a Wi-Fi streaming service built into the bar. There is no 3.5mm input for older music players either. For most people who just want TV to sound fuller, these gaps will not matter.

Room and placement

The subwoofer is wireless, so there is no cable to run from the bar, but it still needs a power socket and some floor space near the TV. The shape of your room and where the TV sits affect how wide and spacious the sound feels. Check the space you have before buying, and think about neighbours if you live in a flat with thin floors.

Strengths and drawbacks

What it does well

  • Separate wireless subwoofer: deeper bass for films than TV speakers can give
  • Three speakers in the bar for a wider, fuller sound
  • HDMI ARC with CEC: one cable, and your TV remote controls the volume
  • Optical input as a back-up for older TVs
  • A display on the bar and a smartphone app for settings

What to watch out for

  • No Dolby Atmos, so there is no height effect from films mixed in that format
  • No Wi-Fi, so no built-in Wi-Fi music streaming
  • Only one HDMI port, so it cannot pass other devices through to the TV
  • Room shape and where the TV sits affect how wide the sound feels
  • The quoted 300W and channel counts do not guarantee clear dialogue

Compare the US40T with other budget soundbars that include a subwoofer. Pay more only if you want Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi or HDMI passthrough; if you simply want fuller TV sound, this covers the basics.

Alternatives we have reviewed

ProductOur verdictPriceBuy
LG US40T soundbar with wireless subwooferLG US40T (this one)A sensible budget step up from TV speakers if you want a wireless subwoofer for fuller films and do not need Dolby Atmos or Wi-Fi.
£159Standard retail package, Price recorded 1 Aug 2026
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Hisense HS3100 soundbar with its wireless subwooferHisense HS3100A practical low-cost step up from thin TV speakers if you have room and a spare socket for the included wireless subwoofer.
£95Standard retail package, Price recorded 20 Sept 2026
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Hisense HS2100 soundbar and subwooferHisense HS2100A cheap way to add bass and clearer TV sound, provided your TV can connect by HDMI or optical and you do not expect true surround sound.
£81Standard retail package, Price recorded 1 Aug 2026
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Samsung HW-Q600F soundbar and subwooferSamsung HW-Q600FA well-matched soundbar for a fuller, wider TV sound with real bass, if you do not need rear speakers or smart-speaker extras.
£349Standard retail package, Price recorded 1 Aug 2026
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Where our findings come from

Research-based review. We checked the exact model against LG's UK site and the specifications published by Which?. Specifications quoted here come from those sources; we have not tested this soundbar ourselves.

LG US40T
£159Standard retail package, Price recorded 1 Aug 2026
Check price