Sound quality: LG's S77S has acceptable overall sound quality - this model reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. In the Standard sound effect mode with the tone controls set to provide the most even tonal balance the bass has good impact and goes deep, but is a bit prominent and boomy. The midrange is fairly even, but is a bit grainy and a touch hazy, plasticky and echoey. The treble is fairly extended, but is a bit smeared and sizzly. This model does a decent job of recovering room ambience, but the echoey quality of the midrange can give the sound an artificial "processed" quality, and the overall sound is a bit congested. The two channel sound stage extends somewhat above and a bit to the sides of the speaker array and lacks depth. When 5.1 channel program material is played back the width and height of the sound stage expands, and depending on the program material extends somewhat beyond the height and width of the soundbar enclosure. When playing Dolby Atmos or DTS:X material, the width and height of the sound stage expands and depending on the program material can fill the front end of the room; the sound stage can extend up and above from the front of the room to almost directly overhead, but there was no rear surround effect, and sounds that should have been in the rear come from the front. Regardless of the type of program material being played the various sound modes had a noticeable effect on the sound field and/or tonal balance. There was no significant difference between HDMI, optical, USB, and Bluetooth sound quality. Dolby Atmos and/or DTS:X program material can only be played through the HDMI input and through the HDMI ARC/eARC input when it is connected to a TV that has a HDMI ARC connection that supports Dolby Digital+ and/or DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, or a HDMI eARC connection that supports Dolby Digital+ or Dolby Digital TrueHD and/or DTS-HD Master Audio or DTS-HD High Resolution Audio.
TV ease of use: Very good overall.
Features ease of use: Acceptable overall.
