This éclair-shaped Dolby Atmos soundbar could be a satisfying treat for tight spaces

LG soundbar
(Image credit: LG)

LG has unveiled its latest soundbar at CES 2021 – and despite its small size, it comes with some mightily impressive audio specs, including upfiring tweeters for Dolby Atmos, a wireless subwoofer, and support for DTS:X.

The LG QP5 Éclair comes in at just 11.7 inches by 2.3 inches (W x H), making it an ideal choice if you're short on space – or if you simply dislike the look of traditional soundbars.

As its name suggests, the new soundbar looks a little like an éclair pastry, with a compact frame and rounded edges. 

It's slated to launch in late June or early July, and will initially come in white only (though LG is apparently considering a black version, according to Tech Hive).

If the price is right...

Inside the soundbar are five drivers. These consist of a center driver, left and right drivers (positioned at a 45-degree angle to widen the soundstage), and those also all-important upfiring drivers, which bounce sound up to your ceiling and back down to your ears to give your audio a sense of height when you're watching Dolby Atmos or DTS:X content.

The LG QP5 Éclair comes with a wireless subwoofer to boost the bass frequencies, and it's been optimized for smaller spaces, with bi-directional drivers reducing the amount of vibration. In other words, it shouldn't make it feel as though your entire home is rattling whenever you settle in for a movie.

There's no word yet on how much the new soundbar will cost, but if LG can price it competitively, it could be a great alternative to other small soundbars like the Definitive Technology Studio 3D Mini.

LG wouldn't have to underprice its compact soundbar to achieve this; Definitive Technology's mini Dolby Atmos bar is set to cost $899 (about £670 / AU$1,200) in the US when it launches later this month, which is more expensive than the best soundbar of 2020, the Sonos Arc

  • Check out all of TechRadar's CES 2021 coverage. We're remotely covering the online-only show to bring you all the breaking tech news and launches, plus a smattering of hands-on reviews.
Olivia Tambini

Olivia was previously TechRadar's Senior Editor - Home Entertainment, covering everything from headphones to TVs. Based in London, she's a popular music graduate who worked in the music industry before finding her calling in journalism. She's previously been interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on the subject of multi-room audio, chaired panel discussions on diversity in music festival lineups, and her bylines include T3, Stereoboard, What to Watch, Top Ten Reviews, Creative Bloq, and Croco Magazine. Olivia now has a career in PR.

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