LG S40TR vs Bose Smart Soundbar: Which Setup Fits Your TV Room?
The LG S40TR is the more complete physical speaker package out of the box: it includes rear speakers and a subwoofer, but one rear needs AC power and the rear pair must be wired to each other. The Bose Smart Soundbar starts as one bar; Bose lists bass and surround expansion as optional, while its network music services and Atmos path are useful only if they match your devices and, for Atmos, your TV connection.
Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-02
Source checked 2026-10-02 18:57 UTC
Products compared
Product A · ASIN B0D1CPPL85
LG S40TR 4.1-channel Home Theater Soundbar
Last observed offer
$249.99
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 19:05 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Product B · ASIN B0D6W8XQ6J
Bose Smart Soundbar
Last observed offer
$549.00
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 19:09 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Pickoryx may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the paid Amazon links on this page, at no added cost to you.
The buying question
Do you want physical rear speakers and a subwoofer in the box, or a single smart soundbar with network music streaming and optional expansion?
The LG includes separate rear speakers and a subwoofer, with rear-speaker wiring and power needs; the Bose is a single-bar starting point with network services and optional expansion.
Quick verdict
Choose LG S40TR 4.1-channel Home Theater Soundbar if
- You want included physical rear speakers and a separate subwoofer, and can provide the rear-speaker cable route and AC power.
Choose Bose Smart Soundbar if
- You prefer a single-bar setup, or you use Bose's documented Wi-Fi/AirPlay/Spotify Connect/Chromecast streaming and can connect HDMI ARC/eARC when Atmos matters.
When the recommendation changes
- If you cannot run a cable between the LG rear speakers or power one of them, its included surround package may not fit the room.
- If the TV lacks HDMI ARC/eARC and Atmos is required, the Bose guide's optical fallback does not establish Atmos delivery.
- If you need measured sound-quality or dialogue superiority, neither manufacturer's feature page settles that comparison.
The differences that matter
Surround Package And Wiring
LG S40TR 4.1-channel Home Theater Soundbar
Rear speakers and subwoofer are included; the rear speakers require a wired connection between them and one rear speaker needs AC power.[1]
Bose Smart Soundbar
The Smart Soundbar is the base bar; Bose lists bass module and surround speakers as optional additions. The listed box contains the soundbar plus setup accessories.[3]
What this changes: The LG delivers the documented separate rear/sub package in the box with cable and power placement requirements. Bose's base system starts with the bar, and its separately offered modules change the eventual package.[1, 3]
Network Streaming And Tv Format Path
What this changes: If you rely on Bose’s named network services or want Dolby Atmos, check that your devices support the listed service and that your TV has HDMI eARC/ARC. For the LG, check the S40TR guide and TV audio settings for the exact format/connection combination you plan to use. These published format labels do not establish which system sounds better.[1, 2, 3, 4]
Best for your routine
A buyer who wants physical rear speakers and a subwoofer included and can meet the LG's rear wiring and AC requirements.
Best fit: LG S40TR 4.1-channel Home Theater Soundbar
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
The LG product page explicitly lists the rear speakers and subwoofer as included; check the cable route between the rear speakers and an AC outlet before choosing it.
A buyer who wants Bose's listed Wi-Fi music services or Atmos through a TV HDMI ARC/eARC connection, while starting with one soundbar.
Best fit: Bose Smart Soundbar
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
Bose lists Wi-Fi services and optional expansion; its owner guide conditions Atmos delivery on HDMI eARC/ARC. Confirm the service and port requirements against your devices.
Value and trade-offs
One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.
A higher checkout price should matter only if you will use the documented streaming, TV-format path, or expansion options; compare the actual complete bundle rather than assuming either setup has lower total ownership cost.
Compare current checkout prices, availability, and package contents before choosing; no price-history recommendation is made.
Limitations
- No hands-on or controlled A/B sound test was conducted, so bass impact, dialogue clarity, room coverage, and overall sound quality are not ranked.
- Your TV, streaming device, and selected audio-output settings determine which signal reaches a soundbar; check the matching product and TV guides for your exact connection.
- Bose's optical fallback is documented for spacious sound, but the owner guide ties Dolby Atmos delivery to HDMI eARC/ARC.
Questions shoppers ask
Does the LG S40TR's wireless rear-speaker description mean the rears need no wires or power?
No. LG says the two rear speakers require a wired connection between them, and one rear speaker requires AC power. Plan the cable route and outlet before choosing the included surround setup.
Can the Bose Smart Soundbar deliver Dolby Atmos over optical?
Bose's owner guide says to connect through the TV's HDMI eARC or ARC port for Dolby Atmos. It lists optical as a fallback when the TV lacks ARC/eARC, but that fallback is described for spacious sound rather than Atmos; check your TV and source settings.
Are Bose rear speakers or a bass module included with the Smart Soundbar?
Bose describes the bass module and surround speakers as optional add-ons. The product page's base box list names the soundbar and setup accessories, so verify the exact seller package if an accessory is shown in a listing image.
Methodology and sources
Compared the included speaker packages and placement requirements, then compared each model's documented music-streaming and TV-format paths. Only features and connection requirements stated for these models are discussed.
AI assisted source discovery, fact organization, and drafting; claims were checked against the linked manufacturer documentation. No hands-on testing was performed.
View 4 sources
- 1.S40TR LG Home Theater Soundbar with Dolby and Rear Speakers, 4.1 channelLG Electronics USA · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-02 18:57 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Product name/model lines; Key features; footnote 4 beneath feature list: Identifies S40TR and describes Dolby/DTS, included rear speakers and subwoofer, Bluetooth connectivity, and customizable 3-band equalizer settings. Footnote 4 says the rear speakers must be wired to one another and one rear speaker requires AC power.
- 2.S40TR.DUSALLK Product Support PageLG Electronics USA · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-02 18:57 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Heading/model identifier; Download Manuals section: Identifies the US support model S40TR.DUSALLK and provides English online and owner manuals for setup and operation.
- 3.Bose Smart SoundbarBose Corporation · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-02 18:57 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Product details / What's in the box; FAQ main benefits and streaming; optional bass/surround expansion; Dolby Atmos and TrueSpace sections: The US product page identifies Bose Smart Soundbar, lists its in-box bar/cables/power cord/remote, and describes network music services and Bluetooth/AirPlay 2/Spotify Connect/Chromecast. It describes the bass module and surround speakers as optional, and identifies Dolby Atmos/TrueSpace processing.
- 4.Bose Smart Soundbar Owner's GuideBose Corporation · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-02 18:57 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Appendix: Setup Reference, printed pages 58–60; Connection Options and Connect the Soundbar to Your TV: The guide linked from the Bose Smart Soundbar US page prefers HDMI eARC/ARC, specifies that Dolby Atmos requires an eARC/ARC connection, allows optical as a fallback for spacious sound, and says TV-remote power/volume/mute require ARC/eARC.