2013 LG Soundbar Lineup Preview

For 2013, LG has introduced 4 new soundbars to market, the: NB4530, NB3730, NB3530, and NB2030. You might be saying, "It's nearly 2014!". Well, yeah, that's true, it somehow slipped through the cracks, but with the holiday shopping season on us we still wanted to weigh in. Hopefully our coverage of Samsung's 2013 soundbar lineup, review of their HW-F750, and recent review of the Sony HT-ST7 soundbar kept you occupied long enough for us to get you this preview.

Unlike some lineups where each successive model sports a little more wattage or minor feature upgrade of dubious value, the LG lineup actually has some pretty distinctive features amongst the models that make them fairly unique from one another.

NB4530B

Well look at this little guy.  The NB4530B costs $449 and is targeted at those who want more sound output than a TV can provide, but are unwilling to give up even the smallest of spaces to speakers.  Measuring only 1.4” tall and 3.0” deep (40.9" wide), you’d be right to think that LG would have to get creative with their drivers.  While the specs and marketing material are mum on size and composition, the glamour photos appear to reveal oblong midrange drivers paired with tweeters in a 2-way configuration.  Also absent from the literature is a rated frequency response, so we’ll just have to guess at the range provided by the, once again, nonspecific driver in the wireless subwoofer. Based on the specs we do know and our past experiences with LG soundbars, it's safe to say that this will go much louder any TV speakers and provide improved bass response. However, it won't be able to compete with a nice 2.1 system, and the small drivers in the soundbar mean that the subwoofer needs to step in and play higher frequencies than would be ideal. We can't comment on the actual tonality or overall sound quality, but it's obvious this is for people who value looks over sound quality, as are any similarly sized soundbars from other companies. 

LG NB4530B

Even though it's so small, the sheer number of input options is impressive:analog (3.5mm), optical, Bluetooth, HDMI, and even USB direct play for MP3 and WMA.  The HDMI output features Audio Return Channel so the built-in audio from the display won’t require an extra cable to route back to the soundbar.  Dolby Digital and DTS playback are supported, which is a plus, and there’s still room on that skinny faccia for a front display to make operation simple. In sum, The NB4530 packs an impressive feature list for its diminutive size, but is definitively for people who value small size over big sound, as is any soundbar this thin.

LG NB4530B Rear

NB3730A

LG NB3730A

For those less concerned with bulk, we have the larger, be it still decidedly un-ulky NB3730A.  While the general approach remains the same with a 2.1 configuration, the unit is stretched to 4.8” tall and 1.9” deep, but remains wall mountable with the included bracket.  The standout features of the NB3730A are built-in wireless and “smart” apps such as Netflix, Vudu, CinemaNow, and Pandora for those lacking such content options in their TV, Blu-ray player, or set-top box.  Additionally, the USB and DLNA playback support audio, photo, and video playback, including h.264/MPEG-4 AVC and FLAC.  Physical connection options remain the same as the NB4530B. For $399, the NB3730 offers quite a bit in the way of connectivity. We also like the presumably larger midrange drivers over the NB4530B, but note that the subwoofer included with the NB3730A is a step down from theNB4530B.

NB3530A

LG NB3530A

The NB3530A is basically the NB3730A without the internet connected features.  Yep that’s it.

Well, it’s also slightly less wide at 37.4”, and has no HDMI video output (trading it for a 2nd optical input), and thusly it doesn’t playback video or photo. But, let’s face it.  The choice between the NB3730A and NB3530A is going to come down to whether your TV, Blu-ray, game device, or set-top box is a “smart” internet connected device.  If it is, you’re probably going to go with the NB3530A.

NB2030A

 LG NB2030A

And here we have the simplest of soundbar designs; all the basics, none of the frills.  1 optical input that supports Dolby Digital and DTS, one pair of drivers in a single enclosure, and a simple remote. No subwoofer. Nothing more, which is perfect for a simple setup that demands better audio than the built in speakers for under a Benjamin.

Conclusion

With their 2013 offerings, LG has most of its bases covered.  Whether you’re looking for super-slim, networked media, a compliment to the smart devices you already own, or simple and straightforward, LG probably has a soundbar that meets your needs. The only gap that we can find is something for the audiophiles. Sony and Samsung have been upping the ante with higher-end soundbar offerings, but LG has yet to follow suit. If you are looking for a unit with more of an emphasis on sound quality, take some time to peruse our soundbar reviews and shopping guides where we have covered hundreds of soundbars and soundbar alternatives, one of them is bound to fit your needs.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.