Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus vs LG S60TR: Which 5.1 Soundbar System Should You Buy?

Television speakers have gotten progressively worse over the years. As TVs became thinner and more elegant, manufacturers had to sacrifice speaker size and placement, leaving us with audio that sounds like it's coming from inside a tin can. That's where soundbars come in—they're designed to dramatically improve your TV's audio without requiring you to become an audio engineer or run speaker wires throughout your room.

The soundbar market has exploded with options at every price point, but finding the sweet spot between performance and value can be tricky. At the time of writing, both the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus and the LG S60TR sit in that crucial mid-range territory where you can get genuine surround sound without breaking the bank. Both systems promise 5.1 channel audio (that's left, center, right, two rear speakers, and a subwoofer for bass), but they take completely different approaches to achieve it.

Understanding these differences matters because your choice will affect your entertainment experience for years to come. Let's dive into what makes each system tick and help you figure out which one deserves a spot in your living room.

Understanding Modern Soundbar Systems

Before we compare these specific products, it's worth understanding what we're dealing with. Soundbar systems have evolved significantly since their early days as simple stereo speakers mounted under your TV. Today's systems can create convincing surround sound experiences that rival traditional home theater setups.

The key specifications you'll encounter include channel configuration (like 5.1 or 3.1), which tells you how many discrete audio channels the system can handle. A 5.1 system has five main channels plus a dedicated subwoofer channel (that's what the ".1" represents). Total power output, measured in watts, gives you an idea of how loud the system can get, though more watts doesn't always mean better sound quality.

Audio format support has become increasingly important as streaming services embrace advanced technologies like Dolby Atmos, which adds height information to create a three-dimensional soundstage. Some soundbars achieve this with physical upward-firing speakers, while others use digital processing to simulate the effect—a technique called virtualization.

Product Background and Evolution

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus arrived in 2023 as Amazon's second attempt at the soundbar market. Their first Fire TV Soundbar was a basic stereo unit that left many users wanting more. This newer model addresses those limitations with a modular approach—you can start with just the soundbar and subwoofer, then add rear speakers later if you want the full surround experience.

Amazon's timing made sense given the explosion in streaming content and Fire TV device adoption. The company positioned this as the perfect complement to their streaming ecosystem, though as we'll see, the integration isn't as seamless as the name suggests.

The LG S60TR represents LG's 2024 entry into the competitive mid-range soundbar space. LG has been making audio equipment for decades, and this model reflects their experience in both TV and audio engineering. Unlike Amazon's modular approach, LG went all-in with a complete 5.1 system right out of the box.

Since these products launched, we've seen the soundbar market become increasingly competitive, with manufacturers focusing on better bass response, clearer dialogue, and smarter integration with TVs and streaming devices.

Audio Performance: Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Sound Quality and Signature

When it comes to actual listening experience, these two systems take markedly different approaches. The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus delivers what our research suggests is a more balanced sound signature. This means it doesn't heavily emphasize any particular frequency range, resulting in audio that's closer to what the content creators intended.

The soundbar uses three full-range speakers and three tweeters (specialized speakers for high frequencies) in the main unit, plus two built-in woofers for mid-bass response. The separate wireless subwoofer handles the deep bass that you feel as much as hear. Expert reviews consistently note that dialogue comes through clearly—a crucial factor since poor dialogue clarity is one of the biggest complaints about TV speakers.

However, the system isn't without its limitations. The subwoofer, while effective, has been characterized as somewhat "one-note" in professional reviews. This means it might not have the nuanced bass response you'd get from more expensive systems. The low-mid frequencies (the range that gives voices body and warmth) aren't as emphasized as they could be.

The LG S60TR, by contrast, features what reviewers describe as a more "excited" bass response. With 440 watts of total power and a substantial 220-watt wireless subwoofer, this system definitely has more punch in the low end. This can make action movies and music more thrilling, but it might also overpower dialogue in some situations.

LG's AI Sound Pro feature attempts to solve this by automatically adjusting the sound profile based on what you're watching. When it detects dialogue-heavy content, it emphasizes the center channel. During action scenes, it boosts the bass and surround effects. This adaptive approach can work well, though purists might prefer manual control over their audio settings.

Surround Sound Performance

Here's where these systems really diverge. The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus supports virtual Dolby Atmos, which uses sophisticated digital signal processing to create the illusion of sounds coming from above and around you. However, it doesn't have physical upward-firing speakers, so the height effects are simulated rather than physically projected.

When you add the optional rear speakers (sold separately), you get genuine 5.1 surround sound with discrete channels for each position. The wireless connectivity makes setup relatively painless—no running speaker wire across your room. The lateral surround effect creates a convincing 360-degree soundstage that can make you feel like you're in the middle of the action.

The LG S60TR takes a more traditional approach by including physical rear speakers from the start. These speakers connect to each other with a wire, but communicate wirelessly with the main soundbar. This hybrid approach gives you the surround sound experience immediately while keeping installation relatively simple.

For gaming, this difference becomes particularly important. Physical rear speakers can provide much more precise directional audio cues. If you're playing competitive games where hearing enemy footsteps or gunfire direction matters, the LG system's discrete rear channels offer a significant advantage over virtualized surround.

Bass Performance and Power Handling

Both systems include wireless subwoofers, but they approach bass reproduction differently. The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus focuses on accuracy and integration with the main soundbar. The bass is present and impactful without overwhelming the other frequencies, making it suitable for both movies and music.

The LG S60TR delivers more aggressive bass response that some users find more exciting. With nearly double the subwoofer power, it can fill larger rooms with deep, room-shaking bass. However, this emphasis might fatigue your ears during longer listening sessions, and the bass can sometimes mask subtle details in the midrange.

Both systems allow you to adjust bass levels, but the LG provides more dramatic swings between subtle and thunderous low-end response.

Smart Features and Integration

Amazon's Missed Opportunity

Despite carrying the "Fire TV" name, the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus surprisingly lacks many smart features you'd expect. There's no built-in Alexa support, no Wi-Fi connectivity for music streaming, and no dedicated mobile app for control. This feels like a significant missed opportunity, especially given Amazon's ecosystem of smart home devices.

The system does integrate with Fire TV devices for some additional audio tuning options, but the connection isn't as seamless as the branding suggests. You'll still need to use the included remote for most functions, and cycling through various sound modes and settings can be tedious without an app interface.

The soundbar supports Bluetooth connectivity for streaming music from your phone or tablet, but that's about as "smart" as it gets. For a company known for voice control and smart home integration, this feels surprisingly basic.

LG's Smarter Approach

The LG S60TR offers more comprehensive smart features, particularly if you own an LG TV. The WOW interface allows you to control both your TV and soundbar with a single remote, adjusting volume and sound modes directly from your TV's interface. This integration feels more polished and user-friendly than Amazon's approach.

The AI Sound Pro processing goes beyond simple EQ adjustments. It analyzes the audio content in real-time and optimizes the sound for different types of content—boosting dialogue clarity during dialogue-heavy scenes or enhancing spatial effects during action sequences.

LG also provides Bluetooth connectivity and Wi-Fi support, making it easier to stream music directly to the soundbar without going through your TV. The system supports various audio formats including FLAC and WAV for high-quality music playback.

Gaming and Home Theater Performance

Gaming Considerations

If gaming is a priority, the LG S60TR has a clear advantage thanks to its physical rear speakers. Competitive gaming often relies on precise audio positioning—knowing exactly where enemy footsteps are coming from can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Physical speakers positioned behind you provide much more accurate directional information than virtualized surround sound.

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus can certainly enhance your gaming audio over TV speakers, but the virtual surround effects aren't as precise for positional audio. If you primarily play single-player games or less competitive multiplayer titles, this might not matter much. But serious gamers will likely prefer the LG system's discrete channel separation.

Home Theater Experience

For movie watching, both systems offer significant upgrades over built-in TV speakers, but they excel in different areas. The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus provides better dialogue clarity and more balanced overall sound reproduction. This makes it excellent for dialogue-heavy content like dramas or documentaries.

The virtual Dolby Atmos support, while not as convincing as systems with physical height speakers, does add some sense of vertical space to movie soundtracks. Action sequences benefit from this processing, creating a more enveloping experience than traditional stereo or even 5.1 audio.

The LG S60TR delivers more impact and excitement, particularly for action movies. The aggressive bass response and discrete surround channels create a more visceral experience when explosions rock the screen or vehicles race around you. However, this excitement can sometimes come at the expense of subtle details and dialogue clarity.

Format Support and Future-Proofing

Audio Codec Compatibility

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus supports a wide range of modern audio formats, including Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD. This broader format support means it's better prepared for current and future streaming content. As more services adopt advanced audio formats, this soundbar won't become obsolete as quickly.

The HDMI eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) connectivity provides higher bandwidth for these advanced audio formats, ensuring you can take full advantage of premium streaming service audio.

The LG S60TR supports standard surround sound formats like Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround, but lacks Dolby Atmos capability. While this isn't a problem for most current content, it might limit the system's usefulness as more streaming services and Blu-ray releases embrace object-based audio formats.

Value Proposition and Real-World Considerations

Setup and Usability

Both systems prioritize ease of installation, but they achieve it differently. The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus follows a modular philosophy—start simple and expand as needed. If you're not sure whether you need rear speakers, you can test the waters with just the soundbar and subwoofer configuration.

The LG S60TR provides the complete experience immediately but requires more planning for rear speaker placement. The partially wired rear speakers (they connect to each other but communicate wirelessly with the soundbar) offer good flexibility while maintaining reliable connectivity.

Room Compatibility

Room size and layout significantly impact these systems' effectiveness. The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus works well in smaller to medium-sized rooms, particularly when used without rear speakers. The virtual surround processing can be quite convincing in smaller spaces where sound reflections help create the illusion of surround sound.

The LG S60TR really shines in larger spaces where its higher power output and physical rear speakers can create a more convincing surround field. The aggressive bass response also works better in larger rooms where it has space to breathe.

Who Should Choose What

Choose the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus if you:

Want flexibility in your audio setup and prefer to start with a basic system that you can expand later. The modular approach makes sense if you're unsure about your long-term audio needs or if you're working with a smaller budget initially.

This system also suits users who prioritize balanced sound reproduction and clear dialogue over exciting bass response. If you watch a lot of dialogue-heavy content or prefer more neutral audio that doesn't fatigue your ears during longer viewing sessions, this is the better choice.

The broader format support also makes this system more future-proof for users who stream a lot of content from services that are embracing advanced audio formats.

Choose the LG S60TR if you:

Want the complete surround sound experience right out of the box. This system makes sense if you know you want physical rear speakers and don't want to deal with a two-stage purchase process.

Gaming enthusiasts should seriously consider this system for its superior directional audio capabilities. The physical rear speakers provide much more precise positional information than virtual surround processing.

If you own an LG TV, the integration advantages make this an even more compelling choice. The seamless remote control and audio optimization features create a more unified experience.

Users who prefer more exciting, bass-heavy sound reproduction will also find this system more appealing. The 440-watt power output and aggressive tuning create a more visceral listening experience that can make movies and music more thrilling.

The Bottom Line

At the time of writing, both systems offer excellent value in the mid-range soundbar market, but they serve different priorities. The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus provides better balance, format support, and upgrade flexibility, while the LG S60TR delivers more immediate impact and better gaming performance.

Your choice should ultimately depend on your specific needs, room characteristics, and listening preferences. Both represent significant upgrades over TV speakers and offer enough performance to satisfy most users' home theater ambitions. The key is matching the system's strengths to your priorities—whether that's balanced audio reproduction and future-proofing, or immediate surround sound impact and gaming performance.

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