Choosing Between the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus and LG S70TR: A Complete Audio Upgrade Guide

When you're tired of constantly adjusting your TV volume or straining to hear dialogue over background music, it's time to consider upgrading your audio setup. The soundbar market has exploded in recent years, offering solutions ranging from simple audio improvements to full home theater experiences. Today, we're comparing two popular options that represent very different approaches to upgrading your TV's sound: the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus and the LG S70TR 5.1.1 Channel Soundbar.

At the time of writing, these products sit in different price brackets—the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus occupies the budget-friendly category while the LG S70TR commands a premium that's roughly double the Amazon model. But as we'll explore, that price difference reflects fundamentally different philosophies about home audio and vastly different performance capabilities.

Understanding Soundbar Technology and What Matters Most

Before diving into specifics, let's establish what makes a good soundbar and why these features matter for your viewing experience. The most critical performance metrics include channel configuration, driver quality, power output, and audio format support.

Channel configuration refers to how many separate audio streams a soundbar can process and reproduce. A 3.1 setup means three main channels (left, center, right) plus one subwoofer channel for bass. The center channel is crucial because it handles most dialogue in movies and TV shows. A 5.1.1 system adds rear speakers for true surround sound, plus a height channel that creates overhead effects—that's what the extra ".1" represents in Dolby Atmos content.

Driver quality and configuration determines how accurately the soundbar reproduces different frequencies. Tweeters handle high frequencies like cymbal crashes and voice clarity, while woofers manage bass and mid-range sounds. The size, materials, and positioning of these drivers dramatically affect sound quality.

Audio format support has become increasingly important as streaming services offer higher-quality audio. Dolby Atmos creates a three-dimensional sound bubble around listeners by encoding height information, while DTS:X provides similar spatial audio effects. These formats require specific processing capabilities that not all soundbars possess.

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus: Simplicity with Solid Performance

Released in 2023, the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus represents Amazon's approach to making quality audio accessible without overwhelming users with complexity. This soundbar embodies the "all-in-one" philosophy, cramming everything needed for better TV audio into a single 37-inch bar.

Audio Architecture and Performance

The Fire TV Soundbar Plus uses a 3.1 channel configuration with six total drivers: three full-range speakers, three tweeters, and two dedicated woofers that function as a built-in subwoofer. This arrangement creates a significant upgrade over typical TV speakers while maintaining the simplicity of a single-unit setup.

In practice, this configuration delivers notably clearer dialogue than built-in TV speakers, thanks to its dedicated center channel. The built-in subwoofer provides adequate bass for most content, though it lacks the deep, room-shaking impact that external subwoofers deliver. The soundstage—the perceived width and depth of audio—extends beyond the physical bar itself, creating a more immersive experience than basic TV audio.

However, the Amazon soundbar relies entirely on virtual surround processing. This means it uses digital signal processing to simulate sounds coming from different directions, rather than having physical speakers positioned around your room. While this creates a wider soundscape than stereo audio, it can't match the precision and immersion of true surround sound systems.

Smart Features and Integration

Despite carrying the "Fire TV" name, this soundbar doesn't include built-in streaming capabilities or Alexa voice control. Instead, it's designed to integrate seamlessly with existing Fire TV devices. When connected to a Fire TV stick or compatible smart TV, you can control both devices with a single remote—a surprisingly convenient feature that eliminates the juggling of multiple remotes.

The soundbar offers four preset sound modes optimized for different content: Movie mode emphasizes surround effects and bass, Music mode provides clearer instrument separation, Sports mode focuses on commentary clarity, and Night mode compresses dynamic range so you won't wake the neighbors during late-night viewing sessions.

Room Size and Placement Considerations

The Fire TV Soundbar Plus works best in small to medium rooms, roughly up to 200 square feet. Its 37-inch length makes it suitable for TVs between 50 and 65 inches, and the included wall-mount kit offers flexible placement options. The soundbar's understated design with fabric grille blends well with modern TV setups.

The LG S70TR: True Surround Sound Experience

The LG S70TR, released in 2024, takes a completely different approach by providing a genuine 5.1.1 surround sound system. This isn't just a soundbar—it's a complete audio ecosystem that includes wireless rear speakers, a substantial subwoofer, and sophisticated processing capabilities.

Advanced Audio Architecture

With nine total speakers distributed across the room, the LG S70TR creates authentic surround sound positioning. The main soundbar houses front left, center, and right channels plus an upward-firing speaker for height effects. The wireless rear speakers provide true surround positioning, while the 7-inch subwoofer with 220-watt amplification delivers deep, impactful bass that you'll feel as much as hear.

This physical speaker arrangement makes an enormous difference in immersion. Sounds genuinely move around the room—helicopters fly overhead, footsteps approach from behind, and explosions emanate from specific directions rather than just getting louder or quieter. The system's 500-watt total power output provides ample volume for rooms up to 400 square feet without distortion.

Dolby Atmos and Advanced Audio Processing

The LG S70TR supports modern audio formats that have become standard for premium content. Dolby Atmos creates a three-dimensional sound bubble by encoding positional information for individual sounds. When a helicopter flies across the screen in a movie, you'll hear it move from front to back and left to right, with height information making it seem to pass overhead.

The soundbar also includes LG's AI Sound Pro technology, which analyzes incoming audio in real-time and adjusts processing accordingly. If it detects high vocal levels, it automatically reduces bass to improve speech clarity. This dynamic adjustment works surprisingly well in practice, reducing the need to constantly adjust volume during movies with varying sound levels.

WOW Orchestra: A Unique Integration Feature

One of the LG S70TR's most interesting capabilities is WOW Orchestra, which coordinates with compatible LG TVs to use the television's built-in speakers alongside the soundbar system. This creates an even wider soundstage by incorporating additional speakers you already own.

While this might sound gimmicky, the implementation works well when properly calibrated. The TV speakers handle ambient sounds and some midrange frequencies, while the soundbar focuses on dialogue, effects, and bass. The result is a larger, more enveloping sound field that's particularly effective for movies and sports.

Gaming Optimizations

Modern gaming demands low audio latency to maintain synchronization between visual and audio cues. The LG S70TR includes Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) support, maintaining audio delay below 15 milliseconds even at 120Hz refresh rates. These features ensure that gunshots, footsteps, and other critical audio cues remain perfectly synced with on-screen action.

The soundbar also supports 4K passthrough with HDR10 and Dolby Vision, meaning you can connect gaming consoles directly to the soundbar without sacrificing video quality. This simplifies setup and reduces the number of HDMI ports needed on your TV.

Performance Comparison: Where Each Excels

Dialogue Clarity and Speech Intelligibility

Both soundbars significantly improve dialogue clarity compared to TV speakers, but they achieve this differently. The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus uses a dedicated center channel and dialogue enhancement processing to keep voices prominent even during action scenes. The results are quite good for the price point, though some deeper voices can sound slightly thin.

The LG S70TR takes speech clarity further with its upward-firing center channel and Clear Voice Plus technology. This system analyzes audio output to optimize voice reproduction through the center speakers, resulting in more natural-sounding dialogue that maintains tonal accuracy even during complex sound mixes.

Bass Performance and Low-Frequency Response

This category shows the most dramatic difference between these systems. The Amazon soundbar's built-in subwoofer provides adequate bass for TV shows and lighter content, but it struggles with deep, powerful low frequencies needed for action movies and music. The bass tends to be somewhat "one-note," lacking the nuance and impact of dedicated subwoofers.

The LG S70TR's 7-inch wireless subwoofer delivers substantially more impactful bass that you'll feel as much as hear. This subwoofer handles everything from subtle ambient rumbles to explosive action sequences with appropriate weight and texture. The wireless connection eliminates placement constraints, allowing you to position the subwoofer optimally for your room's acoustics.

Surround Sound and Spatial Audio

Here's where the fundamental architectural differences become most apparent. The Fire TV Soundbar Plus creates a wider soundstage than basic TV audio through virtual processing, but it can't replicate the precision of physical speaker positioning. Panning effects—sounds that move from left to right—are reasonably convincing, but there's no true rear surround information.

The LG S70TR provides genuine surround positioning that transforms movie watching. Sounds actually come from behind you, creating a much more immersive experience. The height channel adds overhead effects that work particularly well with Dolby Atmos content from streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+.

Power and Room Filling Capability

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus provides sufficient volume for small to medium rooms but begins showing limitations in larger spaces or when demanding high output levels. The sound can become somewhat compressed at higher volumes, reducing dynamic range and impact.

With 500 watts distributed across nine speakers, the LG S70TR maintains clarity and impact even in larger rooms. The distributed power delivery means each speaker can focus on its specific frequency range without strain, resulting in cleaner sound at all volume levels.

Setup, User Experience, and Daily Living

Installation and Configuration

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus exemplifies plug-and-play simplicity. Connect one cable to your TV, plug in power, and you're essentially done. The wall-mount kit installs easily, and the soundbar's rubber feet provide stable placement on TV stands. There's minimal configuration required, making it ideal for users who want immediate improvement without technical complexity.

The LG S70TR requires more thoughtful setup. While the wireless components automatically pair out of the box, you'll need to position rear speakers appropriately—ideally slightly behind and above ear level when seated. The system includes speaker cables for power, though the audio transmission remains wireless. Room correction features help optimize sound for your specific space, but this adds setup complexity.

Daily Use and Control Options

Both systems offer intuitive control, but through different approaches. The Amazon soundbar includes a simple remote with voice feedback that announces setting changes. Basic controls are available directly on the soundbar, and integration with Fire TV devices enables single-remote operation for compatible setups.

The LG S70TR provides more comprehensive control options through its mobile app, allowing detailed EQ adjustments, mode selection, and system configuration. The app includes a 3-band equalizer for customizing bass, midrange, and treble response independently. Over-the-air firmware updates ensure the system stays current with new features and improvements.

Value Analysis and Purchase Considerations

Understanding the Price-Performance Relationship

At the time of writing, the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus represents excellent value for budget-conscious buyers seeking meaningful audio improvement. The price point makes quality sound accessible without requiring significant investment, though expansion to full 5.1 surround requires additional purchases that increase total system cost.

The LG S70TR commands a premium that's roughly double the Amazon model, but includes everything needed for complete surround sound experience. When considering the individual components—soundbar, wireless subwoofer, rear speakers, and advanced processing—the pricing becomes more reasonable for the performance delivered.

Long-term Value and Future-Proofing

The Amazon soundbar provides immediate gratification and works well for current content, but its limited format support may feel dated as streaming services continue expanding high-quality audio offerings. The expandability to 5.1 surround offers some future-proofing, though at additional cost.

The LG S70TR supports current and emerging audio formats including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, positioning it well for future content. The comprehensive feature set and over-the-air updates suggest longer useful life before requiring replacement.

Making the Right Choice for Your Situation

Choose the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus If:

You're working with a limited budget but want meaningful audio improvement over TV speakers. This soundbar excels in apartments, bedrooms, or smaller living spaces where simplicity trumps ultimate performance. If you primarily watch TV shows, news, and lighter content rather than action movies or immersive gaming, the Amazon model provides excellent value.

The Fire TV integration makes this particularly appealing for households already invested in Amazon's streaming ecosystem. Renters who can't run speaker wires or prefer single-unit solutions will appreciate the straightforward setup and easy relocation.

Choose the LG S70TR If:

You're serious about creating a home theater experience and have the budget for superior performance. This system transforms movie watching and gaming through genuine surround sound positioning and powerful bass response. If you have a medium to large room and space for rear speaker placement, the LG S70TR delivers professional-grade audio that justifies its premium pricing.

LG TV owners gain additional benefits through WOW Orchestra integration, making this system particularly compelling for that ecosystem. The advanced gaming features also make it ideal for console gaming enthusiasts who demand low latency and immersive audio positioning.

The Bottom Line

Both soundbars represent solid choices within their respective categories, but they serve fundamentally different needs. The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus democratizes better audio for budget-conscious buyers, while the LG S70TR delivers premium performance for serious home theater enthusiasts.

Consider your room size, content preferences, and long-term audio goals when making this decision. If you're unsure about committing to surround sound complexity, starting with the Amazon model provides a low-risk entry point that you can potentially expand later. However, if you know you want the full home theater experience, the LG S70TR delivers substantially more immersive performance that justifies its higher investment.

The $200+ price difference represents a significant performance gap that becomes most apparent during movie watching and gaming. For casual viewing, the difference may not justify the additional cost, but for dedicated home theater use, the LG S70TR provides a genuinely transformative audio experience that brings you much closer to commercial theater quality sound in your living room.

Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus Deals and Prices

LG S70TR 5.1.1 Channel Soundbar with Dolby Atmos and WOW Orchestra Soundbar Deals and Prices