LG WOW Orchestra: What It Does with Your TV

What WOW Orchestra does

LG WOW Orchestra is the feature that lets a compatible LG soundbar and a compatible LG TV play the same soundtrack together, using all their speakers at once. The TV routes part of the audio to the soundbar and keeps part for its own drivers. Instead of the TV speakers going silent when a soundbar is connected, they stay active and contribute to the sound.

In a typical setup, the soundbar handles the left, right and center channels. That is where dialogue sits, so keeping it in the soundbar preserves clarity. The TV speakers, which are mounted higher on the wall, add height and width effects. The two systems share the work, which is similar to what Samsung Q Symphony does on Samsung TVs and what Acoustic Center Sync does on Sony sets.

Why using the TV speakers changes the sound

A soundbar alone has to create every sound from a bar in front of you. It can do that convincingly for dialogue and front effects, but height and overhead sounds are harder to fake. Dolby Atmos soundtracks carry height information that is meant to come from above. TV speakers are closer to that position than a soundbar on a shelf, so they are a natural fit for those channels.

When the soundbar decodes the Atmos mix and the TV speakers reproduce the height part, the front soundstage becomes taller and wider than the soundbar can produce by itself. The effect is strongest with content that actually contains Atmos or other height-aware mixes. For everything else, the TV speakers simply add fullness.

It is still worth remembering that loud sound can damage hearing over time. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders notes that long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dBA can cause hearing loss. Set the volume at a comfortable level, especially when you have extra speakers working.

Which LG TVs and soundbars work together

WOW Orchestra is a closed feature. It only works when the TV and the soundbar are both LG and both support the function. LG publishes compatibility lists on its support pages, so check your TV model and the soundbar model before buying. If either one lacks the feature, the TV speakers will simply stay off.

The usual connection is HDMI eARC, which carries high-bandwidth audio from the TV to the soundbar and keeps control signals flowing in both directions. The HDMI 2.2 specification raises the maximum bandwidth of the interface to 96 Gbps and keeps the same essential audio and control features, so current hardware has plenty of room for Atmos and other high-bitrate formats. HDMI eARC is the connection to look for.

LG also offers a wireless option on some models, so the soundbar and TV connect without a visible cable. If you go that route, you are still relying on a wireless link rather than the eARC connection. For the most reliable audio, especially with height channels, wired eARC is the safer choice. Bluetooth can stream audio, but it is not the right tool for high-bandwidth surround.

Setting up WOW Orchestra

Connect the soundbar to the TV's HDMI eARC port with an HDMI cable that supports eARC. Turn on both devices, then open the TV sound settings. Enable SIMPLINK, which is LG's name for HDMI-CEC, and turn on the WOW Orchestra option. The audio output should be set to the soundbar or to the combined speaker mode, depending on what your TV shows.

Keep the TV and soundbar firmware up to date. Compatibility fixes and new audio formats arrive through updates, and WOW Orchestra depends on both devices agreeing on the same audio format. Firmware updates are a routine part of owning a modern soundbar.

If you hear a delay or the TV speakers cut out, check the audio output format on the TV. Some settings force the TV to use only the soundbar. Switching the sound mode and trying again usually fixes it. Soundbar TV compatibility covers the common issues.

Alternatives to WOW Orchestra

If you do not have an LG TV, WOW Orchestra is not available. You can still connect any soundbar over eARC and get good sound, but the TV speakers will be turned off instead of joining in. Samsung's Q Symphony and Sony's Acoustic Center Sync are the equivalents for their own TVs.

For a non-LG setup, choose a soundbar that matches your TV brand or simply one that supports the audio formats you care about. Samsung soundbars and Sony soundbars are solid options if you want the brand-matched integration.

What to pick for your setup

If you already own a recent LG TV, the easiest path is an LG soundbar that lists WOW Orchestra in its specs. Look for HDMI eARC and Dolby Atmos support, and confirm the TV model is on the compatibility list.

If you are starting from scratch, decide whether you want the extra height channels that the TV speakers add. If yes, a WOW Orchestra compatible bar with Atmos is the right choice. If you prefer to keep the sound in one box, any well-reviewed soundbar over eARC will do, and the TV speakers will stay off.

What to pick for your use

Questions

Does WOW Orchestra work with any TV?

No. WOW Orchestra only works with LG TVs that support the feature. If your TV does not list it, the TV speakers will stay off when a soundbar is connected.

Do I need a special HDMI cable for WOW Orchestra?

You need an HDMI cable that supports eARC. Current HDMI hardware, based on the HDMI 2.2 specification, has more than enough bandwidth for audio and video, but the cable must be certified for eARC to carry the signal reliably.

Will the TV speakers conflict with the soundbar?

No. The TV splits the audio so that the soundbar handles the front channels and the TV speakers handle the height and width effects. Each speaker plays a different part of the mix.

Does WOW Orchestra add rear speakers?

No. WOW Orchestra combines the TV speakers with the soundbar speakers. Rear or surround speakers are a separate addition and need their own amplifier channels.

Is WOW Orchestra the same as Samsung Q Symphony?

The idea is the same: the TV and the soundbar play together. But WOW Orchestra is exclusive to LG hardware, and Q Symphony is exclusive to Samsung hardware. They are not interchangeable.