What just happened? LG has a reputation for producing top tech products—though its defunct phone division shows it doesn't always get things right. The company's UltraGear monitors are especially well-received by gamers and reviewers alike, and now its first gaming-focused, bombardment-powered portable speaker is available in the US: The LG UltraGear GP9.

Looking like a small, RGB-packed soundbar with a design that will probable exist described as contentious, LG is marketing the GP9 as the perfect accessory for ane of its UltraGear gaming monitors. It features the visitor's proprietary 3D Gaming Audio technology that incorporates a particularly designed HRTF (caput-related transfer function) algorithm to tailor a game's audio according to genre.

"Non only does it allow users to download professionally tuned EQ settings via a companion app, the GP9 besides lets users share custom audio settings for specific games with other gamers," writes LG.

In addition to the 3 EQ modes, there are two genre-optimizing modes that cover commencement-person shooters, allowing users to hear the quietest of footsteps, and an RTS mode with genuine spatial sound for the likes of existent-time strategy titles and racing games.

Internally, there are dual 2-inch woofers, dual 20mm tweeters, and a passive radiator for a combined total output of 20W. The outside, meanwhile, has all the concrete controls, including that chunky dial, and RGB lighting capable of showing 16.8 million dissimilar colors. It also comes with a 2600mAh battery that LG says volition final 6 hours.

The GP9 isn't but a speaker. Its "voice-conversation" function allows users to conversation with others without the need for a separate headset or microphones. The built-in mics have an repeat-cancellation algorithm that can place a vox over groundwork noises and sounds. If you exercise want to plug in a headset, in that location's a 3.5mm audio jack and support for DTS Headphone:10 with 7.1 virtual surround sound effects and a first-party Hi-Fi quad DAC.

The GP9 can be connected using optical cable or USB-C, or linked wirelessly via Bluetooth, with support for the SBC and AAC sound codecs.

The big caveat for many will exist the cost. The LG UltraGear GP9 costs $499.99, more than the MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD 27", our pick for the best mainstream 1440p gaming monitor. Information technology's currently out of stock at LG and Amazon.