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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- LG introduced its Sound Suite house leisure system, which shall be showcased at CES 2026.
- It is a modular house theater system and options Dolby Atmos FlexConnect.
- Extra detailed specs, together with pricing and availability, are at present unavailable.
Weeks earlier than CES 2026 kicks off, LG has begun to unveil its huge plans for house leisure. The corporate this month introduced Sound Suite, its modular house audio system, comprising the H7 soundbar, M7 and M5 encompass audio system, and W7 subwoofer. Most notably, LG’s H7 soundbar is the primary to include Dolby Atmos FlexConnect.
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This audio expertise eliminates the necessity for a set variety of encompass audio system, permitting them to be positioned wherever inside a room whereas nonetheless reaching optimum spatial audio efficiency. Though LG’s Sound Suite will not be prepared for demos till the present begins on Jan. 6, here is what we find out about it now.
What’s LG Sound Suite?
The LG Sound Suite consists of the H7 soundbar, M7 and M5 encompass audio system, and W7 subwoofer. Based on LG, this house audio system is modular, which means each bit of the lineup is bought individually, much like the Sonos Arc Extremely, Period encompass audio system, and Sub lineup. Customers should buy items inside the LG Sound Suite as wanted, based mostly on their funds or room dimension.
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Nonetheless, customers who select to suit their room with the complete Sound Suite will get pleasure from a 13.1.7-channel house theater, with the H7 soundbar on the forefront. In a press launch, LG states that the H7 soundbar is fitted with the corporate’s superior Alpha 11 AI Processor 3. This processor is accountable for executing AI-powered audio options similar to AI Sound Professional+, which upmixes stereo content material into multi-channel encompass sound.
AI additionally aids in object separation and placement, and guarantees to optimize audio response throughout varied genres. I will be curious to listen to how pure the AI audio processing sounds, and I plan to come across LG’s newest house leisure merchandise at CES. Typically, digital processing of stereo content material into spatial audio can sound too computerized, which shortly removes you from the immersive expertise.
Extra particular particulars on the soundbar, together with its pricing and availability, are at present unavailable. Nonetheless, LG says the Sound Suite options Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wi-fi streaming.
What’s Dolby Atmos FlexConnect?
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is an audio expertise from Dolby that permits customers to put appropriate audio merchandise wherever inside a room with out compromising the spatial audio expertise. Historically, a well-performing spatial audio expertise nonetheless consists of a number of audio system.
Contemplate the audio expertise at a movie show: it options major left, proper, and middle channels for dialogue, in addition to encompass audio system within the partitions and ceiling, so you’re feeling the audio throughout you. When content material combined in Dolby Atmos comes via these audio system, you’ll be able to place particular sounds inside them, so you’re feeling as if you’re within the film. Even with Dolby Atmos, this expertise is closely depending on the audio system’ bodily location.
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With Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, customers have extra flexibility to put their audio system wherever inside their area and nonetheless obtain an immersive listening expertise, no matter their area. Based on Dolby, you are now not confined to energy outlet location, room dimension, or decor and furnishings boundaries.
The corporate additionally shared that FlexConnect works with any TV through HDMI, however the related audio system have to be appropriate. As soon as they’re plugged in, your TV robotically locates the audio system and calibrates them to optimize sound efficiency.
ZDNET’s take
Nonetheless, I am involved in how peak channels will carry out with this expertise. Many flagship soundbars characteristic upfiring audio system for enhanced peak, which is essential for a real spatial audio expertise. But, the efficiency of those audio system depends closely on the position of your soundbar and the peak of your ceiling.
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In case your soundbar is just too near your TV, the TV might block the upfiring audio system from projecting sound to the ceiling. In case your ceiling is just too excessive, an excessive amount of sound might be misplaced within the air to correctly bounce off your ceiling onto you. Maybe FlexConnect might help treatment this frequent incidence.
Both method, I am all for added flexibility, particularly with regards to speaker placement. I’ve two Sonos Period 300 rear audio system in my front room, and since my front room isn’t an ideal sq., there’s just one particular spot on my sofa that provides one of the best listening expertise.
Make sure to test again at ZDNET throughout CES to be taught extra about our expertise with LG and Dolby’s newest house leisure applied sciences.
