The premise is refreshingly simple: LG promises you can place its Sound Suite speakers anywhere, and Dolby’s home theater technology will ensure they perform optimally. No rigid placement requirements, no preset locations for the best results—just the freedom to position speakers where they suit your space and move them as needed. Of course, success hinges entirely on the reliability of that underlying tech and LG’s ability to deliver speakers that genuinely sound good.
Like most premium soundbar and home theater setups, a complete Sound Suite collection doesn’t come cheap. The centerpiece soundbar alone is priced at $1,000. However, for owners of recent LG TVs—or those planning to buy a 2026 model—there’s currently no better option for elevating the living room entertainment experience.
The Components
The Sound Suite ecosystem consists of four devices:
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H7 Soundbar ($1,000): The first soundbar to support Dolby Atmos FlexConnect (DAFC). It houses a dozen Peerless drivers, including front, side, and up-firing units, plus four woofers and eight passive radiators. The design is understated—plain enough to sit unobtrusively in front of an LG OLED and short enough to avoid blocking the screen. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity enable AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect.
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W7 Wireless Subwoofer ($600): An 8-inch woofer that can deliver substantial bass. The unit measures 16.1 x 16.3 x 7.6 inches and can be placed vertically or horizontally to fit available space.
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M5 ($250) and M7 ($400) Speakers: Both support AirPlay and Cast and can function as standalone speakers, stereo pairs, four-speaker arrays, or rear satellites with the H7 soundbar. The M7 features two full-range drivers, one up-firing driver, and a woofer, while the M5 includes a tweeter, an up-firing driver, and a woofer.
LG allows customers to mix and match these components, with a maximum configuration of up to four speakers and one subwoofer. The primary requirement is that either the H7 soundbar or a compatible LG TV—specifically 2025 OLED G5, C5, CS5, QNED 9M models, or upcoming 2026 models—serves as the lead device, as the technology relies on LG’s alpha 11 Gen 3 AI processor.
Understanding Dolby Atmos FlexConnect
Announced in 2023, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect allows speakers to be positioned anywhere in a room without sacrificing audio performance. The system uses a TV or soundbar as the lead device to locate speakers and automatically tunes the sound to match their placement. It can also quickly adapt when speakers are moved—ideal for parties or temporary setups.
One caveat: every time you add or remove speakers from a DAFC group, the system requires recalibration. This process involves the software playing test tones from each unit so the lead device can locate them and Dolby’s tech can adjust output accordingly. While the process is brief, it does produce audible noise from each speaker.
Setup and Connectivity Challenges
Setup is app-driven, requiring LG’s ThinQ app—the same platform that manages the company’s appliances. After unboxing, users add speakers as a new home theater arrangement, select which units to include in the DAFC group, and set the distance between the soundbar and primary seating area before running sound optimization.
In practice, the process proved less seamless than intended. The H7 soundbar took several days to connect to Wi-Fi, a first in my experience reviewing soundbars. Multiple router and soundbar reboots were required before the connection stabilized. When adding M7 speakers to the DAFC group, connection issues persisted, with the ThinQ app repeatedly reporting problems with one unit despite eventual successful integration. Removing speakers from the arrangement also proved problematic—one M7 continued emitting sound during AirPlay playback even after the app indicated it should be disabled.
Using a compatible LG TV as the lead device offered a more straightforward experience, with setup handled entirely on-screen. However, this method came with its own issue: once connected, speaker settings became inaccessible in both the ThinQ app and on-screen menus, locking users into standard mode and preventing access to features like AI Sound Pro+.
Which Configuration Sounds Best?
LG allows a maximum of five speakers in any Sound Suite arrangement. If the H7 soundbar isn’t used, a compatible LG TV must serve as the lead device for FlexConnect functionality.
After testing multiple configurations, the combination of the H7 soundbar, W7 subwoofer, and two M7 speakers emerged as the ideal setup. This arrangement delivers immersive performance, with excellent directional audio that creates an enveloping soundstage. Netflix’s Drive to Survive showcased the system’s capabilities—cars zooming around the living room and in-car shots placing the listener directly behind the driver. For music, I preferred either the soundbar-subwoofer duo or a single M7 speaker over the full five-unit configuration.
A four-M7 setup—requiring an LG TV as the lead device—offers a compelling alternative for wall-mounted TV owners who prefer to avoid a soundbar. FlexConnect allows flexible speaker placement beyond flanking the television. However, the absence of a subwoofer is noticeable, and while TV speakers provide center channel dialogue boost, the arrangement lacks sufficient bass. Additionally, for live sports, this configuration routes commentary through TV speakers while pushing arena noise to rear M7s, sometimes making announcers difficult to hear.
The Competition
For FlexConnect alternatives, TCL’s Z100 speakers ($300 each) represent the only other option, requiring a compatible TCL TV as the lead device.
Samsung’s Q990 series remains the benchmark for all-in-one setups. The upcoming HW-Q990H ($2,000) includes rear speakers and a subwoofer alongside a powerful soundbar, with Q-Symphony leveraging Samsung TV speakers for enhanced immersion when paired with a compatible display.
Final Verdict
LG has crafted a genuinely powerful and immersive living room experience with the Sound Suite. The flexibility to build a custom configuration without sacrificing FlexConnect’s core value is a genuine strength. However, the setup and software issues encountered—while likely addressable through future updates—do detract from the experience for a product at this price point.
Discounted bundles and continued feature additions would help justify the significant investment. For those with a recent LG TV and a budget in the several-thousand-dollar range, Sound Suite represents the most compelling option for building out a high-performance home theater setup.
