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| Meta Title | LG Sound Suite system review: gunning for Sonos with huge Dolby Atmos sound | What Hi-Fi? |
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| Boilerpipe Text | What Hi-Fi? Verdict
LG Sound Suite delivers big, room-filling, precise Dolby Atmos sound and genuinely clever flexibility, but itâs ultimately held back by a lack of warmth, nuance and refinement
Pros
+
Huge, room-filling sound with impressive Dolby Atmos handling
+
FlexConnect is genuinely effective
+
Deep, powerful bass
Cons
-
Cold, slightly aggressive overall presentation
-
Dialogue lacks richness and subtlety
-
No HDMI inputs and early software bugs
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi?
Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget.
Find out more about how we test.
Jump To:
Price
Design
Features
Sound
Verdict
LG
is clearly gunning for
Sonos
with its new Sound Suite.
Designed as a modular, multi-speaker home cinema platform, it pairs a flagship soundbar with wireless surrounds and a subwoofer to create a premium, stylish
Dolby Atmos
system thatâs every bit as ambitious as its benchmark rival.
Itâs a bold move, but you know what they say about taking a shot at the kingâŠ
Price
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
LG refers to the Sound Suite configuration that weâre looking at as the Immersive Suite 7 Pro. It includes the
H7 soundbar
(which we have a separate review of), W7 subwoofer and two M7 speakers.
While bundle discounts feel likely in the future, buying the Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro as a package doesnât currently confer a special price, so you still need to pay the full amount for the H7 (ÂŁ900 / $1000), W7 (ÂŁ600 / $600) and M7s (ÂŁ400 / $400 per speaker), resulting in a full system price of ÂŁ2300 / $2400 (Aussie pricing hasnât yet been announced).
Thereâs an obvious rival here, in the form of the Sonos Premium Immersive Set With Arc Ultra, which consists of an
Arc Ultra
(ÂŁ999 / $1099), Sub 4 (ÂŁ799 / $899) and two Era 300s (ÂŁ449 / $479 per speaker).
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But while the cost of the separate components is higher if you go with Sonos, there are bundle discounts available that mean the full system currently costs a Sound Suite-beating ÂŁ2086 / $2311.
That said, the pricing is close enough for these two systems to be considered in very much the same ballpark.
Design
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
This is a very smart-looking system.
The Sound Suite H7 soundbar is svelte and solid, with a low profile that wonât obstruct the bottom of many TVs and a lovely little display that clearly indicates the format of whatâs being played but automatically dims after a set time so as not to distract from what youâre watching.
The mesh cover and metal trim give the H7 a premium look, and the raised icon buttons on the top are easy to find in the dark, should you need to.
LG Sound Suite system tech specs
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Connectivity
HDMI eARC, wi-fi, Bluetooth 5.4, AirPlay 2
Format support
Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus
Streaming
Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect
Soundbar dimensions (hwd)
6.3 x 120 x 14cm
Soundbar weight
7.7kg
Surround speaker dimensions (hwd)
24 x 18 x 18 cm
Surround speaker weight
2.8kg
Subwoofer dimensions (hwd)
42 x 41 x 19cm
The subwoofer and M7 speakers arenât quite as weighty or solid-feeling as the bar (or their Sonos equivalents), but they are much larger than they look on paper, giving the system a substantial but stylish overall appearance.
Itâs possible to wall-mount the soundbar and the surround speakers, and the subwooferâs relatively slim design and flat back mean it can be positioned neatly against a wall.
The sub can even be laid flat if you prefer, and we can see some people choosing to slide it under their sofa. We find that subwoofers generally perform better when they have room to breathe than when theyâre firing bassy frequencies straight up your bottom, but each to their own.
Thereâs some rather snazzy lighting towards the bottom edges of the soundbar and surrounds, and this can be customised in terms of both brightness and colour. You have a full palette to play with, which is pretty neat if you like that sort of thing (we do).
Features
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
This is one heck of a speaker-packed system. The H7 soundbar alone features eight full-range drivers (three in the front, three in the top and one in each end), four woofers (all up-firing) and eight passive radiators, which are both front and rear facing.
These work with clever processing (the bar features the same Alpha 11 Gen 3 processor as LGâs 2026 flagship TVs) to produce what the firm refers to as a 9.1.6-channel soundfield.
Each M7 speaker has three 38mm full-range drivers (two front-facing and one up-firing) and a woofer of its own, while the W7 sub boasts a 20cm driver that LG claims can deliver bass as deep as 25.9Hz.
When combined, this amounts to a 21-speaker system. Not enough for you? The Sound Suite system can accommodate up to two further speakers (either more M7s or smaller M5s), and your TVâs speakers, if said TV is a
C5
,
G5
, or one of its newer sets.
Arguably, the most interesting thing about the system, though, is the technology it uses to get these drivers working together to produce home cinema sound.
That technology is
Dolby Atmos
FlexConnect, so called because of the way it can flexibly accommodate less-than-ideal speaker placement. Weâll get to the effectiveness of this in the sound section, below (spoiler alert: itâs pretty flipping effective).
LG has worked closely with Dolby on Sound Suite, to the extent that this is the first family of products to support FlexConnect, so itâs perhaps unsurprising that
DTS:X
is not supported on top of Dolby Atmos.
Getting sound into the system is simple enough, but there is one obvious disappointment: thereâs no dedicated HDMI input. Instead, you are expected to run any external sources into your TV first, and then back out of your TV and into the soundbar via
eARC
.
Thatâs neat, simple, and pretty common, even in soundbars at this level (the Sonos Arc Ultra is another offender), but it still isnât welcome, and there are rivals that offer one (or more!) HDMI inputs and even full support for passthrough of
4K/120Hz
signals.
Interestingly, this is also the first soundbar we can recall testing that has dropped the legacy optical connection. One suspects that very few people use the optical connection of a
Dolby Atmos soundbar
, not least because it lacks the ability to actually handle Dolby Atmos, but its lack here feels noteworthy nonetheless.
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
There are wireless ways to send music to Sound Suite, of course, including Bluetooth,
AirPlay 2
,
Spotify
Connect and
Tidal Connect
.
Control is primarily handled via LGâs ThinQ app, which is broadly good but could be a little slicker in its handling of the Sound Suite system.
Getting everything connected to wi-fi proves more fiddly than it should, for instance. Each component has to be added individually, and for reasons that arenât entirely clear, you must input your wi-fi password separately for each product rather than simply entering it once for the whole system.
The subwoofer, meanwhile, is added via a slightly different process to the soundbar and speakers, which adds to the sense that things could be more streamlined.
Once connected, the app is reasonably well laid out, and mercifully, Sound Suite doesnât have dozens of baffling sound modes to wade through. Instead, there are just five presets (which LG slightly confusingly refers to as âSound Effectsâ): AI Sound Pro+, Standard, Clear Voice Pro+, Bass Boost and Custom EQ.
Standard is the mode youâll likely settle on (as discussed in the Sound section), while Clear Voice Pro+ is essentially a dialogue enhancer for those struggling with intelligibility. Bass Boost feels unnecessary given the systemâs already generous low-end output, and the Custom EQ â which offers full manual adjustment â is best approached with caution unless youâre confident in what youâre doing.
AI Sound Pro+ is the most interesting of the presets, automatically analysing what youâre watching and adjusting the presentation accordingly. It also engages the AI Upmix feature, which converts incoming audio into a virtual 9.1.4-channel presentation. AI Upmix can be activated independently, but it cannot be disabled while AI Sound Pro+ is selected.
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect calibration is pleasingly swift. The system quickly assesses speaker positions and, assuming the master volume isnât set too low, does a solid job of mapping the room.
Some aspects of the process feel slightly old-fashioned, though â notably the requirement to manually measure and input the distance between the soundbar and your listening position. Calibration is also carried out at the systemâs current volume level, rather than an LG-defined volume that provides the best results, which seems a little unhelpful.
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Within the Sound Settings menu you can trim the levels of the Subwoofer, Centre, Overhead and Side channels individually. There are also toggles for Dynamic Range Control and Auto Volume, though neither should be necessary in most set-ups (thereâs a separate Night mode for those looking to temporarily reduce dynamics and bass weight). A separate Tone Settings menu allows independent adjustment of treble, mid and bass levels, providing additional scope for fine-tuning.
One particularly neat feature is the âSet Positionâ button, which uses the FlexConnect technology to refocus the soundfield towards a different seating position at the press of a button. More on this below.
The app also allows you to assign a function to the heart-shaped shortcut button on the remote, though at present the options are limited to launching a specific internet radio station or Spotify playlist.
As hinted at, unlike the Sonos system, LG Sound Suite can also be operated via remote control, and a serviceable handset is included in the box with the H7 soundbar. It feels fairly light and plasticky, but the buttons are clearly labelled and logically arranged. Volume and input selection are easy to access, and the dedicated AI Sound mode button makes it simple to experiment with presets.
The absence of a dedicated Night Mode button, however, is a bit disappointing, as this is exactly the sort of feature you might want to engage quickly without having to dig into menus or reach for your phone.
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the audio performance, itâs worth flagging that we did encounter some bugs during our week of testing the Sound Suite system.
Wi-fi connectivity proved temperamental at times, with certain components refusing to join the network on the first attempt and requiring multiple set-up passes through the app.
More concerning was an intermittent volume-control issue. On one occasion, the system powered on at an extremely high volume level â seemingly at or close to maximum â despite having previously been set much lower. The remoteâs volume buttons reduced the volume number shown on the soundbarâs display, but the actual output didnât change. The app, meanwhile, reported the volume as being set far lower than what we were hearing. Only after adjusting the level within the app did the system respond properly. Not a pleasant experience.
At another point, the remote appeared to control only the soundbar itself rather than the system as a whole, and lowering the volume to zero would silence the bar but not the wireless speakers. Curiously, after fully unplugging and reconnecting the system during comparative testing, the issue disappeared and did not return.
These issues werenât constant, and they will likely be addressed via future firmware updates â this is a brand-new system, after all â but theyâre worth noting for anyone whoâs planning to go early with a Sound Suite system.
Sound
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Before diving into the LG Sound Suite system at its best, itâs worth addressing the AI sound modes â because, while theyâre impressively bombastic, theyâre not how this system performs at its most convincing.
The AI Upmix feature expands the soundstage and adds scale and weight, but it also exaggerates background sounds and lends dialogue an artificial, slightly echoey quality. Voices become less natural and less clearly defined, even as the overall presentation grows in size.
AI Sound Pro+ takes things further still by also boosting bass and upper frequencies to an extent that further exaggerates some of the systemâs less positive sonic traits, such as its limited finesse and lack of midrange fullness. The result is undeniably big, but also aggressive and shouty.
Standard mode is therefore the only sensible option for serious listening. Itâs in this setting that the LG system sounds most coherent, balanced and representative of its true character.
And there is plenty to like.
With
Blade Runner 2049
, the system immediately demonstrates one of its standout strengths: Dolby Atmos placement. The floating audio adverts are positioned with impressive precision, each inhabiting a clearly defined point in space, with one in particular hanging strikingly high and to the left.
During the baseline test, the interviewer is placed further back in the room, creating a tangible sense of depth and separation between him and K. Joiâs disembodied voice in Kâs apartment is similarly well placed, helping to create an impressive sense of three-dimensional space.
In fact, the LG places lots of effects more dramatically than the Sonos Arc Ultra system, pushing sounds further along the ceiling and creating a slightly more exaggerated overhead bubble.
Scale is another clear strength. This is a genuinely room-filling system, capable of projecting effects confidently from front to back and floor to ceiling.
The opening race at Daytona in
F1: The Movie
is delivered with thrilling impact. The commentary floats high above the listening position, fireworks streak cleanly across the ceiling, and the crunching impacts as cars trade blows along the banked section land with satisfying force. The presentation is bold, expansive and undeniably cinematic.
Even the most complex Atmos moments are handled with notable composure. The large-scale musical sequence in
Sinners
, with its genre-hopping strands and swirling overhead effects, fills the room from every angle without collapsing into chaos. The tonal consistency between the
H7 soundbar
and the M7 speakers helps maintain cohesion as sounds sweep around the soundfield.
The Dolby Atmos FlexConnect feature also deserves credit. As mentioned, the calibration process is quick and, provided you donât set the volume too low, pretty accurate in identifying the position of each speaker.
The app also allows you to shift the sweet spot with a tap of the âSet Positionâ button, effectively refocusing the soundfield towards a different seat.
In practice, this works far better than expected. Within reason, the system does a convincing job of re-centring the presentation, so that even when we move to increasingly off-axis and unconventional seating positions, dialogue and key effects remain anchored, and the overhead layer still feels properly aligned.
FlexConnect is similarly effective at compensating for less-than-ideal speaker placement. While you inevitably lose some of the pinpoint surround-left and surround-right specificity when the M7 speakers arenât optimally positioned, the system continues to fill the room convincingly and can still place effects impressively high above the listening position. If one speaker is well placed and the other isnât, your ears are drawn to the imbalance surprisingly infrequently.
That said, FlexConnect canât perform miracles. With all speakers clustered towards the front of the room, it canât convincingly swing effects fully over and behind the seating position. The Atmos presentation remains surprisingly spacious, but there are physical limits to what digital processing can achieve.
In short, itâs still well worth taking the time to position the speakers as well as possible, but FlexConnect is more capable than it really has any right to be, and certainly the best technology of its type that weâve heard.
Bass performance, too, is impressive in terms of depth and power. During the infamously challenging Chapter 2 of
Blade Runner 2049
, the W7 subwoofer digs deep and delivers substantial low-frequency weight without obvious distortion. Thereâs more outright heft here than from the Sonos system, and it lends action scenes and musical crescendos real physical presence.
However, once the initial spectacle subsides, the systemâs limitations become more apparent.
Even after calibration, the balance feels slightly skewed, with the soundbar a touch recessed against the surrounds and the subwoofer proving slightly domineering.
Each channel can be manually trimmed, but achieving a truly natural balance proves difficult. We frequently find ourselves reducing the subwoofer level, as it can become overbearing, occasionally introducing a broad, slightly indistinct rumble rather than tightly controlled punch.
By comparison, the Sonos system deploys its bass with greater precision and control, delivering punch without the same sense of excess.
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Dialogue is, unfortunately, where the LG is at its weakest. While not overtly harsh, voices lack warmth, richness and dynamic subtlety. In the Vegas penthouse scene between K and Deckard in
Blade Runner 2049
, Harrison Fordâs voice sounds breathier and less expressive than it should, and this is a recurring theme with everything we watch.
Through the LG, voices simply sound flatter and less expressive, with a faint raspiness and a touch of sibilance that becomes noticeable over time. Emotional inflections are missed, reducing the sense of intimacy.
Even in Standard mode, background elements can sit too far forward in the mix. As K walks through the precinct in
Blade Runner 2049
, for example, the ambient buzz and chatter draw attention away from the opening dialogue of the baseline test. The Sonos keeps those elements more firmly in the background, resulting in a cleaner, more focused presentation.
Similarly, in
F1
, while the LG delivers scale and impact in abundance, the Sonos sounds tighter and more composed, with a more precise beginning and end to each effect and commentary that feels more naturally integrated into the soundfield.
Music playback follows a similar pattern. In Standard mode (the AI processing is once again best avoided here), the LG is punchy, energetic and very bassy. Olivia Deanâs
Nice To Each Other
has plenty of drive and momentum, and the low end is pretty tuneful and rhythmic, if slightly overplayed. The system is certainly engaging, at least on a surface level.
But, disappointingly predictably, vocals lack warmth, texture and dynamic subtlety, sounding slightly raspy and inorganic. The Sonos delivers significantly greater clarity, expressive nuance and overall realism, drawing you closer to the performance. The LG, on the other hand, feels as though itâs putting a veil between you and the singer.
Also, while not bright, the Sound Suiteâs treble is rather sibilant and insistent, drawing the ear in a faintly annoying way and distracting from the more important elements of a track. This issue manifests with pretty much everything we play: itâs in the steel strings of the acoustic guitar in
Agape
by Bearâs End, the hi-hat in
Progress
by Public Service Broadcasting, and the synthetic snaps and maracas in
Waterbreathing
by Che-Yung.
If youâre wondering to what extent the soundbar is dictating the systemâs sonic character, itâs worth noting that the M7 speakers have very similar traits. Using one of them in isolation reveals the same punchy but somewhat aggressive and cold approach to sound.
This familial resemblance is what allows the Sound Suite system as a whole to reproduce those surround and Atmos effects so effectively, but it also reinforces the systemâs slightly hard-edged presentation and makes the M7 a rather synthetic speaker in its own right. The Sonos Era 300 is a much more accomplished and musical standalone performer.
Verdict
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
LGâs Sound Suite is an ambitious and genuinely innovative attempt to take on Sonos at the top of the premium soundbar system tree.
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect isnât a gimmick â itâs an impressively effective technology that (in LGâs hands at least) delivers convincing height, scale and spatial precision even when speaker placement isnât ideal.
And, at its best, Sound Suite is thrilling, producing a large, room-filling presentation with dramatic overhead effects and deep, powerful bass.
But while LG has nailed spectacle, itâs fallen short on subtlety. The overall balance tends towards the cold and slightly aggressive, with bass that can dominate and dialogue that lacks warmth, richness and expressive nuance.
If scale and flexibility are your priorities, Sound Suite impresses. For all-round sonic sophistication, though, itâs a fair way behind the best in class.
SCORES
Sound
3
Features
4
Build
4
MORE:
Read our review of the
LG Sound Suite H7
Also consider the
Sonos Arc Ultra
Read our
Samsung HW-Q990F
review
Best soundbars: options for every need, recommended by our experts
TOPICS
LG
Tom Parsons
Tom Parsons has been writing about TV, AV and hi-fi products (not to mention plenty of other 'gadgets' and even cars) for over 15 years. He began his career as What Hi-Fi?'s Staff Writer and is now the TV and AV Editor. In between, he worked as Reviews Editor and then Deputy Editor at Stuff, and over the years has had his work featured in publications such as T3, The Telegraph and Louder. He's also appeared on BBC News, BBC World Service, BBC Radio 4 and Sky Swipe. In his spare time Tom is a runner and gamer.
With contributions from
Lewis Empson
Senior Staff Writer
Ketan Bharadia
Technical Editor
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# LG Sound Suite system review
## Does LG + Dolby Atmos FlexConnect = modern home cinema heaven? Tested at ÂŁ2300 / \$2400 / AU\$TBC
[Reviews](https://www.whathifi.com/reviews)
By [Tom Parsons](https://www.whathifi.com/author/tom-parsons) Contributions from [Lewis Empson](https://www.whathifi.com/author/lewis-empson), [Ketan Bharadia](https://www.whathifi.com/author/ketan-bharadia)
published
4 March 2026
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(Image credit: © What Hi-Fi?)
### What Hi-Fi? Verdict
LG Sound Suite delivers big, room-filling, precise Dolby Atmos sound and genuinely clever flexibility, but itâs ultimately held back by a lack of warmth, nuance and refinement
#### Pros
- \+
Huge, room-filling sound with impressive Dolby Atmos handling
- \+
FlexConnect is genuinely effective
- \+
Deep, powerful bass
#### Cons
- \-
Cold, slightly aggressive overall presentation
- \-
Dialogue lacks richness and subtlety
- \-
No HDMI inputs and early software bugs
Best picks for you
- [Best Dolby Atmos soundbars 2026: our reviewers' five recommendations](https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/best-dolby-atmos-soundbars-the-best-atmos-tv-speakers)
- [Best soundbars 2026: options for every need, recommended by our experts](https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/home-cinema/best-soundbars)
- [Best LG TVs 2026: 3 top sets tried, tested and recommended by our experts](https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/tvs/best-lg-tvs)
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. [Find out more about how we test.](https://www.whathifi.com/news/how-we-test-and-review-products-on-what-hi-fi)
Jump To:
- [Price](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/surround-sound-systems/lg-sound-suite-system#section-price)
- [Design](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/surround-sound-systems/lg-sound-suite-system#section-design)
- [Features](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/surround-sound-systems/lg-sound-suite-system#section-features)
- [Sound](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/surround-sound-systems/lg-sound-suite-system#section-sound)
- [Verdict](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/surround-sound-systems/lg-sound-suite-system#section-verdict)
[LG](https://www.whathifi.com/tag/lg) is clearly gunning for [Sonos](https://www.whathifi.com/tag/sonos) with its new Sound Suite.
Designed as a modular, multi-speaker home cinema platform, it pairs a flagship soundbar with wireless surrounds and a subwoofer to create a premium, stylish [Dolby Atmos](https://www.whathifi.com/advice/dolby-atmos-what-it-how-can-you-get-it) system thatâs every bit as ambitious as its benchmark rival.
But LG is also bringing something genuinely new to the table in the form of [Dolby Atmos FlexConnect](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/dolby-atmos-flexconnect-is-a-pipe-dream-with-promise-even-if-tcl-is-struggling-to-believe-in-it), a technology designed to adapt to your room to a degree hitherto unseen.
Itâs a bold move, but you know what they say about taking a shot at the kingâŠ
### Price
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
LG refers to the Sound Suite configuration that weâre looking at as the Immersive Suite 7 Pro. It includes the [H7 soundbar](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/soundbars/lg-sound-suite-h7) (which we have a separate review of), W7 subwoofer and two M7 speakers.
While bundle discounts feel likely in the future, buying the Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro as a package doesnât currently confer a special price, so you still need to pay the full amount for the H7 (ÂŁ900 / \$1000), W7 (ÂŁ600 / \$600) and M7s (ÂŁ400 / \$400 per speaker), resulting in a full system price of ÂŁ2300 / \$2400 (Aussie pricing hasnât yet been announced).
Thereâs an obvious rival here, in the form of the Sonos Premium Immersive Set With Arc Ultra, which consists of an [Arc Ultra](https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sonos-arc-ultra) (ÂŁ999 / \$1099), Sub 4 (ÂŁ799 / \$899) and two Era 300s (ÂŁ449 / \$479 per speaker).
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But while the cost of the separate components is higher if you go with Sonos, there are bundle discounts available that mean the full system currently costs a Sound Suite-beating ÂŁ2086 / \$2311.
That said, the pricing is close enough for these two systems to be considered in very much the same ballpark.
### Design
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
This is a very smart-looking system.
The Sound Suite H7 soundbar is svelte and solid, with a low profile that wonât obstruct the bottom of many TVs and a lovely little display that clearly indicates the format of whatâs being played but automatically dims after a set time so as not to distract from what youâre watching.
The mesh cover and metal trim give the H7 a premium look, and the raised icon buttons on the top are easy to find in the dark, should you need to.
LG Sound Suite system tech specs
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
**Connectivity** HDMI eARC, wi-fi, Bluetooth 5.4, AirPlay 2
**Format support** Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus
**Streaming** Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect
**Soundbar dimensions (hwd)** 6\.3 x 120 x 14cm
**Soundbar weight** 7.7kg
**Surround speaker dimensions (hwd)** 24 x 18 x 18 cm
**Surround speaker weight** 2.8kg
**Subwoofer dimensions (hwd)** 42 x 41 x 19cm
The subwoofer and M7 speakers arenât quite as weighty or solid-feeling as the bar (or their Sonos equivalents), but they are much larger than they look on paper, giving the system a substantial but stylish overall appearance.
Itâs possible to wall-mount the soundbar and the surround speakers, and the subwooferâs relatively slim design and flat back mean it can be positioned neatly against a wall.
The sub can even be laid flat if you prefer, and we can see some people choosing to slide it under their sofa. We find that subwoofers generally perform better when they have room to breathe than when theyâre firing bassy frequencies straight up your bottom, but each to their own.
Thereâs some rather snazzy lighting towards the bottom edges of the soundbar and surrounds, and this can be customised in terms of both brightness and colour. You have a full palette to play with, which is pretty neat if you like that sort of thing (we do).
### Features
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
This is one heck of a speaker-packed system. The H7 soundbar alone features eight full-range drivers (three in the front, three in the top and one in each end), four woofers (all up-firing) and eight passive radiators, which are both front and rear facing.
These work with clever processing (the bar features the same Alpha 11 Gen 3 processor as LGâs 2026 flagship TVs) to produce what the firm refers to as a 9.1.6-channel soundfield.
Each M7 speaker has three 38mm full-range drivers (two front-facing and one up-firing) and a woofer of its own, while the W7 sub boasts a 20cm driver that LG claims can deliver bass as deep as 25.9Hz.
When combined, this amounts to a 21-speaker system. Not enough for you? The Sound Suite system can accommodate up to two further speakers (either more M7s or smaller M5s), and your TVâs speakers, if said TV is a [C5](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/televisions/lg-c5-oled-lg-oled55c5), [G5](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/televisions/lg-g5-oled65g5), or one of its newer sets.
Arguably, the most interesting thing about the system, though, is the technology it uses to get these drivers working together to produce home cinema sound.
That technology is [Dolby Atmos](https://www.whathifi.com/tag/dolby-atmos) FlexConnect, so called because of the way it can flexibly accommodate less-than-ideal speaker placement. Weâll get to the effectiveness of this in the sound section, below (spoiler alert: itâs pretty flipping effective).
LG has worked closely with Dolby on Sound Suite, to the extent that this is the first family of products to support FlexConnect, so itâs perhaps unsurprising that [DTS:X](https://www.whathifi.com/advice/dtsx-what-it-how-can-you-get-it) is not supported on top of Dolby Atmos.
Getting sound into the system is simple enough, but there is one obvious disappointment: thereâs no dedicated HDMI input. Instead, you are expected to run any external sources into your TV first, and then back out of your TV and into the soundbar via [eARC](https://www.whathifi.com/advice/hdmi-arc-and-hdmi-earc-everything-you-need-to-know).
Thatâs neat, simple, and pretty common, even in soundbars at this level (the Sonos Arc Ultra is another offender), but it still isnât welcome, and there are rivals that offer one (or more!) HDMI inputs and even full support for passthrough of [4K/120Hz](https://www.whathifi.com/advice/4k-120hz-gaming-what-is-it-do-you-need-it-how-do-you-get-it) signals.
Interestingly, this is also the first soundbar we can recall testing that has dropped the legacy optical connection. One suspects that very few people use the optical connection of a [Dolby Atmos soundbar](https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/best-dolby-atmos-soundbars-the-best-atmos-tv-speakers), not least because it lacks the ability to actually handle Dolby Atmos, but its lack here feels noteworthy nonetheless.
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
There are wireless ways to send music to Sound Suite, of course, including Bluetooth, [AirPlay 2](https://www.whathifi.com/advice/apple-airplay-2-everything-you-need-to-know), [Spotify](https://www.whathifi.com/tag/spotify) Connect and [Tidal Connect](https://www.whathifi.com/features/tidal-connect-everything-you-need-to-know).
Control is primarily handled via LGâs ThinQ app, which is broadly good but could be a little slicker in its handling of the Sound Suite system.
Getting everything connected to wi-fi proves more fiddly than it should, for instance. Each component has to be added individually, and for reasons that arenât entirely clear, you must input your wi-fi password separately for each product rather than simply entering it once for the whole system.
The subwoofer, meanwhile, is added via a slightly different process to the soundbar and speakers, which adds to the sense that things could be more streamlined.
Once connected, the app is reasonably well laid out, and mercifully, Sound Suite doesnât have dozens of baffling sound modes to wade through. Instead, there are just five presets (which LG slightly confusingly refers to as âSound Effectsâ): AI Sound Pro+, Standard, Clear Voice Pro+, Bass Boost and Custom EQ.
Standard is the mode youâll likely settle on (as discussed in the Sound section), while Clear Voice Pro+ is essentially a dialogue enhancer for those struggling with intelligibility. Bass Boost feels unnecessary given the systemâs already generous low-end output, and the Custom EQ â which offers full manual adjustment â is best approached with caution unless youâre confident in what youâre doing.
AI Sound Pro+ is the most interesting of the presets, automatically analysing what youâre watching and adjusting the presentation accordingly. It also engages the AI Upmix feature, which converts incoming audio into a virtual 9.1.4-channel presentation. AI Upmix can be activated independently, but it cannot be disabled while AI Sound Pro+ is selected.
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect calibration is pleasingly swift. The system quickly assesses speaker positions and, assuming the master volume isnât set too low, does a solid job of mapping the room.
Some aspects of the process feel slightly old-fashioned, though â notably the requirement to manually measure and input the distance between the soundbar and your listening position. Calibration is also carried out at the systemâs current volume level, rather than an LG-defined volume that provides the best results, which seems a little unhelpful.
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Within the Sound Settings menu you can trim the levels of the Subwoofer, Centre, Overhead and Side channels individually. There are also toggles for Dynamic Range Control and Auto Volume, though neither should be necessary in most set-ups (thereâs a separate Night mode for those looking to temporarily reduce dynamics and bass weight). A separate Tone Settings menu allows independent adjustment of treble, mid and bass levels, providing additional scope for fine-tuning.
One particularly neat feature is the âSet Positionâ button, which uses the FlexConnect technology to refocus the soundfield towards a different seating position at the press of a button. More on this below.
The app also allows you to assign a function to the heart-shaped shortcut button on the remote, though at present the options are limited to launching a specific internet radio station or Spotify playlist.
As hinted at, unlike the Sonos system, LG Sound Suite can also be operated via remote control, and a serviceable handset is included in the box with the H7 soundbar. It feels fairly light and plasticky, but the buttons are clearly labelled and logically arranged. Volume and input selection are easy to access, and the dedicated AI Sound mode button makes it simple to experiment with presets.
The absence of a dedicated Night Mode button, however, is a bit disappointing, as this is exactly the sort of feature you might want to engage quickly without having to dig into menus or reach for your phone.
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the audio performance, itâs worth flagging that we did encounter some bugs during our week of testing the Sound Suite system.
Wi-fi connectivity proved temperamental at times, with certain components refusing to join the network on the first attempt and requiring multiple set-up passes through the app.
More concerning was an intermittent volume-control issue. On one occasion, the system powered on at an extremely high volume level â seemingly at or close to maximum â despite having previously been set much lower. The remoteâs volume buttons reduced the volume number shown on the soundbarâs display, but the actual output didnât change. The app, meanwhile, reported the volume as being set far lower than what we were hearing. Only after adjusting the level within the app did the system respond properly. Not a pleasant experience.
At another point, the remote appeared to control only the soundbar itself rather than the system as a whole, and lowering the volume to zero would silence the bar but not the wireless speakers. Curiously, after fully unplugging and reconnecting the system during comparative testing, the issue disappeared and did not return.
These issues werenât constant, and they will likely be addressed via future firmware updates â this is a brand-new system, after all â but theyâre worth noting for anyone whoâs planning to go early with a Sound Suite system.
### Sound
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Before diving into the LG Sound Suite system at its best, itâs worth addressing the AI sound modes â because, while theyâre impressively bombastic, theyâre not how this system performs at its most convincing.
The AI Upmix feature expands the soundstage and adds scale and weight, but it also exaggerates background sounds and lends dialogue an artificial, slightly echoey quality. Voices become less natural and less clearly defined, even as the overall presentation grows in size.
AI Sound Pro+ takes things further still by also boosting bass and upper frequencies to an extent that further exaggerates some of the systemâs less positive sonic traits, such as its limited finesse and lack of midrange fullness. The result is undeniably big, but also aggressive and shouty.
Standard mode is therefore the only sensible option for serious listening. Itâs in this setting that the LG system sounds most coherent, balanced and representative of its true character.
And there is plenty to like.
With *Blade Runner 2049*, the system immediately demonstrates one of its standout strengths: Dolby Atmos placement. The floating audio adverts are positioned with impressive precision, each inhabiting a clearly defined point in space, with one in particular hanging strikingly high and to the left.
During the baseline test, the interviewer is placed further back in the room, creating a tangible sense of depth and separation between him and K. Joiâs disembodied voice in Kâs apartment is similarly well placed, helping to create an impressive sense of three-dimensional space.
In fact, the LG places lots of effects more dramatically than the Sonos Arc Ultra system, pushing sounds further along the ceiling and creating a slightly more exaggerated overhead bubble.
Scale is another clear strength. This is a genuinely room-filling system, capable of projecting effects confidently from front to back and floor to ceiling.
The opening race at Daytona in *F1: The Movie* is delivered with thrilling impact. The commentary floats high above the listening position, fireworks streak cleanly across the ceiling, and the crunching impacts as cars trade blows along the banked section land with satisfying force. The presentation is bold, expansive and undeniably cinematic.
Even the most complex Atmos moments are handled with notable composure. The large-scale musical sequence in *Sinners*, with its genre-hopping strands and swirling overhead effects, fills the room from every angle without collapsing into chaos. The tonal consistency between the [H7 soundbar](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/soundbars/lg-sound-suite-h7) and the M7 speakers helps maintain cohesion as sounds sweep around the soundfield.
The Dolby Atmos FlexConnect feature also deserves credit. As mentioned, the calibration process is quick and, provided you donât set the volume too low, pretty accurate in identifying the position of each speaker.
The app also allows you to shift the sweet spot with a tap of the âSet Positionâ button, effectively refocusing the soundfield towards a different seat.
In practice, this works far better than expected. Within reason, the system does a convincing job of re-centring the presentation, so that even when we move to increasingly off-axis and unconventional seating positions, dialogue and key effects remain anchored, and the overhead layer still feels properly aligned.
FlexConnect is similarly effective at compensating for less-than-ideal speaker placement. While you inevitably lose some of the pinpoint surround-left and surround-right specificity when the M7 speakers arenât optimally positioned, the system continues to fill the room convincingly and can still place effects impressively high above the listening position. If one speaker is well placed and the other isnât, your ears are drawn to the imbalance surprisingly infrequently.
That said, FlexConnect canât perform miracles. With all speakers clustered towards the front of the room, it canât convincingly swing effects fully over and behind the seating position. The Atmos presentation remains surprisingly spacious, but there are physical limits to what digital processing can achieve.
In short, itâs still well worth taking the time to position the speakers as well as possible, but FlexConnect is more capable than it really has any right to be, and certainly the best technology of its type that weâve heard.
Bass performance, too, is impressive in terms of depth and power. During the infamously challenging Chapter 2 of *Blade Runner 2049*, the W7 subwoofer digs deep and delivers substantial low-frequency weight without obvious distortion. Thereâs more outright heft here than from the Sonos system, and it lends action scenes and musical crescendos real physical presence.
However, once the initial spectacle subsides, the systemâs limitations become more apparent.
Even after calibration, the balance feels slightly skewed, with the soundbar a touch recessed against the surrounds and the subwoofer proving slightly domineering.
Each channel can be manually trimmed, but achieving a truly natural balance proves difficult. We frequently find ourselves reducing the subwoofer level, as it can become overbearing, occasionally introducing a broad, slightly indistinct rumble rather than tightly controlled punch.
By comparison, the Sonos system deploys its bass with greater precision and control, delivering punch without the same sense of excess.
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Dialogue is, unfortunately, where the LG is at its weakest. While not overtly harsh, voices lack warmth, richness and dynamic subtlety. In the Vegas penthouse scene between K and Deckard in *Blade Runner 2049*, Harrison Fordâs voice sounds breathier and less expressive than it should, and this is a recurring theme with everything we watch.
Through the LG, voices simply sound flatter and less expressive, with a faint raspiness and a touch of sibilance that becomes noticeable over time. Emotional inflections are missed, reducing the sense of intimacy.
Even in Standard mode, background elements can sit too far forward in the mix. As K walks through the precinct in *Blade Runner 2049*, for example, the ambient buzz and chatter draw attention away from the opening dialogue of the baseline test. The Sonos keeps those elements more firmly in the background, resulting in a cleaner, more focused presentation.
Similarly, in *F1*, while the LG delivers scale and impact in abundance, the Sonos sounds tighter and more composed, with a more precise beginning and end to each effect and commentary that feels more naturally integrated into the soundfield.
Music playback follows a similar pattern. In Standard mode (the AI processing is once again best avoided here), the LG is punchy, energetic and very bassy. Olivia Deanâs *Nice To Each Other* has plenty of drive and momentum, and the low end is pretty tuneful and rhythmic, if slightly overplayed. The system is certainly engaging, at least on a surface level.
But, disappointingly predictably, vocals lack warmth, texture and dynamic subtlety, sounding slightly raspy and inorganic. The Sonos delivers significantly greater clarity, expressive nuance and overall realism, drawing you closer to the performance. The LG, on the other hand, feels as though itâs putting a veil between you and the singer.
Also, while not bright, the Sound Suiteâs treble is rather sibilant and insistent, drawing the ear in a faintly annoying way and distracting from the more important elements of a track. This issue manifests with pretty much everything we play: itâs in the steel strings of the acoustic guitar in *Agape* by Bearâs End, the hi-hat in *Progress* by Public Service Broadcasting, and the synthetic snaps and maracas in *Waterbreathing* by Che-Yung.
If youâre wondering to what extent the soundbar is dictating the systemâs sonic character, itâs worth noting that the M7 speakers have very similar traits. Using one of them in isolation reveals the same punchy but somewhat aggressive and cold approach to sound.
This familial resemblance is what allows the Sound Suite system as a whole to reproduce those surround and Atmos effects so effectively, but it also reinforces the systemâs slightly hard-edged presentation and makes the M7 a rather synthetic speaker in its own right. The Sonos Era 300 is a much more accomplished and musical standalone performer.
### Verdict
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
LGâs Sound Suite is an ambitious and genuinely innovative attempt to take on Sonos at the top of the premium soundbar system tree.
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect isnât a gimmick â itâs an impressively effective technology that (in LGâs hands at least) delivers convincing height, scale and spatial precision even when speaker placement isnât ideal.
And, at its best, Sound Suite is thrilling, producing a large, room-filling presentation with dramatic overhead effects and deep, powerful bass.
But while LG has nailed spectacle, itâs fallen short on subtlety. The overall balance tends towards the cold and slightly aggressive, with bass that can dominate and dialogue that lacks warmth, richness and expressive nuance.
If scale and flexibility are your priorities, Sound Suite impresses. For all-round sonic sophistication, though, itâs a fair way behind the best in class.
**SCORES**
- **Sound** 3
- **Features** 4
- **Build** 4
**MORE:**
**Read our review of the** [**LG Sound Suite H7**](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/soundbars/lg-sound-suite-h7)
**Also consider the** [**Sonos Arc Ultra**](https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sonos-arc-ultra)
**Read our** [**Samsung HW-Q990F**](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/soundbars/samsung-hw-q990f) **review**
[**Best soundbars: options for every need, recommended by our experts**](https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/home-cinema/best-soundbars)
TOPICS
[LG](https://www.whathifi.com/tag/lg)
[Tom Parsons](https://www.whathifi.com/author/tom-parsons)
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Tom Parsons has been writing about TV, AV and hi-fi products (not to mention plenty of other 'gadgets' and even cars) for over 15 years. He began his career as What Hi-Fi?'s Staff Writer and is now the TV and AV Editor. In between, he worked as Reviews Editor and then Deputy Editor at Stuff, and over the years has had his work featured in publications such as T3, The Telegraph and Louder. He's also appeared on BBC News, BBC World Service, BBC Radio 4 and Sky Swipe. In his spare time Tom is a runner and gamer.
With contributions from
- [Lewis Empson](https://www.whathifi.com/author/lewis-empson)Senior Staff Writer
- [Ketan Bharadia](https://www.whathifi.com/author/ketan-bharadia)Technical Editor
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| Readable Markdown | ### What Hi-Fi? Verdict
LG Sound Suite delivers big, room-filling, precise Dolby Atmos sound and genuinely clever flexibility, but itâs ultimately held back by a lack of warmth, nuance and refinement
#### Pros
- \+
Huge, room-filling sound with impressive Dolby Atmos handling
- \+
FlexConnect is genuinely effective
- \+
Deep, powerful bass
#### Cons
- \-
Cold, slightly aggressive overall presentation
- \-
Dialogue lacks richness and subtlety
- \-
No HDMI inputs and early software bugs
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. [Find out more about how we test.](https://www.whathifi.com/news/how-we-test-and-review-products-on-what-hi-fi)
Jump To:
- [Price](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/surround-sound-systems/lg-sound-suite-system#section-price)
- [Design](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/surround-sound-systems/lg-sound-suite-system#section-design)
- [Features](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/surround-sound-systems/lg-sound-suite-system#section-features)
- [Sound](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/surround-sound-systems/lg-sound-suite-system#section-sound)
- [Verdict](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/surround-sound-systems/lg-sound-suite-system#section-verdict)
[LG](https://www.whathifi.com/tag/lg) is clearly gunning for [Sonos](https://www.whathifi.com/tag/sonos) with its new Sound Suite.
Designed as a modular, multi-speaker home cinema platform, it pairs a flagship soundbar with wireless surrounds and a subwoofer to create a premium, stylish [Dolby Atmos](https://www.whathifi.com/advice/dolby-atmos-what-it-how-can-you-get-it) system thatâs every bit as ambitious as its benchmark rival.
Itâs a bold move, but you know what they say about taking a shot at the kingâŠ
### Price
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
LG refers to the Sound Suite configuration that weâre looking at as the Immersive Suite 7 Pro. It includes the [H7 soundbar](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/soundbars/lg-sound-suite-h7) (which we have a separate review of), W7 subwoofer and two M7 speakers.
While bundle discounts feel likely in the future, buying the Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro as a package doesnât currently confer a special price, so you still need to pay the full amount for the H7 (ÂŁ900 / \$1000), W7 (ÂŁ600 / \$600) and M7s (ÂŁ400 / \$400 per speaker), resulting in a full system price of ÂŁ2300 / \$2400 (Aussie pricing hasnât yet been announced).
Thereâs an obvious rival here, in the form of the Sonos Premium Immersive Set With Arc Ultra, which consists of an [Arc Ultra](https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sonos-arc-ultra) (ÂŁ999 / \$1099), Sub 4 (ÂŁ799 / \$899) and two Era 300s (ÂŁ449 / \$479 per speaker).
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But while the cost of the separate components is higher if you go with Sonos, there are bundle discounts available that mean the full system currently costs a Sound Suite-beating ÂŁ2086 / \$2311.
That said, the pricing is close enough for these two systems to be considered in very much the same ballpark.
### Design
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
This is a very smart-looking system.
The Sound Suite H7 soundbar is svelte and solid, with a low profile that wonât obstruct the bottom of many TVs and a lovely little display that clearly indicates the format of whatâs being played but automatically dims after a set time so as not to distract from what youâre watching.
The mesh cover and metal trim give the H7 a premium look, and the raised icon buttons on the top are easy to find in the dark, should you need to.
LG Sound Suite system tech specs
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
**Connectivity** HDMI eARC, wi-fi, Bluetooth 5.4, AirPlay 2
**Format support** Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus
**Streaming** Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect
**Soundbar dimensions (hwd)** 6\.3 x 120 x 14cm
**Soundbar weight** 7.7kg
**Surround speaker dimensions (hwd)** 24 x 18 x 18 cm
**Surround speaker weight** 2.8kg
**Subwoofer dimensions (hwd)** 42 x 41 x 19cm
The subwoofer and M7 speakers arenât quite as weighty or solid-feeling as the bar (or their Sonos equivalents), but they are much larger than they look on paper, giving the system a substantial but stylish overall appearance.
Itâs possible to wall-mount the soundbar and the surround speakers, and the subwooferâs relatively slim design and flat back mean it can be positioned neatly against a wall.
The sub can even be laid flat if you prefer, and we can see some people choosing to slide it under their sofa. We find that subwoofers generally perform better when they have room to breathe than when theyâre firing bassy frequencies straight up your bottom, but each to their own.
Thereâs some rather snazzy lighting towards the bottom edges of the soundbar and surrounds, and this can be customised in terms of both brightness and colour. You have a full palette to play with, which is pretty neat if you like that sort of thing (we do).
### Features
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
This is one heck of a speaker-packed system. The H7 soundbar alone features eight full-range drivers (three in the front, three in the top and one in each end), four woofers (all up-firing) and eight passive radiators, which are both front and rear facing.
These work with clever processing (the bar features the same Alpha 11 Gen 3 processor as LGâs 2026 flagship TVs) to produce what the firm refers to as a 9.1.6-channel soundfield.
Each M7 speaker has three 38mm full-range drivers (two front-facing and one up-firing) and a woofer of its own, while the W7 sub boasts a 20cm driver that LG claims can deliver bass as deep as 25.9Hz.
When combined, this amounts to a 21-speaker system. Not enough for you? The Sound Suite system can accommodate up to two further speakers (either more M7s or smaller M5s), and your TVâs speakers, if said TV is a [C5](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/televisions/lg-c5-oled-lg-oled55c5), [G5](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/televisions/lg-g5-oled65g5), or one of its newer sets.
Arguably, the most interesting thing about the system, though, is the technology it uses to get these drivers working together to produce home cinema sound.
That technology is [Dolby Atmos](https://www.whathifi.com/tag/dolby-atmos) FlexConnect, so called because of the way it can flexibly accommodate less-than-ideal speaker placement. Weâll get to the effectiveness of this in the sound section, below (spoiler alert: itâs pretty flipping effective).
LG has worked closely with Dolby on Sound Suite, to the extent that this is the first family of products to support FlexConnect, so itâs perhaps unsurprising that [DTS:X](https://www.whathifi.com/advice/dtsx-what-it-how-can-you-get-it) is not supported on top of Dolby Atmos.
Getting sound into the system is simple enough, but there is one obvious disappointment: thereâs no dedicated HDMI input. Instead, you are expected to run any external sources into your TV first, and then back out of your TV and into the soundbar via [eARC](https://www.whathifi.com/advice/hdmi-arc-and-hdmi-earc-everything-you-need-to-know).
Thatâs neat, simple, and pretty common, even in soundbars at this level (the Sonos Arc Ultra is another offender), but it still isnât welcome, and there are rivals that offer one (or more!) HDMI inputs and even full support for passthrough of [4K/120Hz](https://www.whathifi.com/advice/4k-120hz-gaming-what-is-it-do-you-need-it-how-do-you-get-it) signals.
Interestingly, this is also the first soundbar we can recall testing that has dropped the legacy optical connection. One suspects that very few people use the optical connection of a [Dolby Atmos soundbar](https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/best-dolby-atmos-soundbars-the-best-atmos-tv-speakers), not least because it lacks the ability to actually handle Dolby Atmos, but its lack here feels noteworthy nonetheless.
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
There are wireless ways to send music to Sound Suite, of course, including Bluetooth, [AirPlay 2](https://www.whathifi.com/advice/apple-airplay-2-everything-you-need-to-know), [Spotify](https://www.whathifi.com/tag/spotify) Connect and [Tidal Connect](https://www.whathifi.com/features/tidal-connect-everything-you-need-to-know).
Control is primarily handled via LGâs ThinQ app, which is broadly good but could be a little slicker in its handling of the Sound Suite system.
Getting everything connected to wi-fi proves more fiddly than it should, for instance. Each component has to be added individually, and for reasons that arenât entirely clear, you must input your wi-fi password separately for each product rather than simply entering it once for the whole system.
The subwoofer, meanwhile, is added via a slightly different process to the soundbar and speakers, which adds to the sense that things could be more streamlined.
Once connected, the app is reasonably well laid out, and mercifully, Sound Suite doesnât have dozens of baffling sound modes to wade through. Instead, there are just five presets (which LG slightly confusingly refers to as âSound Effectsâ): AI Sound Pro+, Standard, Clear Voice Pro+, Bass Boost and Custom EQ.
Standard is the mode youâll likely settle on (as discussed in the Sound section), while Clear Voice Pro+ is essentially a dialogue enhancer for those struggling with intelligibility. Bass Boost feels unnecessary given the systemâs already generous low-end output, and the Custom EQ â which offers full manual adjustment â is best approached with caution unless youâre confident in what youâre doing.
AI Sound Pro+ is the most interesting of the presets, automatically analysing what youâre watching and adjusting the presentation accordingly. It also engages the AI Upmix feature, which converts incoming audio into a virtual 9.1.4-channel presentation. AI Upmix can be activated independently, but it cannot be disabled while AI Sound Pro+ is selected.
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect calibration is pleasingly swift. The system quickly assesses speaker positions and, assuming the master volume isnât set too low, does a solid job of mapping the room.
Some aspects of the process feel slightly old-fashioned, though â notably the requirement to manually measure and input the distance between the soundbar and your listening position. Calibration is also carried out at the systemâs current volume level, rather than an LG-defined volume that provides the best results, which seems a little unhelpful.
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Within the Sound Settings menu you can trim the levels of the Subwoofer, Centre, Overhead and Side channels individually. There are also toggles for Dynamic Range Control and Auto Volume, though neither should be necessary in most set-ups (thereâs a separate Night mode for those looking to temporarily reduce dynamics and bass weight). A separate Tone Settings menu allows independent adjustment of treble, mid and bass levels, providing additional scope for fine-tuning.
One particularly neat feature is the âSet Positionâ button, which uses the FlexConnect technology to refocus the soundfield towards a different seating position at the press of a button. More on this below.
The app also allows you to assign a function to the heart-shaped shortcut button on the remote, though at present the options are limited to launching a specific internet radio station or Spotify playlist.
As hinted at, unlike the Sonos system, LG Sound Suite can also be operated via remote control, and a serviceable handset is included in the box with the H7 soundbar. It feels fairly light and plasticky, but the buttons are clearly labelled and logically arranged. Volume and input selection are easy to access, and the dedicated AI Sound mode button makes it simple to experiment with presets.
The absence of a dedicated Night Mode button, however, is a bit disappointing, as this is exactly the sort of feature you might want to engage quickly without having to dig into menus or reach for your phone.
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the audio performance, itâs worth flagging that we did encounter some bugs during our week of testing the Sound Suite system.
Wi-fi connectivity proved temperamental at times, with certain components refusing to join the network on the first attempt and requiring multiple set-up passes through the app.
More concerning was an intermittent volume-control issue. On one occasion, the system powered on at an extremely high volume level â seemingly at or close to maximum â despite having previously been set much lower. The remoteâs volume buttons reduced the volume number shown on the soundbarâs display, but the actual output didnât change. The app, meanwhile, reported the volume as being set far lower than what we were hearing. Only after adjusting the level within the app did the system respond properly. Not a pleasant experience.
At another point, the remote appeared to control only the soundbar itself rather than the system as a whole, and lowering the volume to zero would silence the bar but not the wireless speakers. Curiously, after fully unplugging and reconnecting the system during comparative testing, the issue disappeared and did not return.
These issues werenât constant, and they will likely be addressed via future firmware updates â this is a brand-new system, after all â but theyâre worth noting for anyone whoâs planning to go early with a Sound Suite system.
### Sound
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Before diving into the LG Sound Suite system at its best, itâs worth addressing the AI sound modes â because, while theyâre impressively bombastic, theyâre not how this system performs at its most convincing.
The AI Upmix feature expands the soundstage and adds scale and weight, but it also exaggerates background sounds and lends dialogue an artificial, slightly echoey quality. Voices become less natural and less clearly defined, even as the overall presentation grows in size.
AI Sound Pro+ takes things further still by also boosting bass and upper frequencies to an extent that further exaggerates some of the systemâs less positive sonic traits, such as its limited finesse and lack of midrange fullness. The result is undeniably big, but also aggressive and shouty.
Standard mode is therefore the only sensible option for serious listening. Itâs in this setting that the LG system sounds most coherent, balanced and representative of its true character.
And there is plenty to like.
With *Blade Runner 2049*, the system immediately demonstrates one of its standout strengths: Dolby Atmos placement. The floating audio adverts are positioned with impressive precision, each inhabiting a clearly defined point in space, with one in particular hanging strikingly high and to the left.
During the baseline test, the interviewer is placed further back in the room, creating a tangible sense of depth and separation between him and K. Joiâs disembodied voice in Kâs apartment is similarly well placed, helping to create an impressive sense of three-dimensional space.
In fact, the LG places lots of effects more dramatically than the Sonos Arc Ultra system, pushing sounds further along the ceiling and creating a slightly more exaggerated overhead bubble.
Scale is another clear strength. This is a genuinely room-filling system, capable of projecting effects confidently from front to back and floor to ceiling.
The opening race at Daytona in *F1: The Movie* is delivered with thrilling impact. The commentary floats high above the listening position, fireworks streak cleanly across the ceiling, and the crunching impacts as cars trade blows along the banked section land with satisfying force. The presentation is bold, expansive and undeniably cinematic.
Even the most complex Atmos moments are handled with notable composure. The large-scale musical sequence in *Sinners*, with its genre-hopping strands and swirling overhead effects, fills the room from every angle without collapsing into chaos. The tonal consistency between the [H7 soundbar](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/soundbars/lg-sound-suite-h7) and the M7 speakers helps maintain cohesion as sounds sweep around the soundfield.
The Dolby Atmos FlexConnect feature also deserves credit. As mentioned, the calibration process is quick and, provided you donât set the volume too low, pretty accurate in identifying the position of each speaker.
The app also allows you to shift the sweet spot with a tap of the âSet Positionâ button, effectively refocusing the soundfield towards a different seat.
In practice, this works far better than expected. Within reason, the system does a convincing job of re-centring the presentation, so that even when we move to increasingly off-axis and unconventional seating positions, dialogue and key effects remain anchored, and the overhead layer still feels properly aligned.
FlexConnect is similarly effective at compensating for less-than-ideal speaker placement. While you inevitably lose some of the pinpoint surround-left and surround-right specificity when the M7 speakers arenât optimally positioned, the system continues to fill the room convincingly and can still place effects impressively high above the listening position. If one speaker is well placed and the other isnât, your ears are drawn to the imbalance surprisingly infrequently.
That said, FlexConnect canât perform miracles. With all speakers clustered towards the front of the room, it canât convincingly swing effects fully over and behind the seating position. The Atmos presentation remains surprisingly spacious, but there are physical limits to what digital processing can achieve.
In short, itâs still well worth taking the time to position the speakers as well as possible, but FlexConnect is more capable than it really has any right to be, and certainly the best technology of its type that weâve heard.
Bass performance, too, is impressive in terms of depth and power. During the infamously challenging Chapter 2 of *Blade Runner 2049*, the W7 subwoofer digs deep and delivers substantial low-frequency weight without obvious distortion. Thereâs more outright heft here than from the Sonos system, and it lends action scenes and musical crescendos real physical presence.
However, once the initial spectacle subsides, the systemâs limitations become more apparent.
Even after calibration, the balance feels slightly skewed, with the soundbar a touch recessed against the surrounds and the subwoofer proving slightly domineering.
Each channel can be manually trimmed, but achieving a truly natural balance proves difficult. We frequently find ourselves reducing the subwoofer level, as it can become overbearing, occasionally introducing a broad, slightly indistinct rumble rather than tightly controlled punch.
By comparison, the Sonos system deploys its bass with greater precision and control, delivering punch without the same sense of excess.
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Dialogue is, unfortunately, where the LG is at its weakest. While not overtly harsh, voices lack warmth, richness and dynamic subtlety. In the Vegas penthouse scene between K and Deckard in *Blade Runner 2049*, Harrison Fordâs voice sounds breathier and less expressive than it should, and this is a recurring theme with everything we watch.
Through the LG, voices simply sound flatter and less expressive, with a faint raspiness and a touch of sibilance that becomes noticeable over time. Emotional inflections are missed, reducing the sense of intimacy.
Even in Standard mode, background elements can sit too far forward in the mix. As K walks through the precinct in *Blade Runner 2049*, for example, the ambient buzz and chatter draw attention away from the opening dialogue of the baseline test. The Sonos keeps those elements more firmly in the background, resulting in a cleaner, more focused presentation.
Similarly, in *F1*, while the LG delivers scale and impact in abundance, the Sonos sounds tighter and more composed, with a more precise beginning and end to each effect and commentary that feels more naturally integrated into the soundfield.
Music playback follows a similar pattern. In Standard mode (the AI processing is once again best avoided here), the LG is punchy, energetic and very bassy. Olivia Deanâs *Nice To Each Other* has plenty of drive and momentum, and the low end is pretty tuneful and rhythmic, if slightly overplayed. The system is certainly engaging, at least on a surface level.
But, disappointingly predictably, vocals lack warmth, texture and dynamic subtlety, sounding slightly raspy and inorganic. The Sonos delivers significantly greater clarity, expressive nuance and overall realism, drawing you closer to the performance. The LG, on the other hand, feels as though itâs putting a veil between you and the singer.
Also, while not bright, the Sound Suiteâs treble is rather sibilant and insistent, drawing the ear in a faintly annoying way and distracting from the more important elements of a track. This issue manifests with pretty much everything we play: itâs in the steel strings of the acoustic guitar in *Agape* by Bearâs End, the hi-hat in *Progress* by Public Service Broadcasting, and the synthetic snaps and maracas in *Waterbreathing* by Che-Yung.
If youâre wondering to what extent the soundbar is dictating the systemâs sonic character, itâs worth noting that the M7 speakers have very similar traits. Using one of them in isolation reveals the same punchy but somewhat aggressive and cold approach to sound.
This familial resemblance is what allows the Sound Suite system as a whole to reproduce those surround and Atmos effects so effectively, but it also reinforces the systemâs slightly hard-edged presentation and makes the M7 a rather synthetic speaker in its own right. The Sonos Era 300 is a much more accomplished and musical standalone performer.
### Verdict
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
LGâs Sound Suite is an ambitious and genuinely innovative attempt to take on Sonos at the top of the premium soundbar system tree.
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect isnât a gimmick â itâs an impressively effective technology that (in LGâs hands at least) delivers convincing height, scale and spatial precision even when speaker placement isnât ideal.
And, at its best, Sound Suite is thrilling, producing a large, room-filling presentation with dramatic overhead effects and deep, powerful bass.
But while LG has nailed spectacle, itâs fallen short on subtlety. The overall balance tends towards the cold and slightly aggressive, with bass that can dominate and dialogue that lacks warmth, richness and expressive nuance.
If scale and flexibility are your priorities, Sound Suite impresses. For all-round sonic sophistication, though, itâs a fair way behind the best in class.
**SCORES**
- **Sound** 3
- **Features** 4
- **Build** 4
**MORE:**
**Read our review of the** [**LG Sound Suite H7**](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/soundbars/lg-sound-suite-h7)
**Also consider the** [**Sonos Arc Ultra**](https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sonos-arc-ultra)
**Read our** [**Samsung HW-Q990F**](https://www.whathifi.com/tv-home-cinema/soundbars/samsung-hw-q990f) **review**
[**Best soundbars: options for every need, recommended by our experts**](https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/home-cinema/best-soundbars)
TOPICS
[LG](https://www.whathifi.com/tag/lg)
[Tom Parsons](https://www.whathifi.com/author/tom-parsons)
Tom Parsons has been writing about TV, AV and hi-fi products (not to mention plenty of other 'gadgets' and even cars) for over 15 years. He began his career as What Hi-Fi?'s Staff Writer and is now the TV and AV Editor. In between, he worked as Reviews Editor and then Deputy Editor at Stuff, and over the years has had his work featured in publications such as T3, The Telegraph and Louder. He's also appeared on BBC News, BBC World Service, BBC Radio 4 and Sky Swipe. In his spare time Tom is a runner and gamer.
With contributions from
- [Lewis Empson](https://www.whathifi.com/author/lewis-empson)Senior Staff Writer
- [Ketan Bharadia](https://www.whathifi.com/author/ketan-bharadia)Technical Editor
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