LG’s 2026 TVs and soundbars get the Dolby Atmos FlexConnect treatment
- LG to launch its Sound Suite Dolby Atmos FlexConnect speakers at CES
- Options include H7 soundbar, M7 and M7 speakers, and W7 subwoofer
- The H7 is the first FlexConnect soundbar and can be used with any TV.
The system performs a quick and easy calibration step, and presto: you get immersive Atmos sound and you don’t need to reconfigure your furniture, run cables, or purchase special accessories. At least that’s the theory.
LG H7 soundbar and M7 and M5 wireless speakers
LG is not the first company to launch a FlexConnect system. That mantle belongs to TCL, which launched its TCL Z100 Dolby Atmos FlexConnect speakers and subwoofer earlier this year. However, where TCL’s Z100 speakers are only compatible with its 2025 and newer mini-LED TVs, LG gives you more options.
LG’s FlexConnect speakers can connect to compatible LG TVs, but its new FlexConnect-enabled soundbar, the LG H7, will work with any TV. The H7 is a 20-speaker beast with four built-in woofers, eight passive bass radiators, and three dedicated upward-firing units.
Whether you opt for an LG TV or the H7 as your Dolby Atmos FlexConnect hub (or “primary device”), you can choose between two wireless FlexConnect speaker models to accompany it: the M5, a mono speaker with a front-firing tweeter/woofer combo and an up-firing driver for Atmos height channel effects, or the larger M7, a stereo unit with two full-range speakers, a woofer and an up-firing driver.
The LG FlexConnect W7 subwoofer can be used with any of these arrangements. It produces the deepest bass of any LG subwoofer (up to 25.9 Hz, according to the company) through an 8-inch driver and can be mounted horizontally or vertically.
LG’s Dolby Atmos FlexConnect system is also more versatile than TCL’s in terms of maximum speaker count. TCL’s mini-LED TVs can only support a total of four Z100 FlexConnect speakers, including the Z100-SW subwoofer. LG, on the other hand, can handle four speakers and a sub, for a total of five wireless units. Depending on the model and number of speakers, an LG FlexConnect system can deliver up to a staggering 13.1.7 channels.
As I mentioned above, automatic room calibration is standard for Dolby Atmos FlexConnect systems, but LG has gone a step further with its Sound Follow feature. Using the LG ThinQ app, it can tailor the room setting to your specific seat location.
LG’s high-end 2026 TVs will arrive with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect capability, but owners of LG OLED C-Series and G-Series 2025 TVs will also benefit from the technology via a planned firmware update.
LG Sound Suite: a more flexible FlexConnect option?
I had the chance to hear TCL’s Z100-based Dolby Atmos FlexConnect system in August. I appreciated the level of cinematic immersion it offered thanks to just three satellite speakers and a subwoofer, but I was particularly impressed by its ability to render Dolby Atmos music.
So, should we have high hopes for LG Sound Suite? Given that LG has much more experience than TCL in creating Dolby Atmos home theater audio systems (LG’s flagship Atmos soundbar systems, such as the LG S95TR, regularly end up among our most recommended), I suspect that LG’s FlexConnect implementation will work just as well, and perhaps better, than an equivalent TCL setup.
Where LG will have an advantage is its soundbar-based FlexConnect systems. LG’s H7 soundbar could prove to be a new top choice, especially when equipped with four M7 speakers and a W7 subwoofer. Of course, none of this will come cheap.
TCL’s Z100 speakers sell for $400 each, and judging by their specs, the M5 might be priced lower than that, but the M7 might be higher. I wouldn’t be surprised if the ultimate 13.1.7 package (one H7, four M7s, one W7) ended up costing almost $3,000 (around £2,250 / AU$4,500).
The best soundbars for every budget
