Remember when you bought a piece of A/V gear and it was instantly obsolete, replaced by the next year’s new improved version? Yeah, me neither. Today the product you buy more than likely has the option of being updated over time, with bug fixes and even new functionality. Case in point, LG’s Sound Suite H7 soundbar – and the full suite of Sound Suite speakers – just got a pretty big update, including enhanced wireless connectivity, dual subwoofer capability, Google Cast support and even the addition of a whole new codec: DTS:X.
The LG H7 soundbar is the company’s first to support Dolby Atmos FlexConnect. This system allows you to configure a custom speaker layout, with built-in calibration that optimizes the sound field to make the best use of all available speakers and can compensate for less than perfect speaker placement. The H7 can be used standalone with your TV or projector, or with up to five additional LG speakers for a fully immersive wireless (mostly) surround sound system. The reason I say “mostly” is that a full multi-channel surround system using the H7 does require an HDMI cable between your TV or projector and the soundbar, but then the soundbar communicates wirelessly to any supporting Sound Suite speakers. And the speakers themselves do each require a power cord.
When we first saw and heard the H7 and its supporting Sound Suite speakers in January at CES 2026, we were impressed by the system’s flexibility and immersive surround sound. But it was lacking in some features that home theater fans and audiophiles expect, namely support for Google Cast wireless streaming and DTS:X surround sound. This latest software update, which is available for free download over the internet, adds these two features and more.
The update also includes some tweaks to wireless connectivity including support for “modern 6 GHz and 5 GHz DFS Wi-Fi environments and improved network resilience to deliver a more reliable wireless listening experience.” They’ve also added support for two subwoofers, which can help not just with bass extension, but also with providing a more uniform bass response throughout a larger room.
“LG Sound Suite was created to make immersive audio more flexible, more accessible and easier to enjoy,” said Lee Jeong-seok, head of the Audio Business Division at the LG Media Entertainment Solution Company. “These latest enhancements reflect our ongoing commitment to expanding what LG Sound Suite can do, giving consumers more freedom to build the audio experience that best fits their home, their content and the way they listen.”
No DTS For You!?
One caveat worth noting is that current and recent LG TVs do not support DTS decoding or passthrough, so if you have a recent LG TV, you won’t have any option to take advantage of DTS:X soundtracks. The H7 soundbar includes only a single HDMI port (with eARC to get sound from the TV), so if you connect your game console or Blu-ray Disc Player or Kaleidescape player to the TV, you’ll only be able to get PCM or Dolby surround sound (including Dolby Atmos) out to the soundbar. In the press release, LG did also mention a mysterious device called the LG Media Connect Hub, which will apparently be unveiled at a later date. We expect that this may be some sort of additional source connection box that would enable sources with DTS:X sound to be connected directly to the H7 soundbar, but we don’t have any additional details on that yet.
According to LG, the “Media Connect Hub is designed to help customers enjoy DTS:X playback from compatible external source devices and further expand access to DTS:X content.” But exactly how they’ll do this and still maintain the eARC HDMI connection to the TV over that single HDMI port is a mystery to me. When we know more, we’ll be sure to share that with you. Until then, those who want to use DTS:X on the H7 system can only do that by using a non-LG TV or projector that can pass through DTS:X sound to the bar.
Also currently unknown is whether LG will add support for IAMF (Immersive Audio Model and Format), aka “Eclipsa Audio” to this or any of their audio products at some point in the future. Surprisingly, the company did announce support for IAMF in their 2025 and 2026 TVs, but since they would not license the brand name “Eclipsa Audio” from their arch-rival Samsung (who led development of IAMF along with Google), the format appears under its generic open standard name (IAMF). IAMF and Eclipsa Audio are currently the immersive audio format of choice for YouTube.
Also, support for Eclipsa Audio is being added to the Android TV and Google TV platform in Android 16. We expect Eclipsa Audio adoption to become widespread as soon as major TV manufacturers like Sony, Hisense and TCL migrate to Android TV 16 or above.
The Bottom Line
We’re happy to see LG add support for Google Cast streaming and dual subwoofer capability to its flagship H7 soundbar. And adding support for DTS soundtracks (including DTS:X) is something that diehard movie lovers and audiophiles will definitely appreciate. But without DTS support in LG TVs, and with no second HDMI port on the soundbar itself, only H7 owners with older LG TVs (or non-LG TVs) will be able to take advantage of this new codec support. This mysterious “Media Connect Hub” may provide a path to DTS:X support on current and recent LG TVs so we’ll keep our ears peeled (ouch) for more information.
Where to Buy:
- LG Sound Suite H7 Soundbar – $899 at Amazon | Best Buy
Related Reading
- LG Launches First Dolby Atmos FlexConnect soundbar at CES 2026
- Nakamichi 11.1.6 Dragon Soundbar Review: This Thing Is Bonkers
- Sony BRAVIA Theater Trio With Sub 9 Sub And Rear 9 Speakers Review – Think Outside The Bar
