(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)

I've spent the last working week at the world's largest technology show, CES 2026, which the T3 team has been live-blogging throughout – picking out 21 Awards winners from this year's exhibits.

CES is historically regarded as a TV and home audio show, with 2026 also making waves in these departments. LG's off-site showcase was a great representation of what's to come, with its Wallpaper TV (OLED W6) being one impressive new entry.

But that TV paired with LG's new Dolby Atmos FlexConnect system was a real ear-opener for me. It shows off how Dolby's new tech is more adaptive – read my 'what is FlexConnect' piece here – but also opens the door for a more modular approach to purchase.

In this demonstration, LG has its full Sound Suite setup: an H7 soundbar, a W7 subwoofer, plus several M7 speakers to act as sides and rears. Through its app, however, I was able to experience soundbar and TV alone, then with the sub, then everything altogether in concert.

And what a concert this system can deliver. Dolby Atmos is an object-based sound mix system, meaning sound can travel through space in a three-dimensional form – using relevant percentages of the speakers to best deliver that believable immersive output.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)

Atmos systems with separate speakers typically come all in the same box – and you have to rigidly set them up in a fixed way. What FlexConnect brings to the party, however, is two-fold: one, you can place the speakers anywhere you wish (within reason, of course); two, you can add extras as you go along to a higher degree than most boxed-together solutions can offer.

During the demonstration we moved an M7 speaker's position, for example, with the system then performing a calibration (audible signals) to determine its new position. If it's further away then the volume will be offset as needed; just as it would be if placed nearer. This creates a much more natural soundstaging.

But I think a major part of LG's Sound Suite's success – aside from its superb sound quality – is the modular prospect. You might start with an H7 soundbar alone, then buy another component or two later – perhaps just a pair of rear speakers, foregoing a subwoofer if that's too much for your living situation.

I'm yet to see any other system that demonstrates FlexConnect so well – or that's so complete. Others do exist, such as kit from TCL, and I'm certain that ranges will expand. But with Samsung continuing to output its tried-and-tested kit, I think LG is ahead of the curve here. That's why the LG Sound Suite is a CES 2026 T3 Awards winner.