Disclosure: I purchased a 77” LG G6 television and gradually upgraded my Sound Suite home theater system (H7 + W7 + 4 M7s) earlier this year. LG provided me with a second W7 subwoofer to review and share my feedback.
TL/DR: Two W7 subwoofers create deeper and richer bass, more distinct Dolby Atmos effects, and mids and highs that stay clear.
I have owned several home theater and audio systems over the years, ranging from Bose to Hisense to LG, and spanning everything from simple soundbars to multi-speaker setups. Earlier this year, after moving into a new home, I decided to upgrade from my LG 48” C3 OLED and S80QY 3.1.3 soundbar system. My new home has high ceilings and an open-concept living room and kitchen. I noticed that the television seemed small from my usual viewing position on the couch, and the sound became muddled as I moved around the space.
After looking at different options, I settled on the 77” LG G6 OLED for its accurate colors, inky blacks, and impressive brightness. At the same time, I wanted a home theater system that could match the television’s capabilities and bring the content to life. Having been pleased with pairing LG televisions and audio systems in the past, I decided to go with LG’s Sound Suite.
Initial Impressions
Adding a second W7 subwoofer has taken an already impressive system and elevated it into a genuinely immersive home theater experience. The additional bass brings content to life, adding depth, impact, and a greater sense of presence to everything from movies and games to nature documentaries and music.
The difference between one and two subwoofers was immediately noticeable. Suddenly, I could hear the throaty roar of a lion or feel the percussive impact of ice cracking and falling from glaciers in nature documentaries. When watching Dune, scenes featuring the Voice were practically audio jump scares, with the sound dramatically pounding through the room. When playing Cyberpunk 2077 on my PS5, Night City felt more alive, especially when driving through its streets with the radio blasting. Even casual Netflix streaming became more enjoyable. I found myself actively seeking out content optimized for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision to experience just how much the system could deliver.
Initially, I was concerned that adding a second subwoofer might overpower the rest of the system. I wondered whether the increased bass would come at the expense of the mids and highs. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this wasn’t the case at all. When streaming music, the full range of frequencies remained present, clear, and distinct, with each working together in harmony. Rather than overwhelming the soundstage, the additional subwoofer seemed to complement it.
In fact, I believe the second W7 substantially improves the overall Sound Suite experience. Comparing the system with a single subwoofer against the dual-subwoofer configuration while watching Top Gun: Maverick really demonstrated the difference. The added depth and dynamic range were dramatic. It felt as though the soundbar and front and rear speakers had more room to focus on their respective channels, contributing to a more balanced and immersive listening experience. The Dolby Atmos overhead effects also became much more apparent and distinct. Sound placement felt more deliberate, creating a greater sense of space and movement throughout the room. I became more drawn connected to the action.
Picture and Sound Settings Matter
The listening experience can change considerably depending on the sound settings, number of speakers, and speaker placement. I found that the AI Upmix and AI Sound Pro+ settings performed much better with a complete, balanced system, particularly with the addition of dual subwoofers. The Standard setting seemed to perform better with content that doesn’t take advantage of multiple audio channels. I noticed that I frequently change the settings on both my television and home theater system depending on the content I’m watching to get the best experience. Fortunately, the system remembers the previous settings for different content and picture modes. However, I haven’t found a universal setting that works equally well across all types of content.
Setup Can Be Challenging and Documentation Is Limited
Setup is generally straightforward, particularly if you have experience with the Dolby Atmos FlexConnect system and LG’s ThinQ app. As with any new device, firmware updates are required when initially setting up the system, but the app doesn’t provide an option to manually initiate or force an update. One of my subwoofers was stuck on an earlier firmware version and wouldn’t update while in standby, regardless of what I tried. It eventually corrected itself after several days. Unfortunately, I’ve experienced similar issues in the past, where one component of the Sound Suite system remained on an older firmware version while the others had already updated. It’s disappointing that there isn’t a separate firmware download and installation process.
There is also some room for improvement in the setup instructions and documentation. Connecting the subwoofer to the Dolby Atmos FlexConnect system isn’t particularly intuitive, as the process differs from connecting the soundbar or M7 speakers. While the information is documented online, I would have preferred clearer instructions included with the devices themselves.
Final Thoughts
All that said, the LG Sound Suite is an amazing technological achievement, and I’m extremely happy with it. Adding a second W7 has made an already capable home theater system noticeably more dynamic and immersive. Despite a few software and setup frustrations, the flexibility of the system and the quality of the listening experience have made it a worthwhile investment.