Tomasz Wadowski
If you were counting on full support for surround sound in the new LG TVs from 2025, unfortunately, we have bad news. As reported by Vincent Teoh from the HDTVTest.co.uk channel on his X profile, this year's models, including the flagship LG G5, do not support the DTS:X format. This information was confirmed based on technical data (EDID), and it appears that this applies to the entire series this year – both OLED and LCD.
Why DTS:X?
In short: if you use a home theatre, stream movies from Disney+, or care about the best possible sound – the lack of DTS:X could be an issue. In the models we tested from 2024, LG offered support for basic DTS, and even for the DTS:X version. Unfortunately, everything is now going back to square one – LG is focusing exclusively on Dolby formats (Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, etc.).
And what about soundbars?
Here it gets a bit more interesting. It looks like LG soundbars will still support DTS:X – so if you're using an external audio system, not all is lost. You just need to connect the audio source (e.g. a console or Blu-ray player) directly to the soundbar or amplifier, rather than to the television – because it won't pass the DTS audio through anymore.
A small step back… and hope for the future?
It's hard not to feel that this is a step back, especially since competitors – like Samsung – have already gone down the same path. The reason? Probably licensing issues that manufacturers are trying to circumvent. On the other hand, there is also a light at the end of the tunnel. Google recently presented a new audio standard called Eclipsa Audio, which worked on LG televisions from 2025 and beyond. This could be the future, but for now – it's just the beginning of the journey.
What to do?
If you care about DTS:X support and are considering buying an LG television, it’s worth going for the models from 2024, before they disappear from stores – this usually happens around autumn. The models we tested, LG C4 and G4, still support DTS and may prove to be a better choice for home cinema enthusiasts.
Source: Vincent Teoh, flatpanelshd.com
