Tomasz Wadowski
If you were counting on full support for surround sound in the new LG TVs from 2025, we unfortunately 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. He confirmed this information based on the technical data (EDID), and everything indicates that this applies to the entire series of this year – both OLED and LCD.
Why DTS:X?
In short: if you use a home theater, 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, now everything is back to square one – LG is focusing solely on Dolby formats (Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, etc.).
What about soundbars?
Things get a bit more interesting here. It looks like LG soundbars will still support DTS:X – so if you're using an external audio system, not everything is lost. You just need to connect the sound source (e.g., a console or a Blu-ray player) directly to the soundbar or receiver, and not to the television – because it will no longer pass the DTS audio through.
A small step back… and hope for the future?
It's hard not to get the impression that this is a step back, especially since rivals – like Samsung – have already gone down the same path before. The reason? Probably licensing issues that manufacturers are trying to circumvent. On the other hand, there is also a glimmer of 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 not only. 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 TV, it's worth reaching for the 2024 models, before they disappear from stores – this usually happens around the fall. The models we tested, LG C4 and G4, still support DTS and may be a better choice for home theater fans.
Source: Vincent Teoh, flatpanelshd.com
