Why won't LG sell the B&O Hi-Fi DAC module for the LG G5 in the U.S.?

Not all of the LG G5 Friends will be making it to the U.S.. The LG Hi-Fi Plus, also known as the Bang & Olufsen DAC module which enhances the audio on the G5, will not be sold in the U.S. market. It’s not just America that is losing a friend either; Korea, Canada and Puerto Rico won’t see the mobile amplifier either.

All mentions of the audio module have been removed from the LG U.S. site for the LG G5 and no longer appear on the LG Friends page either. The packaging for the LG Hi-Fi Plus also confirms the unit won’t be available in the markets mentioned above. So what gives?

We can only assume there has been a hold up getting FCC certification for the module or that there has been a disruption in the supply chain. Either way, if you were planning on ordering an LG G5 specifically so you could enjoy the superior audio the Hi-Fi DAC affords, you might want to hold off a little.

We reached out to LG for clarification and received the following statement:

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While this statement provides some hope that the B&O DAC module will make it to North America eventually, there’s certainly nothing guaranteeing it. Even though it is still possible to order the Hi-Fi Plus internationally, the module’s functionality is determined by the phone’s software, not the module itself. So if the FCC is causing the hold up, it won’t work until certification comes through and the software switch is flipped.

Why do you think the LG Hi-Fi Plus won’t go on sale in the U.S.? Which is the best module?