Mu-So Hekla Focal Speakers Review: Dolby Atmos with one subwoofer

I watched Avatar: Fire and Ashes Using the Fandango at Home app, in one scene, there is an alarm sound during an attack sequence that fills the room. The main character is running out of oxygen, and you can hear the beeps moving from the side to the center. Even when I watched Crime 101 Using the Amazon Prime app, musical instruments and drumming sounded very realistic, even compared to floor-standing speakers. So far so good, but I’d be curious to get my hands on it LG Sound Suite speakersbecause they are the first to support Dolby Atmos FlexConnect technology, which allows you to place the speakers anywhere. With subwoofers, front and rear speakers, the LG system could be a top pick for its unique features, just as the Mu-so Hekla is for its single-box setup.

For movies, the Mu-so Hekla can replace an AV receiver if you’re limited on space. I hate running speaker wire everywhere, so a standalone speaker has a certain appeal. However, in side-by-side testing, the entire multi-speaker setup is more like a movie theater.

Games, news, sports and everything else

Using the DirecTV streaming app, I watched a hockey game, a news broadcast, and several TV shows. During an NHL game, I could hear the announcers even with the crowd noise and blaring horns. David Muir’s ABC news broadcast was also clear and distinctive. I was worried that the Hecla’s full bass might overwhelm those broadcasts, but it was much quieter and made the main center vocals sound clear.

For gaming, I felt Forza Horizon 5 It wasn’t convincing for surround sound like movies and shows. You’d expect to hear cars moving on the side and rear channels thanks to the audio drivers, but it didn’t feel like I was transported to a racetrack. My current obsession with games, The crimson desertI wasn’t blown away by the surround sound, either, though that game’s sweeping, epic score sounded much better than the Sony Bravia Theater System 6’s speakers, especially at full volume.

Movies are designed specifically for Dolby Atmos, so it’s no surprise that the games I tested didn’t create a cocoon of surround sound. In fact, those are the main takeaways here: The Mu-so Hekla is my top choice for movies and Atmos albums as a standalone speaker. The Cambridge Audio Evo One is a standalone speaker that’s better for music. If you add multiple speakers and a subwoofer to the Sonos Arc Ultra, the price is about the same as the Mu-so Hekla, and the Atmos surround sound is similar in overall quality. If you’re limited on space or want the best possible Atmos experience from a single speaker, the Mu-so Hekla is the best choice.

Note that this speaker is currently only available through Focal dealers; You may be able to order it over the phone, but it’s best to visit a local showroom and hear for yourself.