Focal Mu-So Hekla Soundbar Review: Dolby Atmos With 1 Speaker

I looked Avatar: Fire and Ash using the Fandango at Home app, and in one scene there is an alarm chime during an attack sequence that fills the room. A main character is running out of oxygen and you can hear the warning beeps moving from the side to the center. Even when I looked Crime 101 using the Amazon Prime app, the buzzing synths and pounding drums sounded ultra-realistic, even compared to my own floor-standing speakers. So far, so good, but I’ll be curious to get my hands on the LG Sound Suite speakers, as they’re the first to support Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, which lets you place speakers anywhere. With the soundbar, sub, front and rear speakers, the LG system could be a top choice for its unique functionality, just as the Mu-so Hekla is for its one-piece configuration.

For movies, the Mu-so Hekla could even replace an AV receiver if you’re limited on space. I hate running speaker cables everywhere, so a standalone speaker has some appeal. However, when testing side-by-side, a full multi-speaker setup sounds more like a movie theater.

Games, news, sports and everything in between

Using the DirecTV streaming app, I watched a hockey game, a newscast, and several TV shows. During the NHL game, I could hear the announcers even over the crowd noise and horns blaring. A David Muir newscast on ABC was also clear and distinct. I was worried that the Hekla’s full-throttle bass would overwhelm these broadcasts, but it was more subdued and made the main center vocals sound clearer.

For games, I felt Forza Horizon 5 wasn’t as compelling for surround sound as movies and shows. You’d expect to hear cars passing by zooming in on the side and rear channels through the audio drivers, but I didn’t feel like I was being transported to the racetrack. My current gaming obsession, Crimson Desertdidn’t blow me away with the surround sound either, although this game’s epic score sounded much better than the Sony Bravia Theater System 6 soundbar, especially at full volume.

However, 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, that’s the main takeaway here: the Mu-so Hekla soundbar is my top choice for Atmos movies and albums as a standalone speaker. The Cambridge Audio Evo One is a best standalone speaker for music. If you add multiple speakers and a sub 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 short on space or want the best Atmos experience possible from a single speaker, the Mu-so Hekla is the best option.

Please note that this soundbar is currently only available from Focal resellers; you may be able to order it over the phone, but it’s best to visit a local showroom and listen for yourself.