Design
The Focal Dimension soundbar is made in a durable metal casing with a depth of 65 mm. The model uses five identical ultra-flat speakers located on the front panel of the device, where each outer pair of speakers is loaded onto a bass reflex port located at the end of the case. These are 10cm paper cone speakers driven by a CPU to deliver full 5.1 channel sound.
Soundbar Focal Dimension
The virtual sound space modeling algorithm does not use signal reflected from the walls, which means the sound bar is able to provide accurate surround sound regardless of the size and shape of the room. Nevertheless, there are four three-position switches on the rear panel for the most accurate adjustment of the device to the conditions of its use: setting the distance to the listener (<2 m, 2-4 m, >4 m), the position of the soundbar itself (on the wall, on the bedside table, on a stand), room muting (strong, medium, weak), presence of a subwoofer (no, Dimension subwoofer, standard subwoofer with line input).
Note that specifically for this soundbar, a passive Dimension subwoofer is additionally sold, for which the device has a separate high-level output. The acoustics are equipped with a universal LFO output for connecting any standard active subwoofer. However, according to the manufacturer, the soundbar itself does a good job of reproducing bass. Fortunately, there is a fairly powerful 320-W amplifier on board for 6 channels (450 W per pulse).
Focal Dimension soundbar review: Problem solving
Taking into account the experience of competitors and modern trends in Hi-Fi, the goal from the very beginning was to make the soundbar shallow, so that it would look good when placed on a TV wall, but at the same time be self-sufficient in terms of reproducing the low-frequency range (see sidebar). It should also be equipped with HDMI with an audio return channel, support for modern surround sound formats and digital audio processing (see sidebar).
What is inside
Focal Dimension is equipped with five identical broadband (60 Hz–20 kHz) 10 cm long-throw drivers with a depth of only 3.6 cm. Their radiation is much less directional than traditional ones, due to the special configuration of the diffusers. They were developed for car audio and patented back in 2005. Unlike most other approaches to creating surround sound, which involve reflections from walls, Focal decided to create a diffusion lens effect - by adjusting the phases and delays of signals from the four sides using the built-in DSP speakers. In addition, they, being loaded onto a cavity running in the housing behind them and having outlets on the sides (which forms a bass reflex), are responsible for the low-frequency range. The central speaker is tasked with delivering dialogue; it has its own closed-type acoustic design.
The soundbar has six sound reinforcement channels: for each of the dynamic heads and for the Dimension Sub passive subwoofer.
And here is the first Focal soundbar in our listening room. The body, made of aluminum, looks strong and reliable; The speakers are barely visible behind the non-removable protective mesh. It is tilted back, so for stability (in the absence of a Dimension Sub) we attach the supplied supports to it (there is also a wall mount). Having connected the TV and Blu-ray player, as well as clicking the toggle switches on the back, following the prompts printed next to them, we begin to watch the movie.
The soundtrack of the film "Avatar", which we have already thoroughly studied with the help of very solid technology, is not perceived as greatly cut down. The acoustic space is quite voluminous; it extends far beyond the side boundaries of the soundbar, and also moves forward, capturing the viewer in its orbit. Of course, there is no sound coming from the rear, but this does not radically reduce the pleasure of watching, although for the sake of such high-budget blockbusters, it is still sometimes worth going to the cinema to fully enjoy their effects. We note a slightly excessive brightness - the noise of the waterfall is harsh; over time, after prolonged heating, it may decrease.
On the right end of the Dimension is a touchscreen control panel that becomes visible as you approach it. With its help, but you can also use the remote control, we experimented with adjusting the bass. If you increase it too much, the middle becomes less convex, which affects the quality of dialogue transmission.
We connected our active subwoofer to the soundbar, and the components worked together perfectly: the sound adds volume, the stage increases. Detail and elaboration are enhanced: the difference between the atmosphere of a spaceship and the mountainous environment in the film Prometheus becomes much more sensitive. The presentation of voice-over music is made more natural and soft, and conversations benefit.
The Focal Dimension is a well-built and intelligently equipped soundbar with rich, detailed and punchy sound. Its small thickness makes it easier to place, and it looks very solid. We advise you to take a closer look.
Price: $1400
Pros: Solid construction; metal body with excellent finish; volumetric, rich, sophisticated sound; clear dialogues; Possibility of retrofitting with a subwoofer and Bluetooth receiver
Cons: Sound is bright
Verdict: Focal managed to say its word, and it is very significant. This soundbar will overcome all obstacles on the way to quality sound for your TV
The language of numbers
- Amplifier power: 450 W for 6 channels
- Frequency range: 50 Hz–25 kHz
- Inputs: 2 HDMI, digital optical, 3.5mm analog
- Outputs: Dimension Sub, Low Level to Sub
- Dimensions (H×W×D):116×12×12 cm (on a stand); 116×7×15 cm (on the wall)
- Weight:5.5kg
Connection
The set of inputs and outputs is quite standard for this class of devices: a separate HDMI output for a TV with support for ARC and CEC, an HDMI input for any household appliance such as a DVD player, an optical input for a TV (without ARC support) or any audio player, a linear input mini-jack format for mobile devices. For those who like to watch movies with multi-channel sound, there are Dolby Digital and DTS decoders.
A small backlit touch panel allows you to turn on the device, select a sound source and control the volume. The bass reflex horns are located at the ends of the Focal Dimension body. Most of the front panel is covered with a metal grille with fabric trim.
The designers did not pay attention to features that are sometimes found in soundbars: sound playback via Bluetooth and a USB port with a media file player. The Focal-JMlab product range includes a universal Bluetooth receiver that can be used with any audio equipment that has a line input, and therefore with our soundbar.
You can control Dimension using touch buttons directly on the device body, through CEC commands using the TV remote control, as well as your own small remote control.
Focal began to develop a new direction for itself relatively recently. Previously, the range of home theater equipment included only 5.1 sets with separate acoustics. Dimension is the first full-featured soundbar in the company's lineup. It has five channels assembled into a single housing, six amplifiers (an additional one for the subbuffer), a DSP processor, Dolby Digital and DTS decoders.
Every element of the design is high-tech: the body, speakers and even the grill
The design is based on five 10mm drivers with flat paper cones, developed by Focal engineers specifically for this model. All five speakers are located on the front panel of the soundbar and are directed towards the listener. A metal grill with small round holes, covered with fabric, is molded in the places where the emitters are installed and helps distribute sound waves more evenly. At the ends of the soundbar there are bass reflex ports for the left and right pairs of speakers.
The Dimension soundbar uses direct radiation and does not use side
walls, so the size and shape of the room does not matter.
The subwoofer can be connected in a variety of ways. The soundbar is compatible with subwoofers from any manufacturer connected via line-in, and also supports Focal branded wireless subwoofers. There is also Dimension's own subwoofer, the geometry of which is designed in such a way that, together with the soundbar, it turns into a flat TV stand. And if none of the options suits you, you can switch the soundbar to operating mode without a subwoofer. The presence and type of subwoofer is selected using a mechanical switch. The same switches control the DSP processor, which adapts the sound to the operating conditions of the soundbar.
With a signature subwoofer, the Dimension soundbar turns
into a TV stand.
Without a signature subwoofer, the Focal Dimension can be hung on the wall or placed on a special stand in front of the TV. In this case, in the first case, the radiation will be directed strictly forward, and in the second - at a slight angle from bottom to top. The soundbar's 115cm length makes it compatible with popular TV sizes, ranging from approximately 42 to 55 inches.
A 55-inch TV is an ideal partner
in terms of size.
Connection includes an HDMI input and output for pass-through connection to the TV, a digital optical input and an analog AUX input on a 3.5 mm jack.
In addition, the Focal Dimension is equipped with two subwoofer outputs: an amplified one for connecting the Dimension's own passive subwoofer and a low-level one for connecting active subwoofers. The selection of inputs and volume control is carried out using the remote control or touch panel located on the right side of the facade. When connected to a TV, you can use the CEC protocol to adjust the volume using the TV's remote control. Traditionally for Focal, the soundbar combines recognizable French design and high sound quality. It is quite effective in cinema and can be used for background music in a room. Impression
The appearance of the soundbar has an unusual design. Most often, manufacturers strive to simplify devices of this kind, making them as compact and inconspicuous as possible. Dimension attracts attention and claims to become one of the noticeable elements of the interior. The body of the soundbar is made of metal, so it is quite heavy and durable. For sound this is a definite plus.
The location and marking of the controls are not convenient,
but you will only have to use them once.
Soundbars were initially created as the simplest solutions that did not require settings and installation skills, but if you want to get high-quality sound, you will still have to make some configuration manipulations. During the installation of Focal Dimension, using switches, you need to set the distance to the listener, one of three degrees of acoustic treatment of the room, the method of placing the soundbar in the room, the presence and type of subwoofer. All adjustments are discrete, but there are quite a few combinations, which allows you to successfully fit the sound bar into different types of rooms. When you switch the distance control, you can clearly feel the sound focus point moving. The room mute control makes the sound either drier or saturates it with additional after-sounds. The position control mainly corrects the low-frequency response. The setup procedure is one-time, so you can forgive the developers for the fact that all the positions of the regulators are indicated by numbers, and their values must be checked with adjacent diagrams.
For each installation method, the soundbar has a special mount
The placement of the soundbar in the room may vary. When installed on stands in front of the TV or in a cabinet underneath it, the soundbar is tilted so that the radiation axis is directed slightly upward. When mounted on a wall, the soundbar's radiation is directed straight forward.
Touch buttons are used for control
The difficult-to-set-up soundbar turned out to be extremely easy to operate. When working with a TV, the CEC protocol is activated, so the volume can be adjusted from the TV remote control. The Dimension audio processor is enabled by default and has no adjustments. The soundbar itself decodes Dolby Digital and DTS, and if a stereo signal is input, it gives it some degree of volume and depth. Soundtracks in 5.1 format have good volume development; rear effects appear behind the listener, although they do not have absolutely precise localization. When processing stereo, the processor slightly attenuates the sound of mid frequencies, thus achieving depth in the scene. In music, this is felt as a change in tonal balance.
Using a sound bar with a subwoofer as a TV stand
looks like the optimal solution.
The total power of the built-in amplifiers is 320 W in normal operation and 450 in peak mode, which gives the Dimension sound bar a solid volume reserve and the ability to handle dynamic peaks without loss. This is fully confirmed by practice. The most effective and powerful moments of the films were performed authentically and convincingly. In general, the sound of the soundbar is surprisingly detailed, clean, with a comfortable, at times even musical, midrange, fast and clear bass, and good development of the high-frequency range. The integrity and naturalness of the sound is largely explained by the fact that the design uses broadband drivers. At the same time, it is surprising how effective the drivers are - they transmit enough air at the upper frequencies and provide confident, dense midbass when the sound bar is operating without the support of a subwoofer.
The goal of any soundbar is to make the cinema compact and convenient.
Dimension copes with this quite well.
The sound character is best suited for modern cinema; it is also worth noting that Dimension works effectively at various volume levels. You can turn it on very quietly or, conversely, close to the limit of capabilities - in both cases the sound will retain intelligibility and clarity.
Source:
www.avreport.ru
Possibilities
From the functionality, I will note three power modes: working, eco mode and standby. Eco mode is characterized by constant monitoring of the presence of a signal at the inputs and CEC commands. When a signal or CEC command is received to turn on, the device goes into operating mode with the corresponding input selected. There is volume control and muting, as well as separate adjustment of the bass level. Night mode will reduce peak volume and narrow the dynamic range of the soundtrack, but only for a Dolby Digital signal. The ability to synchronize audio and video has not been forgotten. For convenience, the backlight of the control panel on the device body can be turned off. It is equipped with a proximity sensor and begins to glow if you move your hand over it.
Focal Dimension soundbar with grill removed
The model can be placed on a bedside table or on the wall. For the first option, removable legs are provided that are installed on the back side of the soundbar body. For the second option, a metal wall bracket is included. All inputs and outputs of the device are located in a fairly large niche and are directed to the side so as not to increase the thickness of the wall mount. An external source is used to power the soundbar.
Character
The sound character of the soundbar is quite unusual. The dynamics of the presentation of musical material are emotional and lively. At the same time, the timbres of the instruments are somewhat transformed, acquiring a kind of contrast and a special flavor. The non-switching processor creates a spacious surround stage even from a simple stereo signal. True, it is sometimes difficult to determine the position of a particular instrument on this stage. Good detailing and, as a result, clearly visible spatial effects (reverberation) add additional volume.
To reduce the thickness of the Focal Dimension case, all connectors are placed to the side, in a niche, and labeled in detail. The four switches for setting up the soundbar are also clearly labeled so you don't have to read the manual
The frequency range is presented with some dominance of bass and high frequencies. The mids are pushed into the background, but not too far and do not disappear. The upper register is very sonorous, bright and even harsh at times. I had to calm down his ardor by switching the soundbar to unmuffled room mode.
The bass is not too deep, but dense and fast and slightly divorced from the general musical context. All this together forms a very complex and unique sound bouquet, which is presented in a very interesting and cheerful way. It is worth noting that the device has a good volume reserve. It plays quite adequately at low volumes, and, curiously enough, it is at this level that the frequency balance is even.
