Focal Dimension

Weighty bass output ; Clear detail and exciting tone ; Striking design and superb build quality

Not enough HDMI inputs ; Bluetooth not integrated ; Low-quality remote

Focal’s beautifully built soundbar delivers gobsmacking sound quality, but the single HDMI and optional Bluetooth are disappointing at this price.

The Focal Dimension offers excellent sound, bass response and imaging, but it requires planning to fit into your home theater setup.

Striking design Finessed, exciting sound Impressive bass weight Great with music

Cramped input panel can make things fiddly Cheap remote

Jumping straight in at the deep end with a premium soundbar is a bold move, but Focal’s Dimension delivers the goods in spectacular style.

Well crafted, powerful sound with dynamism and clarity; good Bluetooth music playback; simple to use

Heavy, dominating appearance; low HDMI count; no AirPlay or USB media playback

Soundbars are in right now, providing an easy way to add some quality cinema-style sound to your living room in one easy package, but with so many on offer it's hard to pinpoint the one for you. The Focal Dimension caters for the high-end soundbar...

While we're big fans of the Dimension's top-notch sound quality, it does have a few issues. For starters, the back panel of the soundbar is rather small, packing in only two HDMI ports (one links up to the ARC (Audio Return Channel) on your TV, if you...

The Focal Dimension offers almost unparalleled sound quality, booming bass (even without the subwoofer) and high-end looks, but it’s let down by a severe lack of ports, useless cable management, a cheap remote and an often fiddly touch panel. If you...

While Focal’s Dimension is no substitute for a good multichannel surround system it does a wonderful job of delivering high-fidelity sound in smaller spaces where multiple speakers simply aren’t an option – that goes double if musicality is a critical...

Excellent audio performance with strong bass depth and definition in the highs. Can stream wireless audio with included adapter. Can be expanded with a subwoofer. Bass is adjustable.

Larger than most soundbars. Some design elements feel dated.

If you like the idea of a soundbar in theory, but hate how so many come loaded with surround effects or over-active DSP, the Focal Dimension is a refreshing departure. The trade-off is wireless connectivity not being integrated fully, and a reliance on...

Easy to set up, great sound. Sleek looking soundbar. Sub doubles as a TV stand

Can be pricey. If your TV doesn't support ARC you'll have to get an HDMI hub as well

If you're looking for a home theatre solution without having to purchase a receiver and a bunch of speakers, the Focal Dimension Soundbar and Dimension Sub are a definite contender, especially if you don't have a lot of space.

To put it succinctly, the Focal Dimension is an elegant product with some inelegant design elements. Does this mean I don't recommend it? Not at all--I'm simply trying to make it clear that it's designed for a specific type of setup; and, if you're...