Focal’s new Sib Evo speakers make it easy to dive into Dolby Atmos

By Brendan Hesse Published July 11, 2017

Since it first hit the scene a few years back, Dolby Atmos (and its counterpart DTS:X) has revolutionized surround sound, both in the theater and in the home. Atmos-enabled A/V receivers are popping up everywhere, so it’s no wonder companies are pushing Atmos-enabled speakers more and more. And while it’s difficult to build an entry-level setup without draining your bank account or moving the furniture, Focal’s new Sib Evo Dolby Atmos speakers aim to change that.

Focal’s all-new lineup includes two speaker models and a subwoofer, which combine to create a slim surround sound setup for your Atmos receiver in either a traditional 5.1 configuration, or a Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 configuration with overhead sound channels for full immersion.

Recommended Videos

The more affordable of the two satellite speakers, the Sib Evo, is a small, two-way shelf speaker with a bass-reflexive design. The speaker boasts a 5-inch Polyflex woofer and 1-inch silk tweeter, offering a claimed frequency response of 65Hz to 25kHz.

The next step up, the Sib Evo Dolby Atmos speaker, tacks on a 3-inch full-range driver on top, aimed at bouncing sound off the ceiling for Dolby Atmos surround. The Sib Evo Dolby Atmos has been designed with more space for a deeper sound than its Sib Evo sibling, and is positioned as an easy solution to help you build a full Atmos home theater setup, or simply supplement what you’ve already got.

The third and final piece of the Sib Evo line is the Cub Evo subwoofer. The Cub Evo sports an 8-inch driver powered by a 200w Class D amplifier, reaching down to a claimed 35Hz on the low end.

Focal pushes the Evo package for its minuscule profile and easy installation. The speakers connect to amplifiers with push-button terminals, while the Cub Evo subwoofer features standard LFE inputs. The black matte finish of all three models should also make it easy to inconspicuously add the speakers to your home theater.

While we haven’t gone hands-on with the Sib Evo speakers yet, we are interested to see how well they can achieve an Atmos effect at such a small scale.

Focal envisions the Sib Evo line as both a full Dolby Atmos setup, as well as an enhancement for existing setups. Focal is offering a few different packages depending on your needs:

Sib Evo Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 system, black, $1,300. Includes five Sib Evo bookshelf speakers, a Sib Evo-powered subwoofer, two Sib Evo Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers, soft bases, and wall mounts.
Sib Evo 5.1, black, $1,000. Includes five Sib Evo bookshelf speakers, plus a Sib Evo-powered subwoofer, soft bases, and wall mounts.
Sib Evo Dolby Atmos 2.0 system, black, $600. Includes two bookshelf Dolby Atmos speakers with ceiling-directed speakers with soft bases
Sib Evo 2.0, black, $300. Includes two bookshelf speakers with soft bases.
Cub Evo Subwoofer, black, $380.
Pack of two Evo stands, $200.

Each of these packages will be available when the line launches in August. Check out Focal’s page for the Sib Evo for more information, including a list of retailers, as well as our list of the best Dolby Atmos-enabled Blu-ray discs.

Former Staff Writer, Home Theater

Brendan has written about a wide swath of topics, including music, fitness and nutrition, and pop culture, but tech was…

Topics

Audio / Video

TCL’s 2024 Dolby Atmos soundbars have room calibration and start at $180

TCL 2024 S Class S45H soundbar.

After a disappointing showing in 2023, when TCL didn't announce any Dolby Atmos soundbars, the company came roaring back at CES 2024 with an entirely new lineup featuring Dolby Atmos on every model -- including a new 7.1.4 Q Class flagship. At this point, we know a lot more about the two new series (S Class and Q Class), including details on a surprise feature: the S Class now offers automatic room calibration via the TCL Home mobile app -- something was previously only available on the Q Class.

The entry-level S45H comes in at $180, while the top-of-the-line Q85H has been priced at $1,000. The two S Class models are available immediately, while the two Q Class soundbars will be released during the summer, but we don't have exact timing.

Audio / Video

Vizio shrinks the price of a Dolby Atmos soundbar to $99

Vizio QuickFit soundbar mounting system.

If you thought the impending acquisition of Vizio by Walmart might slow Vizio's progress on pumping out new products, think again. The company has just released its 2024 lineup of soundbars, all of which include Dolby Atmos and DTS:X processing. They also possess a new mounting system that lets them quickly and easily attach to the bottom of select Vizio TVs. But perhaps the most remarkable aspect is the price. The collection of speakers starts at just $99 -- the first time we've seen a Dolby Atmos-capable soundbar sell for less than $100.

Some of the new Vizio soundbars will be available on the company's website starting May 13, however, the full lineup will roll out gradually over the coming months, with some models not appearing until the fall.

Audio / Video

Pioneer’s latest budget-friendly Dolby Atmos AV receivers start at $379

Pioneer VSX-535 AV receiver.

Pioneer has announced two new AV receivers that offer Dolby Atmos and IMAX Enhanced support at budget-friendly prices. The VSX-535, is an 8K, 5.2-channel model that sells for $379, and the VSX-835, is an 8K, 7.2-channel receiver priced at $499. Both models are available starting March 6 at pioneerhomeusa.com and select retailers.

The 535 and 835 feature 4K/120 and 8K/60 compatibility via their four HDMI 2.1a (and HDCP 2.3) inputs, plus ARC/eARC compatibility via their single HDMI output. These ports can also passthrough all major flavors of HDR, including HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG. Gamers will appreciate their support of 2.1a features like variable refresh rate (VRR), quick frame transport (QFT), auto low-latency mode (ALLM), and source-based tone mapping (SBTM).