Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini Review
First “Max,” then “Plus,” now “Mini” – Sennheiser expands its soundbar portfolio with an even smaller model, making a statement in the popular compact class.
By Klaus Laumann
The first soundbar that Sennheiser launched in 2019 had the outward charm of a laboratory system. The Ambeo Soundbar, which has since been given the suffix “Max,” is a hefty soundbar weighing nearly 20 kilograms. The nine equally sized, circular sound outlets that stand out under the fabric front cover, and the wired calibration microphone that must be set up at the listening position, still make the whole system look like a research lab setup even today.
In terms of sound, however, the heavily equipped soundbar is beyond reproach and achieves a lower limit frequency of 33 Hz and a record-breaking maximum level of 106 dB without support from an external subwoofer. Added to this is the truly outstanding spatial 3D reproduction for object-based audio formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and MPEG-H, which Sennheiser developed and optimized back then in cooperation with the audio experts from the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits in Erlangen.
The sonic foundation was thus laid, and the corresponding expertise was built up; now it just had to become more living-room-friendly. Ultimately, Sennheiser decided on a classic two-part soundbar system with a slim main unit and an optionally pairable subwoofer. However, they did not want to completely abandon the one-body concept that they had favored from the beginning with the 126-centimeter wide and 12-centimeter high “Max.”
In 2022, Sennheiser presented the 105-centimeter wide and just under 8-centimeter high Ambeo Soundbar Plus, which also delivers respectable sound performance solo with a lower limit frequency of 70 Hz and a calculated maximum level of 91 dB. For cinema-worthy bass performance, however, it can be complemented by the “Ambeo Sub,” which pushes the lower limit frequency down to an extraordinary 26 Hz. It’s unique that up to four subwoofers can be paired with the main unit, allowing even larger rooms to be fully mastered in terms of bass.
The Next Step
Recently, Sennheiser expanded its soundbar family with the even smaller Ambeo Soundbar Mini, which was officially presented again at the IFA in Berlin last year. Technically, the overall concept of the “Plus” was scaled down once more: The “Mini” is significantly more compact at 70 centimeters wide and is equipped with only six instead of nine drivers. This means it lacks a dedicated center and explicit height channels. The soundbar does have two upward-firing drivers, but as with the “Plus,” these are merely two 4-inch woofers responsible for the bass range. The flanking tweeters of the larger model are not present. Corresponding to the reduced equipment, the total power of the integrated Class-D amplifiers has also decreased from 400 to 250 watts, and the connectivity options have been pared down to the absolute minimum.
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However, the price has also nearly halved. While Sennheiser calls for a hefty $1,650 for the “Plus,” the “Mini” is already available for $. Specifically, the heart of the system—a high-performance audio processor with four cores and 1.8 GHz clock speed—is the same. In other words, in terms of functionality, the “Mini” is in no way inferior to the “Plus.” This applies to the enormously extensive app and the numerous wireless playback options via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, as well as the sophisticated automatic calibration, which is an important cornerstone for the truly outstanding 3D reproduction. Unlike the “Max,” the “Plus” and “Mini” no longer require an external microphone for calibration but use an integrated array to very precisely analyze the spatial conditions.
Compact Sound Wonder
The measurement results allow the technical differences between the “Plus” and “Mini” to be quantified fairly precisely. Thanks to a limiter that works very strictly, especially in the bass, the “Mini” achieves a calculated maximum level of about 90 dB, thus playing in a similar league as the “Plus.” However, concessions must be made in terms of low-frequency response. The “Mini” drops off significantly in the bass from 100 Hz, so the lower limit frequency is a good 30 Hz higher than that of the “Plus.” Here, it is all the more worthwhile to resort to the optional Ambeo Sub.
In the listening test, however, it became apparent that the “Mini” can push quite powerfully even without a subwoofer. The small soundbar subjectively plays much deeper than the measured values suggest—which suggests a dip into the psychoacoustic toolbox that seemed almost somewhat inappropriate for music playback. For this, the “Mini” mastered action hits like “The Expendables 3” with flying colors, even if it had to struggle a bit in places. It nicely highlighted the 3D effects; however, the entire soundscape is a bit less sharp due to the reduced equipment compared to the “Plus”—but: In this size class, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something better!
Many Options, Few Cables
With the compact Ambeo Soundbar Mini, Sennheiser dispenses with any ballast and offers only the most essential connection options with a single HDMI eARC port and a USB charging socket. For typical use as a 3D-capable TV sound system, you don’t need more. In contrast, the options for wireless music playback from a smartphone are varied: In addition to Bluetooth, the Ambeo Soundbar Mini supports Chromecast and AirPlay, as well as Spotify and TIDAL Connect.
Specs
SENNHEISER AMBEO SOUNDBAR MINI
www.sennheiser-hearing.com
Warranty: 2 years
Dimensions (W × H × D): 70 × 10 × 6.5 centimeters
Weight: 3.3 kg
Colors: Anthracite
Operating principles: 4.2, simulated 3D effects
Room adaptation: Automatic calibration
Special features: Very extensive app
Sennheiser’s “Smart Control” app is not only visually appealing but also offers a wealth of functions and settings—even down to the brightness of the illuminated Ambeo logo on the front. Changes in sound settings are implemented quickly. This makes selecting the optimal sound program much easier, for example.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini Performance Report
Frequency response in neutral sound setting, without calibration and Ambeo effect (above): tonally balanced, reduced level below 200 Hz in favor of cleanliness at elevated volumes. The steep drop above 15 kHz is due to the Bluetooth AAC codec. When measuring in free-field conditions, cancellations occur due to the arrangement of the drivers that are angle-dependent. When operating the soundbar against a boundary surface, as in the middle measurement, the mids are reproduced cleanly.
The diagram also shows the distortion relative to the signal: Even at maximum volume (approximately 100 dB SPL), the soundbar distorts hardly at all thanks to a well-functioning limiter. When used with the optional Ambeo Subwoofer, the maximum volume in the bass increases from 90 to 95 dB SPL, while the lower limit frequency extends by a full two octaves: Limit frequency 111/105 Hz (-3/-6 dB), with sub 29/26 Hz (-3/-6 dB). The active bass thus doesn’t play particularly distortion-free and loud but does play deep. Power consumption (standby/operation/with subwoofer): 0.4 W / 4 W / 18 W.
Verdict
Sennheiser demonstrates how to cleverly scale a good concept. The “Mini” perfectly rounds off the Ambeo soundbar family from below and is among the best 3D soundbars in the compact class currently available.
PROS / CONS
Very good 3D sound
Up to four subwoofers can be connected
Sony 360 RA/MPEG-H support
Limited low-frequency response when used alone
Sound tuning more suited for cinema
RATING
Sound Quality 8.4
Features: Outstanding Operation: Outstanding
Build Quality: Very good
AUDIO BENCHMARK
SOUND RATING 8.4 POINTS
PRICE/PERFORMANCE VERY GOOD
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