SENNHEISER AMBEO SOUNDBAR PLUS Review
The Sennheiser Ambeo Plus delivers a powerful and immersive sound experience in a compact design, making it a versatile choice for modern home entertainment setups.
Introduction
The Sennheiser Ambeo Max (SB01) has long been a top contender in our internal soundbar rankings. The new Ambeo Plus (SB02) does not replace this high-end model but instead offers a more compact and affordable alternative.
Design and Setup
While the Ambeo Max is powerful, it is also bulky. The Ambeo Plus, with its reduced height, integrates seamlessly with many modern flat-screen TVs without requiring elevated wall mounts. Its understated design fits effortlessly into any living room. The box includes a remote, an HDMI cable, and a long power cable, though the wall mount is sold separately.
Connectivity
The Ambeo Plus features two HDMI inputs capable of passing Dolby Vision and HDR10+ signals. Movie enthusiasts can enjoy Dolby Atmos and DTSprocessing when the source is connected directly to the soundbar. However, if you rely on your TV’s eARC for audio, ensure it supports all required formats. Gamers should note that while 120Hz signals are supported in Full-HD, 4K is limited to 60Hz, and HDMI 2.1 features like VRR and ALLM are not available.
User Experience
The remote provided with the Ambeo Plus is similar to the Ambeo Max but feels less premium. There’s no display like on the Ambeo Max; instead, an LED on top indicates the operational status and audio format. The Sennheiser app offers a more comprehensive control experience, including volume adjustments and sound optimization. Audio calibration is done using four integrated microphones instead of a separate one, like on the Ambeo Max.
Features
The Ambeo Plus boasts modern processors, adding new features such as adaptive sound settings, voice enhancement, and center channel adjustments for better speech clarity at low volumes. However, its dynamic range optimization is less effective than the Ambeo Max, requiring manual volume adjustments between different audio formats.
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Sound Quality
The sound tuning of the Ambeo Plus deserves praise. It delivers natural and consistent surround effects thanks to uniform speaker drivers. The Ambeo mode enhances spatial depth impressively. While the Ambeo Plus lacks the raw power and spatiality of the Ambeo Max, it provides a balanced and immersive experience, especially when paired with up to four Ambeo Subwoofers for full-frequency movie playback. The soundbar’s bass management ensures it doesn’t distort at high volumes, though a subwoofer is recommended for maximum performance.
AV Info
| PRODUCT: | Premium immersive audio soundbar with optional subwoofer |
| POSITION: | New baby brother for the original Ambeo Soundbar |
| PEERS: | Devialet Dione; Samsung Q990C |
SPECIFICATIONS
- Design: Soundbar with 9 speakers in 7.1.4 configuration (7 mid-high drivers for front, center, surround, and height channels, 2 low-frequency drivers)
- Power Consumption: 7 – 60 Watts
- Connections: 2 x HDMI-in (4K 60 Hz HDR), 1 x eARC-TV-out, 1 x digital optical audio, 1 x analog stereo, 1 x network, 1 x subwoofer output, 1 x USB
- Gaming Functions: 4K HDR (including Dolby Vision) at 60 Hz, Full-HD at 120 Hz
- Audio Calibration: Automatic sound calibration using built-in microphones, manual adjustments for center channel and EQ
- Operation: 7s startup from standby, 30s cold start, LED indicators for source and status, remote control, Sennheiser smartphone app for full functionality, manual lip-sync adjustment
- Sound Impression: Excellent peak handling and dynamic range, automatic bass reduction at high volumes to prevent distortion, natural sound with consistent driver performance, effective adaptive sound setting, impressive 3D audio effects, three Ambeo processing intensity levels, practical speech enhancement, and center channel boost, subwoofer setting impacts soundbar bass response
Supported Formats
- HDR and Audio: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, DTS, DTS, multi-channel PCM, Bluetooth audio, Airplay, Chromecast, Spotify, Tidal
Verdict
Compared to the Ambeo Max, the Ambeo Plus is smaller and lighter, making it a good choice for those who find the Max too bulky. It delivers excellent sound quality and a sophisticated design, though at a high price point. If you prefer a sleeker setup without the clutter of additional speakers, the Ambeo Plus is a solid option.
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Sennheiser Ambeo Sound Plus & Ambeo Sub: Full Review
I review the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus and Ambeo Sub. Get a snack and settle in. Business: ...
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