Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus Review

Verdict

Simpler to stay with than its predecessor, the second technology Sennheiser Ambeo Plus soundbar is a terrific choice for film followers and music lovers. However avid gamers may need to look elsewhere…

Introduction

The unique Sennheiser Ambeo redefined what a soundbar might ship when it got here to the house cinema expertise. Delivering astonishingly potent immersive audio, with best-in-class readability and dynamics, it had few friends. Sadly, it was additionally big, costly and (let’s be trustworthy), moderately ugly.

The Ambeo Soundbar Plus is none of these issues. It takes Sennheiser’s superior Ambeo publish processing, which makes use of virtualisation know-how developed with Fraunhofer, and repackages it in a much more elegant enclosure, at a barely extra reasonably priced (though nonetheless toppy) value. 

However can this newest iteration ship the identical sonic items? 

Design

• 9 audio system
• Black cloth grille
• 3 x HDMI inputs

Though smaller than its predecessor, now named the Ambeo Max, that is nonetheless a considerable soundbar that requires some consideration in relation to placement. At 1051 mm broad, it’s match with 65-inch and bigger screens.  

Construct high quality and end is great, with a black cloth wraparound grille and perforated prime plate, which additionally accommodates contact delicate controls for quantity, Bluetooth pairing and enter choice.   

The system is described as 7.1.4. So you understand what you’re listening to, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X logos gentle up. There’s additionally an illuminated Ambeo emblem, which fortunately, isn’t too distracting.

At work are seven 50mm aluminium cone full vary drivers, organized entrance, facet and prime, plus two four-inch cone woofers for bass. In whole, there’s 400W whole amplification driving this ensemble. 

Connectivity includes three HDMI ports, considered one of which is designated eARC. There’s additionally an optical digital audio enter, USB port, a pair of analogue stereo phono inputs and Ethernet to help Wi-Fi, in addition to a subwoofer pre-out, for system enlargement, if required.

Nevertheless, there’s no 4K/120Hz pass-through on both of the bar’s HDMI inputs. So whereas it’s high-quality for a Blu-ray participant or TV streaming field, homeowners of a PS5 or Xbox collection X/S might want to join on to their TV if they need excessive body charge gaming.

Options

• 360 Actuality Audio Assist
• Works with Alexa and Chromecast
• Built-in calibration microphones

Immersive audio format compatibility is common. Along with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the Ambeo Soundbar Plus is 360 Actuality Audio and MPEG-H appropriate. 

There’s no separate microphone equipped to calibrate the bar. As an alternative, 4 built-in far-field mics optimise the system on your listening pleasure, achieved with a brief, energetic burst of chirps and whistles. One last, dramatic whoosh, and also you’re good to go.

Along with Bluetooth and Apple AirPlay 2, the system will also be built-in with Amazon Alexa and has Google Chromecast in-built. System management is offered through a partnering app.

Sound High quality

• Loads of bass
• Tall and broad efficiency
• Good with stereo music

Dynamic, musical, and element wealthy, the Ambeo Plus boasts lots of the attributes of the Ambeo Max.  

The enclosure could also be comparatively compact, however there’s no scarcity of deep bass. If in case you have the house and inclination, the Ambeo subwoofer, which is a beauty cloth match, is an non-obligatory additional.

What units Sennheiser’s Ambeo processing aside from its rivals has been the accuracy of its digital soundstage, and that continues to be true with the Ambeo Soundbar Plus.

It does a implausible job in relation to projecting width and top. There’s a tangible sense of left, centre, proper panning, and upward journey.  

When the Spinosaurus assaults Sam Neil within the river in Jurassic Park 3 (Blu-ray, DTS:X), I felt that my complete room was taking a sympathetic dunking. A Dolby check sequence of an Atmos rain bathe proves equally convincing, with the deluge seemingly coming from overhead.

However the soundstage isn’t 360 levels. There’s no audio coming from the rear, be it mirrored or digital. That is an nearly inevitable trait with soundbars except they’re paired with (wi-fi) bodily encompass audio system. 

However it doesn’t cease the system sounding cinematic.

The Ambeo Plus relishes motion sequences involving copious gunfights and explosions, like these within the Jennifer Lopez thriller The Mom (Netflix, Dolby Atmos). When the FBI secure home is attacked early on, the Ambeo Plus delineates each gun retort and ricochet of the following firefight. Its popcorn presentation is quick and dynamic. 

Whereas there’s an inevitable give attention to object-based sound mixes, the Ambeo Plus does a stable job with flat 5.1. Upsampled by the Ambeo algorithm, Dolby Digital can provide a comparable listening expertise, albeit with out the additional depth you get from Atmos and DTS:X.

There’s additionally a wide range of sound modes to experiment with: Adaptive, Music, Film, Information, Impartial and Sports activities modes. A Voice Enhancement mode provides a delicate stage of emphasis to dialogue, with out making it too shrill. Adaptive was my widespread go-to.

It’s an incredible celebration speaker too. The soundbar has the width to ship convincing stereo music and has the nuance and snap for a enjoyable hear. The presentation is corresponding to a pair of bookshelf audio system, with loads of treble element and a melodious mid-range.

Finally, the most effective of each worlds is to hearken to Dolby Atmos music. The Ambeo Plus takes the immersive ball and runs with it, elevating audio from stereo to stadium.

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