★ *REVIEWING: **bit.ly/35yLQO1**, **amzn.to/3yVH3TN**, **bit.ly/3Do8k4y* ★ *NEED MORE INFO? ✔︎ THE ⬆︎DESCRIPTION⬆︎* ★ *QOTD: What would it take for YOU to consider a soundbar for your system? No, not a secondary system - THE system?* ★ *COMMENT RULES: No outside URLs or outside links. Please be respectful to one another. Violations are automatically deleted.*
Kids... kids change everything. I honestly find it super easy to live with a soundbar system, even as entry level as a our Vizio. The kids get to enjoy movie night, my wife doesn't have to stare at a bunch of ugly black boxes, and I don't have worry about small humans playing with or knocking down equipment. If I really want to listen to music, I get the family all to bed, grab a drink, fire up the Schiit stack and rock out. Is it the same as a feeling 12" paper cone woofers punching you in the chest? No, but it's a lot more accessible more of the time and lets me enjoy my music which is why we do this, for the music.
If it at least had 6.5" drivers, because I feel that's when you start talking about balanced sound... All these 4" and 3" driver speakers are child's play to me... But a soundbar that contains 6.5" drivers now defeats the purpose of being a soundbar now, doesn't it? I guess I'll never switch.
Would only take my ears to choose a soundbar, would not hesitate... However the only thing I would miss with a soundbar is the look of beautiful speakers on beautiful stands, as to me visuals make up 50% of my audio love. It's a personal world we live in!
Several decent reviews from different sources; so I can build an accurate (as possible) picture of how good a soundbar is/can be. Your review of the LG really helped my purchase decision of a soundbar (the JBL I've been asking you to review) because you compare to traditional systems and give us the pros and cons. My system wasn't high end before, and I'm sure would have been the subject of much ridicule from some enthusiasts, as you always say 'i liked it' and it suited me. However I'm so impressed with the JBL 9.1 I just bought I couldn't believe a soundbar could sound this good, and I know it's perhaps not the best on the market but it has changed my media consumption experience considerably and I was afraid that wouldn't be for the better. So glad I pulled the trigger. Thanks both of you for your great work. Love the channel 💞
I owned, and operated a brick and mortar audio/video store for 27 years. You said it... perfectly! You will never get every person to agree. Not only is that in electronics, but life as well. I had a very simple saying to any and all who came in to purchase products. When, at the end of your setup, you plop your butt in the viewing area. After turning everything on, if a giant smile comes across your face, you've chosen correctly! End of story! What a pleasure it was listening and watching your video. Thank you so much. 😁.
Dude, you obviously know what you're talking about, which is great. Your voice, though, that's the magic. Your intonation and inflection make the videos that much better. So many reviewers and tech youtubers just kind of drone on and you lose some of the info just by virtue of being bored or losing that engagement. Keep it up, dude! Just subscribed yesterday and looking forward to upcoming videos!
Hi Andrew, My name is Mike and my wife and I are 55 years old. I have a Yamaha sound bar (with integrated sub in the receiver) hooked up to my family room's LG 47" TV (circa 2012). I realize that audiophiles will laugh at this set up as pretty much "junk". I get that. I know true home theater equipment (from the TV to all the audio components/receivers/amplifyers, etc) are very expensive. My definition of "very expensive" is anything over $2000. I like my sound bar's look and performance so when I saw this video (and this is the very first video I've watched on your channel) I was intrigued. I watched the whole video and I have to say in an 18 min RUclips video you really knocked it out of the park in terms of explaining the pros and cons (and your con of "attractiveness" was not a con for me...I think the AMBEO is a handsome looking sounder) This past year my wife and I discussed future AV equipment/budgeting/family expense managing, etc and we both agreed that we would explore "what's out there in the premium" field in 2021, so just a few months away. Based on this one video that you produced Andrew I am going to dive into exploring this Sennheiser AMBEO opportunity. Over the weeks ahead I'm going to watch all of your RUclips videos so I can learn as much as I can...I really feel comfortable that you are very knowledgeable and someone who is not "set in his ways" where AV "old school" is necessarily still the best in quality. I'm open to a sound bar like the AMBEO and if I can substitute that from all of the traditional home theater equipment which means many speakers around the room, hiding the speaker wire installation, installing ceiling speakers and amplifiers/receivers, etc....if it truly is possible to avoid "all of that" well I for one am intrigued by the AMBEO. I want to thank you Andrew for producing such a fine video which opened the door for me to this possibility. I really very much appreciate you making this 18 minute video which may just open some doors for me and my family that I wasn't aware of. I've just subscribed to your channel and rang the bell for all video notifications. Thank you sir.
Sennheiser updated the Ambeo firmware to 1.0.237 and also overhauled the Smart Control App. It now supports not only Chromecast, but also Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay 2. They really care about their products.
Your comment further secured the thought of ordering one for myself replacing a breaking HiFi unit. Thank you for taking the time to write specifically about the update!!! 🙏
@@garretts431 frustrating to hear that Sennheiser still not have their quality issues under control. A successor to the Ambeo will soon be announced, smaller model and half cheaper. I hope Sennheiser doesn't make the same mistakes with the new model, otherwise I'll opt for a Devialet Dione, Harman Kardon Citation 1100 multibeam or the new Porsche Design PDB90.
Well i caved and bought the Ambeo after trying multiple soundbars that just weren’t hitting right with me, and I eat my words. Fuck...this thing is a goddamn beast. GODLY performance. I dont even care about rears as much after hearing this bar - it gets pretty damn close in my square room. Just filthy - sennheiser hit it out of the park.
Purely based on this review I ordered one today. No demo in store but the salesperson said “its f***ing awesome” and I was sold! Will see if I need a sub but great news a SDS 1000 looks the goods if I do, probably won’t though. Sennheiser if you’re reading this, helping Andrew with a product to review if you did earned my sale plus probably thousands of others. Thank you Andrew you have a fantastic channel and amazing way of presenting what we cannot hear but then want!
Although I understand why people use it with an external sub, everyone has different needs when it comes to bass, I personally don’t feel it needs one. We use ours in a living room around 17x10 feet, 8 feet high and with a bit of adjustment on the eq in the app, you wouldn’t know it hasn’t got a sub. Incredible performance. When you toggle the ambeo button on and off it’s like listening to 2 completely different systems. Incredible piece of kit. Enjoy😊.
Thanks for the great review of the Ambeo (now Max) soundbar! You helped me make up my mind on what to buy as an upgrade to my Sony ST-5000. Great channel!
Thank you so much for your kind contribution. It's great to know you've been happy with your purchase. Hope to see you on today's video coming out shortly.
I decided against the Ambeo based on the negative reviews for it’s Bluetooth connection repeatedly dropping connection to the rest of the system. I decided to give the Sonos system a try. I bought the ARC sound bar and set it up. It sounded great but was VERY lacking in bass. The next day I got the Gen 3 Sonos sub - WOW. That thing is deceptive..it looks small and I was NOT expecting it to put out a lot of bass and I was blown away. It THUMPS and it goes LOW. I had a 12” powered Klipsch sub and the Sonos sub is AS good or BETTER. Plus it was easy setup and wireless. The next day I picked put he SL one pair of speakers for my rear surrounds. All total I spent about $2000 on everything. Compared to the Ambeo that costs $2500 with NO sub…. This Sonos system is hands down far better. I am not an audiophile but I appreciate good sound - I wanted something that would do HT and music - the Sonos system does it all. The phone app is great. I am not a paid spokesperson - just a regular guy who wanted to get a lot of bang for the buck.
i am trying to decide between 3 systems....the Sennheiser Ambeo with a svs PB3000 subwoofer .. or .. Sonos Arc / 2 subs / 2 SL ones ( or add fives )... or the Samsung Q950A....what are your thoughts and recommendations of which is the better system...i watch ALOT of movies and tv shows 95 % and music 5 %...thx...cheers from Canada
Well... I just spent one day watching the Dark Netflix show in my small "bedroom" (2x1,7m) with LG 5.1.2 Atmos soundbar. It was my first Atmos test using my new setup and the sub was under the bed. I just love it when the whole bed is shaking. In the living room I have Q Acoustics 5.1.2 setup and it's so different because big open space. I still love that there is a way to have a surround sound experience in small space using a soundbar. Edit. Btw great review :)
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I did run some tests earlier in the living room and the LG soundbar did well. Movies like The Hacksaw Ridge and Harry Potter DTS X versions felt and sounded great. It was a really immersive experience. Not as good as my main setup but still ok. The Center channel and bass were on point but the height channels can't really reach for my couch. The optimal listening area is about two meters from the soundbar in my room (2.75m room height). In a bigger room, it's good to have a rear speaker setup linked with the soundbar. Without those speakers, it's really hard to get a good soundstage. I think it's great for 99% movie watchers but in my case, the Q Acoustics speakers just fill the whole room. But when I installed the Soundbar to my bedroom/alcove... That is a total game-changer. Two hours ago when watching a DARK and there was a rainstorm. It really felt like it was raining on my ceiling. The soundstage is so much better when you have a smaller room.
One of the very few channels on youtube knows how to review speakers. Vivid, detailed opinions with relatable comparisons is the only way to describe speakers. Other channels actually play the speakers like I can tell a difference with my tiny phone...
Really appreciate you watching! Your comment definitely brought a smile to my face. We certainly get a fair amount of requests for sound demos but we don't do them for just the reason you described.
Between your sincere good looks, your voice and its tone and your cadence, and your rich use of vocabulary, you should know that you engender extraordinary trust...you could easily sell anything! The customer wouldn’t have a chance! That being said, this is the 5th review of this product that I have watched, and although I was leaning for a purchase, you have completely sold me. Every question or concern I had written on my little pad here (about 8 items) you clearly addressed.This was a great review with all sorts of helpful contrasts. Thanks! Nick
Just a note, you don't *need* to connect it to your google home to connect it to your home network. The Sennheiser app itself will assist you with that.
My wife and I are building a new house. Open concept... As in the living room, dining room and kitchen are all the same large (20'x40') mostly rectangular room (there is a small foyer off the middle on one side mostly lined up with the dining space) with elevated (12') and beamed ceilings. I'm a discrete speaker guy (bookshelves and subs), but even I'm struggling with placement in this monster. Not to mention that, after years of marriage, the wife is finally fed up with the "bachelor look" of speakers everywhere. Looking at soundbar solutions (which I know and your reviews confirm have gotten a lot better these days), but I just don't feel like they will be able to fill the cavernous space and will lose any simulated surround effects to the dining/kitchen areas at the rear. In this video, you kept mentioning that you are also open concept, though L-shaped with your living room in the corner. I know you lost some of the surround effect due to shape, but did you feel the Ambeo was able to fill the space? Are there any other soundbar solutions out there worth looking at? I've seen many of your reviews (love them), but the Ambeo review was I think the first time I've heard you mention your room shape.
That’s exactly what my living room with kitchen/dining will be like. Have you had any experience in the last month or have you tested a sound bar to see how it sounds in your space?
I think Kristi’s Hot Takes from the Samsung sound bar video, combined with this has pretty much sold me that the Ambeo will become my setup sometime in 2021. While I’d *much* prefer to build out a full receiver and dedicated speaker setup, I really do like the simplicity of a sound bar.
Thank you! I am a huge Sennheiser fan and I have been wondering about this soundbar. I am hearing impaired and was wondering about specifically the dialogue clarity. Thank you for addressing it.
Glad this is helpful to people with those types of challenges. It gets better because there are ways to boost the dialogue in the settings of the Ambeo app. My description is with these enhancements off so if you need more, you can get that with the app.
I completely trust your opinion! You have always been honest in your reviews. Also - my amp would have to die and one or two of my speakers blow - otherwise for money reasons I would keep what I have.
I've watched ~20 new RUclips channels in the last week researching home theatre and speakers and this is the best new channel I've found. You earned yourself a sub sir - thankyou! In terms of your question, I'm looking for a soundbar that is great for movies AND music. Equally. Music is not secondary and I refuse to buy two systems just to cater for different uses. So maybe Ambeo is the answer :)
Welcome aboard! And the Ambeo is GREAT though stick around this week and next as we may have two more solutions for you to consider that may be a little easier on the wallet compared to the Ambeo.
Pair the AMBEO with an SVS SB-3000 and a great TV with eARC and Dolby Atmos and you DO NOT NEED: front speakers, rear speakers, ceiling speakers, all wiring, receivers, amplifiers, speaker stands, and cabinets. Reference quality sound. The ONLY issue that you need to take into consideration is the shape of your room, and its surfaces, placement of bar and furniture. It comes with a high end mic for room calibration, but if you have the bar placed at the same level of the back of your sofa or vaulted ceilings for instance, makes it difficult to achieve true 5.1.4. This soundbar is worth EVERY penny when you take into consideration of all the other stuff you dont need to have such amazing sound. I def suggest a sealed subwoofer with LEF connection.
For me, sound quality from a sound bar would have to be equal to or better than separate components for me to consider switching. But I think that a lot of folks in this hobby would never switch because of the stigma sound bars carry, and will most likely always carry. I also think that within the higher end of this hobby, people place so much pride in hand picking components and personalizing the experience that even an equal sounding sound bar would somehow cheapen the achievement. Almost as if sonic perfection can only be achieved through a paywall of cash and painstaking precision in set up that distinguishes the 'audiophiles' from the posers. In any case, I'm open to sound bars, but for $2500, convenience is not enough when the used market exists. Solid review as always.
Love your honest reviews, attitude & beautiful videography but... @ $2500 which is simply "Yamaha's Aventage Territory" I will never ex-change any soundbar to a dedicated HT equipment which I'm playing for 2ch Stereo too. Ok, I may sound oldskool but I learned enough that gimmicks won't do better then the real one 😉 - So, that's a clear NO from me... PS: Still on the same side about the Multi-Channel AMPs feeded via eARC/ARC setup. Now, that will be revolutionary 💪
Marvelous review, as usual. Found this channel last week, and I've seen just about all the reviews you've published. "I'm not addicted, I can quit anytime..." I've got built-ins in the living room, and thus a sound bar wouldn't work, but I still have the Boston Acoustics Micro 90 system I bought 20 yrs ago when I joined the military. In that age of Bose Acoustimas (sp?) systems, the bostons had a mid-range sound that the Bose just lacked. Still happy with my purchase after all of these years. Bravo!
I've listened to the Ambeo for the first time at the Sennheiser Hannover HQ. It was fantastic! This soundbar is a close 2nd to their original system. Yes, it's a bit pricy but it is completely worth it! If space is an issue, yes this is a good replacement for both movies and audio listening, but if space is not an issue, I would definitely have this for movies and have a separate 2-channel for music only. When compared to the Samsung 900 series soundbar and LG, I would Ambeo does beat both fo them out. That's why it's pricy but well worth it!
I bought the soundbar today from the web. I must say that, having not tried it yet, I had several doubts as to whether I spent my €2,500 well or could I invest better elsewhere. thanks to you these doubts are gone
Hopefully you were able to get the sale price difference given back to you. 8ts on sale at its lowest price ever! $1699.99. Thats what it should've been selling for. It was $600.00 to $700.00 overpriced at its original MSRP.
Great review. Love it. Just got the Ambeo max and agree totally with your findings … especially with regard to 2 channel stuff ! I was amazed to find this too … as I have an expensive taste in 2 channel hifi and have never heard something like this quite in this league . It is very impressive,
Hi! You and your wife are super...I bought a BDI home theater console after I watched your review. Now I'm considering the AMBEO. We'll see. At any rate, thank you for your reviews.
Hi - thanks for the review! I'm currently running an AMBEO soundbar with an SVS SB-1000 sub, and think it's absolutely amazing. I actually think that the looks are nice and understated, I'd rather have something that is functional and blends in than a soundbar that's a bit flashy. No question that the build quality is top notch. My only gripe is that I haven't been able to pair my iPhone 11 to the soundbar, they don't seem to like each other. And yes, it's super-expensive, but here's a great tip: Neiman Marcus (of all places) carries the AMBEO soundbar, and periodically they throw out promo codes for online purchases. I used one to get my soundbar for $1799 - that's a huge savings and it's very hard to find anyone willing to discount these. You can thank me later!
Pretty sure Neimans filed bankruptcy in May so maybe buy direct is a better option. Also, probably a long shot, but is this the same Michael Kim who once lived in Austin?
@@KristiWright OK, here's an update, apparently Neiman Marcus no longer carries the AMBEO soundbar, so you'll have to find another way to score a deal. Guess I was lucky. Yes, they filed bankruptcy, but they are still operating and expect to exit bankruptcy by the end of this month. Sorry, I've never been to Austin, but plan to one day! There are a TON of people named Michael Kim.
Hello Michael, thanks for your comment! I was thinking about buying this very combination (AMBEO soundbar with an SVS SB-1000 sub). So is it really as good as you say? Is there any way to calibrate the sub in the app or does the provided AMBEO mic does that? Also would be nice to know how deep the SVS SB-1000 really goes, is there a "night & day" difference with and without a sub? How does it combine/work together during music listening? Thanks in advance!
Hi Andrew, Thank you for the review. I live in the Paris (France) Greater area and next year I will be moving from a home with a comfortable living room (French point of view) and a focal 7.1 system to a new flat. I have bargained with my wife to go from a 55" to a 65" TV ( She does not realize the huge difference :-) ) but the WAF considering speakers, cables... being very low, I know I will to go for a brand new sound bar. Your review was very helpful. I will see what comes on the CES 2021 but as you say Soundbars are going the right way. Keep safe in the US.
Impressed how far these have come. For the price I'll stick with the flexibility of a 2 channel system but can really see the appeal of these for the convenience/performance combination
Is it really that difficult to put together two speakers and an av receiver? Once you connect everything you never have to put it together again. People are just lazy.
Most rooms are unsuited for 5.1 systems. In my ten years in consumer audio I have almost encountered zero good sounding surround systems because their rooms had the acoustics of a church. No untreated rooms for home cinema (separate speakers + receiver) will ever sound good because of the acoustic mess.
@@liquicitizendirk2147 For the money that you can spend on this soundbar you can buy a pair of good speakers and a sub woofer that will blow it out of the water for half the price.
You don't have to have a surround sound system to have a good home theatre system. Quality speakers with an av receiver and a subwoofer will always sound better than a soundbar. @@matthiasstuer
I am looking forward to a review on the new Ambeo Plus and Ambeo Sub, as well as a bit of a re-review on the now markerted Max model with the recent software update
Agreed. I am starting to put together a new media room and am torn as to wait for Sennheiser to release the plus (seems to be delayed) or just go with the Max. On paper the plus seems like a next generation (smaller, less expensive, more refined). Weighing that against my concern that it seems less like an incremental improvement but something so different it is new; which waiting for a few reviews would be beneficial.
It's a one of the best all in one home theater system but the price is a bit expensive, by the way, I think that is worthy in my point of view, cuz I bought it.
I’ve never had a soundbar in my home, altho I’ve listened to a ton (I work for a company that manufactures & sells high end home audio). I’m all too aware that soundbars have come a long way and provide an excellent alternative to multi-point speaker systems. I’m also a massive Senheisser fan and have been for 20 years, especially their headphones. Outstanding content as always. Thanks!
As someone who is dipping his toes into the audio world, the absolute disgusting amount of pretentiousness surrounding the hobby is a strong deterrent. Soundbars are perfect for simplicity. Don't have a lot of space, but one something OBJECTIVELY better than the poor speakers in your new flat screen? Why not spend a couple hundred dollars? Don't want to fiddle with all the intracacies of a dedicated sound system? They completely miss the point of having options like this. They are just mad they aren't the target market and will shit on anything that they determine is inferior. Pisses me off and really makes me not want to get into the hobby. However, I love your channel and the way you present things. It's very refreshing from my other experiences online.
Ryadic Very well said. Some don’t realize choice helps our hobby. The more sound bars sold, means more people looking for a better experience. In turn, more effort gets put in to higher quality movies and music. Then they don’t think about needs for those that may not be able to setup a discrete system, or secondary systems. I have my theater, which my sound system is a 5.1.4 and relatively high end. Yet I’m looking for a good sound bar for my family room, watching series with my wife or movies when family is over, that I don’t need to watch in the highest quality, but still want to experience good sound. The space is open to both sides of the tv which is mounted above the fireplace, with no room for equipment. In their mind apparently we shouldn’t have the option.
Finally a honest review of the ambeo. I have one and newbie here and agree the fully 100% with your review . It's a very convenient HTS and my wife loves it for it's simplicity. Nice tip for music listening .Thanks and great job eat that Ratings.
Really enjoyed your review, you have convinced me into buying this soundbar. Right now I am running a 7.1.4 surround speaker system in a 13'.6"x12'.6" with a 110" projector acoustically transparent screen, but I hate the near field sound, so this may work out perfectly for me, and you are right it not the prettiest soundbar but I can put it behind my screen.
You’re review helped me decide to buy the Ambeo and there’s no looking back. Everything you have said about it is spot on. I really like how it sounds when it streams stereo music, it’s exactly what I like. What stereo speakers would you recommend that sound like the Ambeo, for music playback? (It’s for another room and I can’t fit another Ambeo). Just found the answer in the review!
Awesome review! This is the kind of review people are looking for on this sound bar. I’m still waiting on the Nakimachi 9.2.4. review with the duel subwoofers 🔊 🔊
Love your reviews and I finally subbed! As a dedicated component system owner with speakers all over, your review convinced me and I am going to give this a try! Thanks and keep up the good work!
Change is scary when it comes to new tech. You got that right. Filling a room with sound is not like filling a room with unbelievable rich sound. Like listing to loud Kenwoods vs Klipsch Scalas. Keep up the pation and being unbiased as possible.
I would give a soundbar a try when shopping for a system. I'm past having a room full of speakers, much to my wife's relief, so the format certainly works. I have listened to a few in the past but that was a couple of years ago. I wasn't too impressed but, hey, stuff gets better so maybe it's time to try again.
Yes it's probably the best soundbar around at the moment but it won't replace your already dedicated speaker placement in a well placed room. My experience with listening to soundbars is the surround and up firing sound effects demineralise quickly and hardly noticeable anyway compared to a full blown home theatre set-up. Soundbars are best used in small rooms around 3.5metres wide by 5metres long.
Just bought this..damn this thing is good!!!Soundstage is 180 degrees but the 180 soundstage is real good and lot of front effects are playing up in the air over my 77' inch lg oled tv. Previously I had Bowers & Wilks Pano 2 and Sennheiser is much much better than it and as you mentioned more comparable to good high end stereo speakers. In my apartment, bass was 2 much and I had to lower it by 2 db. Are the sound effects very accurate placed... Probably not but it's still damn very good and the effects have texture thanks to the 5 quality tweeters. I find it sounds more immersive in midfield seating distance but it is great for apartment dwellers. The ambeo mode also sounds awesome for Live music.
@@Altair00rion It's perfectly proportional. LG cx 77 is 60 inches width and ambeo is 50". Also I don't think it's that ugly but beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I'm still wondering if it sounds better without grills but I'll test that later. I found the soundstage much better on left side where I have a full wall. The Jack Reacher car chase scene, I found the sound of cars on my left side which I have never experienced on my stereo high end speakers (Adam Tensor Delta/Hegel HD30). These are not replacement for stereo speakers but it does Movies better than high end stereo speakers. Now if you don't have any walls on left or right side then the effects might be a bit subdued and your soundstage might be limited to front but you'll till get height in front of you but not over you.
SHEESH! the more I own the AMBEO! the more I love it! It's incredible! and paired with a MARTIN LOGAN 1100X subwoofer and OH WOW! this is SUPER EASY TO SETUP and THE SOUND IS DAMN INCREDIBLE! I highly recommend this! Gifted this setup for my Family and they love it so far!
Hey I see that you bought the Ambeo. How is the vocal clarity for you during high action scenes? What size room do you have it in? And by adding a sub do you think it makes the Ambeo even more detailed in the mids and high frequencies ? Much appreciated for your input…. I’m seriously looking at this as a compromise to a traditional 5.1…. I do have a lot of blue rays, some bars don’t support dtsx and other codes. And I noticed that all soundbars with wireless subs will never compete with a dedicated wired sub.
@@MrNickster12345 Dialogue is clear and accurate! it's not over boosted or saturated! its how you would hear dialogue if you were there in person! now it all depends on the mix! some movies just have terrible Dialogue but its very rare, and during action scenes dialogue is clear but also when its not clear its because of how it was more likely intended without vocals over boosted. You will hear and enjoy things in movies that you will never have heard before! and hear such substance! I love rewatching movies like Jurassic park, Matrix, and now I was rewatching black hawk down and I was astounded! the same with Saving Private Ryan! Then I was watching Kimi on HBO Max and I was just blown away by the clarity and just overall sound stage and presence! it is something you have to hear and experience! Having a Subwoofer is a must! you will enjoy this sound bar a lot! you will hear things in movie mixes that you never heard before! Also Ready Player One the car racing scene is just EPIC! I have a little demo I recorded with my Iphone 13 pro in 4k and the recording does not do its justice! you have to buy one and just experience it! The best sound I've heard and super super simple to setup! Here are Pros 1. Sound Stage is HUGE! Power is impressive, Volume is stellar, you can listen to this soundbar in low to high volumes and you will have an enjoyable experience. 2. Vocals sound natural and do not dominate the sound 3. Surround sound and sound bouncing off walls and ceiling is amazing! it is room dependent but its exceptional in my area 4. Real Speaker Drivers! there is no replacement for displacement and the same is with Speakers 5. It's Sennheiser! the make the best surround sound DSP for consumers 6. it comes with simple and well built controller 7. Able to use any subwoofer with a subwoofer out line, Stand alone subwoofers are always better than soundbars that are limited to their subwoofer 8. Music sounds amazing! super accurate and natural sounding! just as good as listening to 2.1 system 9. Ambeo 3D surround effects is super immersive. You will hear things you haven't heard before in many movies! 10. Different sound profiles and ability to change EQ settings for each one. 11. Having dedicated HDMI connections directly to the SOUNDBAR, being able to plug in your devices into the sound bar is huge! its non compressed and does not need to pass through ARC or EARC. So its able to push out the best CODEC without relying on our TV to process the sound codec. Cons 1. It's LARGE and HEAVY! you will more likely need another person to set this up! and I recommend mounting your TV to clear the soundbar size 2. App could be better, always have to reconnect to the bar if the app falls asleep on the phone 3. It always defaults to HDMI TV (EARC/ARC) when turning on majority of the time, so I have to use app or controller to change source to watch Xfinity 4k 4. It gets warm, so make sure you have enough room for it to breathe 5. Wish the speaker grill was magnetic so I can see the woofers in action 6. Your ears will get use to the sound and there is a break in period, it's impressive from the get go, but now dialogue is getting clearer and clearer as well as all the other details, or maybe my ears are getting more and more used to it. 7. Sennheiser Ambeo should release wireless rear speakers for us to truly experience a surround bubble, but it's not needed! but it would just be ICING on the cake! I highly recommend giving this Soundbar a Try! Sennheiser knows that they are doing! and the price is justified. I paid 2k since it was on sale a week or so ago and it's been amazing and I always look forward to watching movies, tv, youtube, etc.
I bought mine a month ago on sale as well. Paired it with Klipsch RS100 sub woofer. Love it. The Ambeo calibrated sub where it blends nicely. I bet it would be even better with that pricey Martin Logan sub that kuya has. Maybe in the future. But still happy with my small Klipsch sub. Tested Samsung Q950A and and Sony A7000 and Bose 900. Room is 20 ft × 15 ft vaulted ceilings and open concept. Different level compared to other soundbars. EQ adjustments on App much better than other soundbars. Even music. I tested with Pink Floyd DSOTM lp and Classical stuff. Compares to my vintage set up down in basement. 20 yr old Yamaha receiver and 40 yr old Pioneer Tower speakers. Warm and silky smooth. Andrew is correct. AMBEO is clear winner. And Andrew's wife Kristi said it best on another sounbar review comparison video..." you will have to take my Ambeo out of my cold dead hands".
I love the sennheiser headphones at our radio station and they’re pretty basic models, miles better than any of the other brands we have laying around. The construction behind the grille looked very impressive. Interested 😏
Soundbar seems like easiest way to add atmos to your home cinemas, but I think I’d like one with dedicated rear speakers. Beam steering seems difficult to achieve from behind. Which makes sense. I have no issues with replacing my current surround with a proper soundbar, think it would free up some space and ease for a more dedicated stereo system. The soundbar would probably be enough for that too, but what’s the fun in that 😁
Fantastic review like always. Love seeing the soundbars reviewed. Would really love to see some more focal products on the channel as well. They do make a sound bar I believe!
Two huge advantages of this are a dedicated subwoofer out which is very rare, and it still has freaking RCA analog inputs to hook up like a turntable preamp. My friend just got the Samsung 990b but in my symmetrical reflective room for a while now I've thought this would be my choice. Really wish they'd come out with the Plus so people can review that! But I actually have a state-of-the-art analog system with AR Phantom rear speakers and M-Ch Audio Research preamp...so I still can't imagine this being a single unit would throw off as convincing rear speaker sound is what I have.
You’ve convinced me. I own a number of their high end headphones; giving this sound bar a try. Question: What subwoofer would be the best fit with this sound bar in your opinion?
My answer to your last question in this review: "what would it take for you to consider a soundbar?" is Room Size. I've got a 11.5 feet by 9.5 feet room, so a full size 5.1 surround system is a bit hard to setup in this room when there's also a slant back corner on the left. Also the door is setup on the right back corner of the room, so satellite speakers placement are near impossible. I'm very tempted to buy the Ambeo but heard a second version with "softer" price would come out soon around this year or the next, so I'll hold off till your next review on the second Ambeo version.
I don't know I managed to setup a very nice 7.2 with a 48 inch CX setup in a 10x 8foot space and it works really well, I don't think space has to be a massive concern
Just wish more soundbar manufacturers would include wireless backspeakers like LG SN11RG and Samsung HW-950 etc. That makes adds so much more that bubble feel.
Nice to get a review to that soundbar from you. I heard it around release here in Germany in a presentation together with mpeg-h audio codec and was totally impressed. Glad you liked it too. Great channel. Keep up the good work Greatings from Germany
Thanks for sharing your experience! We think it's an awesome solution for people. Thanks so much for watching! Always fun to see people from around the world.
Excellent review and video. I also have an “L” shaped room and was concerned how this performed in a room without a right wall. Thank you for the great info. VERY helpful and professional.
i am trying to decide between 4 systems....the Sennheiser Ambeo with a svs PB3000 subwoofer .. or .. Sonos Arc / 2 subs / 2 SL ones ( or add fives )... or the Samsung Q950A....or the SONY HT-A9 speakers what are your thoughts and recommendations of which is the better system...i watch ALOT of movies and tv shows 95 % and music 5 %...thx...cheers from Canada
I have the Ambeo with a Kube 12 and also a Samsung Q950a tested in a room you might call the ideal room in terms of sound reflections. The Ambeo in terms of sound quality/texture is much better than the Samsung from the front. The bass unit on the Samsung is servicable but sounds a little muddy to me and will not compare to your PB3000 obviously. The surround effects are much better on the Samsung with the additional rears, the Ambeo does a great job with Atmos height effects but you won't get much more than a 180 degree soundstage in front of you. So it depends on how much the rear effects mean to you, do not buy the Ambeo if this is the highest priority.
YOUR THOUGHTS on which sub to put with the Sennheiser Ambeo.....thx...cheers from Canada.......i watch 95% movies and TV shows and 5% music....thx i look forward to your advice
This seems great, but I could only justify a purchase of this bar if I knew I wasn't EVER in my life going to buy something like the HT A9 or an improved version of that. I think I'm just gonna wait a couple years for Sony to bring out something like the HT A9 that comes with a dedicated centre channel. In the meantime, I'm having a blast with the Sony Z9F soundbar.
2 scenarios. Soundbar used is ambeo and tv is SONY XR A95( XR-65A95K) 1. If I connect amazon firestick 4k to hdmi in of the soundbar and then tv's hdmi earc port with hdmi out of soundbar via hdmi 2.1 cable, the sound of, let's say a movie on Netflix, isn't that great. 2. I connect amazon firestick 4k to any hdmi in port of TV. Tv 's hdmi earc port remains connected to hdmi out (earc) port of soundbar via hdmi 2.1 cable. And then I play movies on Netflix app of firestick 4k. Sound is completely different and better. I tested ambeo with these. In the first setting, even ambeo didn't sound great. What are your thoughts?
Thanks for the detailed review Andrew. I completely agree with all the points. The main problem with the soundbars like these with up-firing speakers come with a constrains. For me, in my room, I have a ceiling fan, which will definitely spoil the sound fired upwards toward. So, even thought had plans to buy some LG soundbar with up-firing speakers, I dropped all those ideas, working to purchase a dedicated home theater system!. Also, its bit pricey to go for. For now, I am using a very basic soundbar from Sony HT-X8500..
I was going to drive a few hours to the closest store that has one to demo. After this review and similar room set up...count it. Brilliant review. Bloopers on the B&O were pretty funny too. Cheers
The most reliable channel on the home entertainment tech. It would be fantastic if you can make a review video on Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 Channel Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar with Dual 10" Subwoofers (Wireless), 4 Rear Surround Effects Speakers, eARC and SSE Max Technology (2022).
Also Nakamichi uses cheap in house subs whereas the Ambeo has a real LFE line out and can be used with any subwoofer aka a real subwoofer. Don't waste your money I have spent time with those bars and they suck.
I have replied to several of your videos about soundbars and such...your videos have helped me ALOT with making peace with the fact that a sound bar can meet my needs. I had a discrete system in the past but current living space is just too small.
Andrew...would you mind doing ALL reviews on RUclips? Holy *&#@ you could read the New York phone book out loud and I would still listen right 'till the end! Oh, and very, very good no-nonsense review. 👌🏼
First off, decent review. Love the soothing tone of your voice. I am considering a soundbar because I live in a brick house and have a big dog and 2 little children. So the idea of wires although tucked away is not done because it is ugly the route I would have to take with the cable-management. My house is full of Sonos. But I have a lot of blurays with DTS (X) sound. Plus my current system has 2 hdmi ins and I use a total of 5. So if I take the Sonos route I have to keep switching HDMI’s and lose DTS playback in surround. So I am thinking Samsung Q950t. I hope you can give us a review in the near future. Or get back to me here. Much appreciated. Thx, a fan from Belgium
We have a Samsung in house for review (just arrived) but it's not the Q950t. We'd love to know just how good the Sonos is and we've tried reaching out to them but it's crickets. Let them know you want to see their products on the channel and maybe that'll motivate them. :)
Andrew Robinson I’ll do my part. My main problem is the DTS. The switching of hdmi is not that often. I am confused about the pcm lpcm part. As I see it now only Samsung and oppo 203 wich don’t exist anymore converted DTS tot lpcm. I have to buy everything now. So I don’t want only stereo. Is there a way around that I am missing?
Hi Andrew, great review! I'm looking to get the Sennheisser Ambeo. One of the things that attract me beside the good quality sound is that it can act as an AVR as well. But after going through the specifications I have some question on its listed HDMI output of HDCP 1.4. All its HDMI inputs are listed as HDCP 2.2. What am I missing? Appreciate your advise. Thanks!
I was actually considering this before buying a traditional setup. Only thing that stopped me was that I have a uniquely shaped room with called ceilings and didn’t see the point in spending that kind of money if I couldn’t get the full surround experience I was paying for
I finally took the plunge and purchased the Ambeo soundbar went it went on sale. The sound is indeed brilliant immersive theater sound in your home BUT… as amazing as it sounds, the lack of a subwoofer is not subtle. In fact, it’s downright obvious and inexcusable for a soundbar in this price range, even with $500 off. The missing bottom is not only obvious (not borderline opinion) but totally lacking in movies like godzilla vs. king kong or the dc movies. The “footsteps, punches, and crashes” they use in recent movies is all but completely missing. Since I saved on the purchase, I justified springing for a $249 400 watt Klipsch from Costco. Problem solved, but indeed, a serious problem, not just an issue for “bass enthusiasts”. I have 14 days to take it all back if and exchange for the Samsung q950a. Not sure I want to, but I think it may be worth the trouble to demo both solutions given the price difference.
Well I'm not going to throw my 6.1 Pioneer THX Certified Receiver away, so unless Seinheiser makes a passive Soundbar soon, I'll go with the Definite Technology XTR-SSA5 soundbar instead.
In this price range- no 👎 I actually consider a Sennheiser bar as a center channel until i realize it was a self contained sound bar and not a center channel. It sounded very good 👍 For me at that price point I, again I, would go with seperates. And go through the hassles of set up. But I am a DIY-er. For the average Joe Q Public ab-so-lutely they s hould consider an all-in-one solution. But they need to audition it first and make sure it ticks off their boxes. As always a stellar veiw. :-D
Now that I have a dedicated home theater setup, I’d gladly switch to a soundbar, if it offered at least same sound quality at same or lower price. It’s easy to setup, it’s easy to use and they’re generally cheaper then a full blown home theater setup. Thank for another great video! :)
This looks like using similar principals to the YPS (Yamaha Sound Projector) models from Yamaha, which started with the huge YSP-1 in 2005, developed into the even huger Atmos YSP-5600, upto the latest excellent YSP-2700 which is a thin 7.1 surround system from 2017 (?). Worth checking I think for fun if you can get your hands on one - you'd be surprised :)
Thank you for the review, to answer your question: it doesn’t take anything for me to consider something like this, it’s a matter of priorities. I need an elegant sound solution for being a parent that just so happens to enjoy high fidelity while also needing speaker stands, cables, things with buttons and even av furniture not to be present. I have a (mostly) discrete 5.1 system with floor standing speakers on all 4 corners. They are awesome, unfortunately, kids like them too. Just not for the same reasons I do. And don’t get me started on blue buttons, it’s like cat nip for kids.
Robinson, though I watched this video the week you released it and seing how things have played out with new product entry. Three years later, will you recommend buying the Sennheiser Ambeo for $1,999?
I would be curious to know what it would take for yall to replace your current setup with the Ambeo? Now, I am by no means a person that is well versed in audio, as I am sitting here ripping BB Kings Paying the Cost to be the Boss from CD to FLAC (antiquated NAS stuff), but my response to the aforementioned question would be, aside from the ease of setup and use, and also taking into account I have not heard it, I would tend to think a modest 5.1 say for under 2000 would at least keep up with it and most likely best it for both 2 channel listening and HT duties leaving 500 - 600 to still play with.
I’ve actually been using a soundbar that has a similar setup to this (albeit without the Dolby Atmos support), which is the Yamaha YSP-1600 5.1 soundbar. It has a similar beam-firing speaker setup in the front with two top firing speakers on the left and right side and vents behind those. So far its been the only soundbar that has given me LPCM surround sound with my Nintendo Switch and anything else I’ve plugged into it that supports 5.1 surround sound and while the mids are hit or miss, the bass and treble are very good imo assuming you are using it in a room where the sound can reflect off walls effectively. I think I spent around $300 for it a couple years ago (it was around $500-600 when it launched around ‘15-‘16).
Keep up the great work, Andrew! Been watching your videos the past several weeks and learned a lot (including powered speakers like the Kantos). If you get a chance, would love to see a review of the new (2020) Bose TV Speaker soundbar, especially for those with smaller rooms or volume limitations. Cheers!
We'd love to! Let B&O know you'd like to see them on the channel. We're bordering protective order territory with the number of times we've tried reaching out at this point. 😂😂
Wow...$2,500?!? I realize you get what you pay for, but you can get a pretty darn good separates system for that kind of money. Yamaha TSR-7850 Atmos receiver for $300 - $500. Tekton Lore Reference for $750 for a pair. Add a low-profile Tekton center for $425, and a pair of Mini-Lore Monitors for $565 for surrounds, and you have yourself a kick-butt system for $2,240 at the absolute most (I would opt for the Yamaha TSR-7850R refurbished unit which you can find for $325). And, if you go the Tekton route, you can have them custom painted to basically any color you like for an additional $100-ish (for all 5 speakers). Sure, you don't have a subwoofer, but the Lore Reference is rated down to 37 Hz, and I would be shocked if the Sennheiser Ambeo could outperform them from a bass standpoint. I love the technology, and I love the convenience, but I just can't see recommending the Ambeo at that price ($1,000 sure, $1,500 maybe, $2,000+ no way)...
Kristi Wright just about 8 weeks. Well worth the wait... they’re perfect. That said, my son bought a set of standard Lores that were “blems” at a fairly significant discount, he got them immediately and they were perfect too (we literally could not find a defect on them anywhere, and they sound perfect as well). We were actually wondering if they possibly sent him the wrong set. But, we heard that what Eric Alexander considers a blemish isn’t what most would consider one to be...
I almost bought this when it came out 2 years ago. Went with a Samsung N950 sound-bar instead. It was over $1,000 cheaper, plus it has wireless rear speakers to complete it’s surround sound effects. The Samsung is excellent, especially with high quality source material, but it does have some quirks that are at times annoying . Even so, I still think I should have given the Ambeo a try. I’m looking forward to your review of a Samsung sound-bar. Very curious how you think they compare. Thanks for the great review!
I agree with you on the looks of it, not the most appealing. I'm kind of leaning towards the Bang and Olufsen because it looks very classy and also boasts a great sound. Great review though, thank you.
★ *REVIEWING: **bit.ly/35yLQO1**, **amzn.to/3yVH3TN**, **bit.ly/3Do8k4y*
★ *NEED MORE INFO? ✔︎ THE ⬆︎DESCRIPTION⬆︎*
★ *QOTD: What would it take for YOU to consider a soundbar for your system? No, not a secondary system - THE system?*
★ *COMMENT RULES: No outside URLs or outside links. Please be respectful to one another. Violations are automatically deleted.*
It would take me getting kicked out of my house and being forced into a small apartment. Plus, I can't live without my SVS subs.
Kids... kids change everything. I honestly find it super easy to live with a soundbar system, even as entry level as a our Vizio. The kids get to enjoy movie night, my wife doesn't have to stare at a bunch of ugly black boxes, and I don't have worry about small humans playing with or knocking down equipment.
If I really want to listen to music, I get the family all to bed, grab a drink, fire up the Schiit stack and rock out. Is it the same as a feeling 12" paper cone woofers punching you in the chest? No, but it's a lot more accessible more of the time and lets me enjoy my music which is why we do this, for the music.
If it at least had 6.5" drivers, because I feel that's when you start talking about balanced sound... All these 4" and 3" driver speakers are child's play to me... But a soundbar that contains 6.5" drivers now defeats the purpose of being a soundbar now, doesn't it? I guess I'll never switch.
Would only take my ears to choose a soundbar, would not hesitate... However the only thing I would miss with a soundbar is the look of beautiful speakers on beautiful stands, as to me visuals make up 50% of my audio love.
It's a personal world we live in!
Several decent reviews from different sources; so I can build an accurate (as possible) picture of how good a soundbar is/can be. Your review of the LG really helped my purchase decision of a soundbar (the JBL I've been asking you to review) because you compare to traditional systems and give us the pros and cons. My system wasn't high end before, and I'm sure would have been the subject of much ridicule from some enthusiasts, as you always say 'i liked it' and it suited me. However I'm so impressed with the JBL 9.1 I just bought I couldn't believe a soundbar could sound this good, and I know it's perhaps not the best on the market but it has changed my media consumption experience considerably and I was afraid that wouldn't be for the better. So glad I pulled the trigger. Thanks both of you for your great work. Love the channel 💞
I owned, and operated a brick and mortar audio/video store for 27 years. You said it... perfectly! You will never get every person to agree. Not only is that in electronics, but life as well. I had a very simple saying to any and all who came in to purchase products. When, at the end of your setup, you plop your butt in the viewing area. After turning everything on, if a giant smile comes across your face, you've chosen correctly! End of story! What a pleasure it was listening and watching your video. Thank you so much. 😁.
Dude, you obviously know what you're talking about, which is great. Your voice, though, that's the magic. Your intonation and inflection make the videos that much better. So many reviewers and tech youtubers just kind of drone on and you lose some of the info just by virtue of being bored or losing that engagement. Keep it up, dude! Just subscribed yesterday and looking forward to upcoming videos!
I agree. Great voice. Andrew sounds like Tony Northrup (who reviews photography/videography gear on RUclips)!
vibes
Hi Andrew, My name is Mike and my wife and I are 55 years old. I have a Yamaha sound bar (with integrated sub in the receiver) hooked up to my family room's LG 47" TV (circa 2012). I realize that audiophiles will laugh at this set up as pretty much "junk". I get that. I know true home theater equipment (from the TV to all the audio components/receivers/amplifyers, etc) are very expensive. My definition of "very expensive" is anything over $2000. I like my sound bar's look and performance so when I saw this video (and this is the very first video I've watched on your channel) I was intrigued. I watched the whole video and I have to say in an 18 min RUclips video you really knocked it out of the park in terms of explaining the pros and cons (and your con of "attractiveness" was not a con for me...I think the AMBEO is a handsome looking sounder) This past year my wife and I discussed future AV equipment/budgeting/family expense managing, etc and we both agreed that we would explore "what's out there in the premium" field in 2021, so just a few months away. Based on this one video that you produced Andrew I am going to dive into exploring this Sennheiser AMBEO opportunity. Over the weeks ahead I'm going to watch all of your RUclips videos so I can learn as much as I can...I really feel comfortable that you are very knowledgeable and someone who is not "set in his ways" where AV "old school" is necessarily still the best in quality. I'm open to a sound bar like the AMBEO and if I can substitute that from all of the traditional home theater equipment which means many speakers around the room, hiding the speaker wire installation, installing ceiling speakers and amplifiers/receivers, etc....if it truly is possible to avoid "all of that" well I for one am intrigued by the AMBEO. I want to thank you Andrew for producing such a fine video which opened the door for me to this possibility. I really very much appreciate you making this 18 minute video which may just open some doors for me and my family that I wasn't aware of. I've just subscribed to your channel and rang the bell for all video notifications. Thank you sir.
Sir, i truly enjoy the review-video, but i liked reading your reaction even more. Thank you!
From the Netherlands, Amsterdam
Sennheiser updated the Ambeo firmware to 1.0.237 and also overhauled the Smart Control App. It now supports not only Chromecast, but also Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay 2. They really care about their products.
Did they solved the overheating and muffled center channel problems? These problems keep me away from actually buying one 😪
Your comment further secured the thought of ordering one for myself replacing a breaking HiFi unit. Thank you for taking the time to write specifically about the update!!! 🙏
@@JB-vc6xj i guess not, also regular music playback is underwhelming
@@JB-vc6xj no they haven't solved it. it's just a gamble on which one gets it.
@@garretts431 frustrating to hear that Sennheiser still not have their quality issues under control. A successor to the Ambeo will soon be announced, smaller model and half cheaper. I hope Sennheiser doesn't make the same mistakes with the new model, otherwise I'll opt for a Devialet Dione, Harman Kardon Citation 1100 multibeam or the new Porsche Design PDB90.
Well i caved and bought the Ambeo after trying multiple soundbars that just weren’t hitting right with me, and I eat my words. Fuck...this thing is a goddamn beast. GODLY performance. I dont even care about rears as much after hearing this bar - it gets pretty damn close in my square room. Just filthy - sennheiser hit it out of the park.
Purely based on this review I ordered one today. No demo in store but the salesperson said “its f***ing awesome” and I was sold! Will see if I need a sub but great news a SDS 1000 looks the goods if I do, probably won’t though. Sennheiser if you’re reading this, helping Andrew with a product to review if you did earned my sale plus probably thousands of others. Thank you Andrew you have a fantastic channel and amazing way of presenting what we cannot hear but then want!
Although I understand why people use it with an external sub, everyone has different needs when it comes to bass, I personally don’t feel it needs one. We use ours in a living room around 17x10 feet, 8 feet high and with a bit of adjustment on the eq in the app, you wouldn’t know it hasn’t got a sub. Incredible performance. When you toggle the ambeo button on and off it’s like listening to 2 completely different systems. Incredible piece of kit. Enjoy😊.
I'm designing a dedicated home theater room with the Ambeo driving the audio. Already bought the Ambeo, now I'm getting the room built.
Thanks for the great review of the Ambeo (now Max) soundbar! You helped me make up my mind on what to buy as an upgrade to my Sony ST-5000. Great channel!
Thank you so much for your kind contribution. It's great to know you've been happy with your purchase. Hope to see you on today's video coming out shortly.
I decided against the Ambeo based on the negative reviews for it’s Bluetooth connection repeatedly dropping connection to the rest of the system. I decided to give the Sonos system a try. I bought the ARC sound bar and set it up. It sounded great but was VERY lacking in bass. The next day I got the Gen 3 Sonos sub - WOW. That thing is deceptive..it looks small and I was NOT expecting it to put out a lot of bass and I was blown away. It THUMPS and it goes LOW. I had a 12” powered Klipsch sub and the Sonos sub is AS good or BETTER. Plus it was easy setup and wireless. The next day I picked put he SL one pair of speakers for my rear surrounds. All total I spent about $2000 on everything. Compared to the Ambeo that costs $2500 with NO sub…. This Sonos system is hands down far better. I am not an audiophile but I appreciate good sound - I wanted something that would do HT and music - the Sonos system does it all. The phone app is great. I am not a paid spokesperson - just a regular guy who wanted to get a lot of bang for the buck.
i am trying to decide between 3 systems....the Sennheiser Ambeo with a svs PB3000 subwoofer .. or .. Sonos Arc / 2 subs / 2 SL ones ( or add fives )... or the Samsung Q950A....what are your thoughts and recommendations of which is the better system...i watch ALOT of movies and tv shows 95 % and music 5 %...thx...cheers from Canada
Too bad the ARC doesn't support DTS:X.
@@dinonithianandan4305 or Bluetooth, which is ironic given OP's main gripe with the Ambeo was Bluetooth connectivity issues.
Well... I just spent one day watching the Dark Netflix show in my small "bedroom" (2x1,7m) with LG 5.1.2 Atmos soundbar. It was my first Atmos test using my new setup and the sub was under the bed. I just love it when the whole bed is shaking. In the living room I have Q Acoustics 5.1.2 setup and it's so different because big open space. I still love that there is a way to have a surround sound experience in small space using a soundbar.
Edit. Btw great review :)
Appreciate you sharing! Curious if you dare take your LG out to the main room and just see how big (or small) the difference is.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I did run some tests earlier in the living room and the LG soundbar did well. Movies like
The Hacksaw Ridge and Harry Potter DTS X versions felt and sounded great. It was a really immersive experience. Not as good as my main setup but still ok. The Center channel and bass were on point but the height channels can't really reach for my couch. The optimal listening area is about two meters from the soundbar in my room (2.75m room height). In a bigger room, it's good to have a rear speaker setup linked with the soundbar. Without those speakers, it's really hard to get a good soundstage. I think it's great for 99% movie watchers but in my case, the Q Acoustics speakers just fill the whole room. But when I installed the Soundbar to my bedroom/alcove... That is a total game-changer. Two hours ago when watching a DARK and there was a rainstorm. It really felt like it was raining on my ceiling. The soundstage is so much better when you have a smaller room.
One of the very few channels on youtube knows how to review speakers. Vivid, detailed opinions with relatable comparisons is the only way to describe speakers. Other channels actually play the speakers like I can tell a difference with my tiny phone...
Really appreciate you watching! Your comment definitely brought a smile to my face. We certainly get a fair amount of requests for sound demos but we don't do them for just the reason you described.
Between your sincere good looks, your voice and its tone and your cadence, and your rich use of vocabulary, you should know that you engender extraordinary trust...you could easily sell anything! The customer wouldn’t have a chance!
That being said, this is the 5th review of this product that I have watched, and although I was leaning for a purchase, you have completely sold me. Every question or concern I had written on my little pad here (about 8 items) you clearly addressed.This was a great review with all sorts of helpful contrasts.
Thanks!
Nick
Fantastic commentary. I could listen the this chap talk about anything. What a gift of speech. 👍🏻 🇬🇧
Just a note, you don't *need* to connect it to your google home to connect it to your home network. The Sennheiser app itself will assist you with that.
My wife and I are building a new house. Open concept... As in the living room, dining room and kitchen are all the same large (20'x40') mostly rectangular room (there is a small foyer off the middle on one side mostly lined up with the dining space) with elevated (12') and beamed ceilings. I'm a discrete speaker guy (bookshelves and subs), but even I'm struggling with placement in this monster. Not to mention that, after years of marriage, the wife is finally fed up with the "bachelor look" of speakers everywhere. Looking at soundbar solutions (which I know and your reviews confirm have gotten a lot better these days), but I just don't feel like they will be able to fill the cavernous space and will lose any simulated surround effects to the dining/kitchen areas at the rear. In this video, you kept mentioning that you are also open concept, though L-shaped with your living room in the corner. I know you lost some of the surround effect due to shape, but did you feel the Ambeo was able to fill the space? Are there any other soundbar solutions out there worth looking at? I've seen many of your reviews (love them), but the Ambeo review was I think the first time I've heard you mention your room shape.
That’s exactly what my living room with kitchen/dining will be like. Have you had any experience in the last month or have you tested a sound bar to see how it sounds in your space?
I think Kristi’s Hot Takes from the Samsung sound bar video, combined with this has pretty much sold me that the Ambeo will become my setup sometime in 2021.
While I’d *much* prefer to build out a full receiver and dedicated speaker setup, I really do like the simplicity of a sound bar.
Using it right now. Love it.
Thank you! I am a huge Sennheiser fan and I have been wondering about this soundbar. I am hearing impaired and was wondering about specifically the dialogue clarity. Thank you for addressing it.
Glad this is helpful to people with those types of challenges. It gets better because there are ways to boost the dialogue in the settings of the Ambeo app. My description is with these enhancements off so if you need more, you can get that with the app.
I completely trust your opinion! You have always been honest in your reviews. Also - my amp would have to die and one or two of my speakers blow - otherwise for money reasons I would keep what I have.
I've watched ~20 new RUclips channels in the last week researching home theatre and speakers and this is the best new channel I've found. You earned yourself a sub sir - thankyou!
In terms of your question, I'm looking for a soundbar that is great for movies AND music. Equally. Music is not secondary and I refuse to buy two systems just to cater for different uses. So maybe Ambeo is the answer :)
Welcome aboard! And the Ambeo is GREAT though stick around this week and next as we may have two more solutions for you to consider that may be a little easier on the wallet compared to the Ambeo.
Pair the AMBEO with an SVS SB-3000 and a great TV with eARC and Dolby Atmos and you DO NOT NEED: front speakers, rear speakers, ceiling speakers, all wiring, receivers, amplifiers, speaker stands, and cabinets. Reference quality sound. The ONLY issue that you need to take into consideration is the shape of your room, and its surfaces, placement of bar and furniture. It comes with a high end mic for room calibration, but if you have the bar placed at the same level of the back of your sofa or vaulted ceilings for instance, makes it difficult to achieve true 5.1.4. This soundbar is worth EVERY penny when you take into consideration of all the other stuff you dont need to have such amazing sound. I def suggest a sealed subwoofer with LEF connection.
Perfect ! My ambeo with LG 55" CX and SVS-SB-2000 Pro. Godzilla movie on Netflix Atmos effects are amazing
For me, sound quality from a sound bar would have to be equal to or better than separate components for me to consider switching. But I think that a lot of folks in this hobby would never switch because of the stigma sound bars carry, and will most likely always carry. I also think that within the higher end of this hobby, people place so much pride in hand picking components and personalizing the experience that even an equal sounding sound bar would somehow cheapen the achievement. Almost as if sonic perfection can only be achieved through a paywall of cash and painstaking precision in set up that distinguishes the 'audiophiles' from the posers. In any case, I'm open to sound bars, but for $2500, convenience is not enough when the used market exists. Solid review as always.
Love your honest reviews, attitude & beautiful videography but... @ $2500 which is simply "Yamaha's Aventage Territory" I will never ex-change any soundbar to a dedicated HT equipment which I'm playing for 2ch Stereo too.
Ok, I may sound oldskool but I learned enough that gimmicks won't do better then the real one 😉
- So, that's a clear NO from me...
PS: Still on the same side about the Multi-Channel AMPs feeded via eARC/ARC setup.
Now, that will be revolutionary 💪
Marvelous review, as usual. Found this channel last week, and I've seen just about all the reviews you've published. "I'm not addicted, I can quit anytime..." I've got built-ins in the living room, and thus a sound bar wouldn't work, but I still have the Boston Acoustics Micro 90 system I bought 20 yrs ago when I joined the military. In that age of Bose Acoustimas (sp?) systems, the bostons had a mid-range sound that the Bose just lacked. Still happy with my purchase after all of these years. Bravo!
Thank you so much! We appreciate you watching.
I've listened to the Ambeo for the first time at the Sennheiser Hannover HQ. It was fantastic! This soundbar is a close 2nd to their original system. Yes, it's a bit pricy but it is completely worth it! If space is an issue, yes this is a good replacement for both movies and audio listening, but if space is not an issue, I would definitely have this for movies and have a separate 2-channel for music only. When compared to the Samsung 900 series soundbar and LG, I would Ambeo does beat both fo them out. That's why it's pricy but well worth it!
I bought the soundbar today from the web. I must say that, having not tried it yet, I had several doubts as to whether I spent my €2,500 well or could I invest better elsewhere.
thanks to you these doubts are gone
Hopefully you were able to get the sale price difference given back to you. 8ts on sale at its lowest price ever! $1699.99. Thats what it should've been selling for. It was $600.00 to $700.00 overpriced at its original MSRP.
Great review. Love it. Just got the Ambeo max and agree totally with your findings … especially with regard to 2 channel stuff ! I was amazed to find this too … as I have an expensive taste in 2 channel hifi and have never heard something like this quite in this league . It is very impressive,
Hi! You and your wife are super...I bought a BDI home theater console after I watched your review. Now I'm considering the AMBEO. We'll see. At any rate, thank you for your reviews.
Yes I could and I just did. Not so happy with the Formation Bar from B&W so it got replaced by the Sennheiser.
Impressively thorough and insightful review - probably the best I've heard in audio/visual realms - thanks much!
Wow, thanks!
Hi - thanks for the review! I'm currently running an AMBEO soundbar with an SVS SB-1000 sub, and think it's absolutely amazing. I actually think that the looks are nice and understated, I'd rather have something that is functional and blends in than a soundbar that's a bit flashy. No question that the build quality is top notch. My only gripe is that I haven't been able to pair my iPhone 11 to the soundbar, they don't seem to like each other. And yes, it's super-expensive, but here's a great tip: Neiman Marcus (of all places) carries the AMBEO soundbar, and periodically they throw out promo codes for online purchases. I used one to get my soundbar for $1799 - that's a huge savings and it's very hard to find anyone willing to discount these. You can thank me later!
Pretty sure Neimans filed bankruptcy in May so maybe buy direct is a better option. Also, probably a long shot, but is this the same Michael Kim who once lived in Austin?
@@KristiWright OK, here's an update, apparently Neiman Marcus no longer carries the AMBEO soundbar, so you'll have to find another way to score a deal. Guess I was lucky. Yes, they filed bankruptcy, but they are still operating and expect to exit bankruptcy by the end of this month. Sorry, I've never been to Austin, but plan to one day! There are a TON of people named Michael Kim.
Hello Michael, thanks for your comment! I was thinking about buying this very combination (AMBEO soundbar with an SVS SB-1000 sub). So is it really as good as you say? Is there any way to calibrate the sub in the app or does the provided AMBEO mic does that? Also would be nice to know how deep the SVS SB-1000 really goes, is there a "night & day" difference with and without a sub? How does it combine/work together during music listening? Thanks in advance!
Hi Andrew, Thank you for the review. I live in the Paris (France) Greater area and next year I will be moving from a home with a comfortable living room (French point of view) and a focal 7.1 system to a new flat. I have bargained with my wife to go from a 55" to a 65" TV ( She does not realize the huge difference :-) ) but the WAF considering speakers, cables... being very low, I know I will to go for a brand new sound bar. Your review was very helpful. I will see what comes on the CES 2021 but as you say Soundbars are going the right way. Keep safe in the US.
Impressed how far these have come. For the price I'll stick with the flexibility of a 2 channel system but can really see the appeal of these for the convenience/performance combination
Soundbar = convenience. Nothing beats separate components. However great balanced review.
Is it really that difficult to put together two speakers and an av receiver? Once you connect everything you never have to put it together again. People are just lazy.
@@MattB415 a soundbar does more though. It's not just a pair of stereo front speakers.
Most rooms are unsuited for 5.1 systems. In my ten years in consumer audio I have almost encountered zero good sounding surround systems because their rooms had the acoustics of a church. No untreated rooms for home cinema (separate speakers + receiver) will ever sound good because of the acoustic mess.
@@liquicitizendirk2147 For the money that you can spend on this soundbar you can buy a pair of good speakers and a sub woofer that will blow it out of the water for half the price.
You don't have to have a surround sound system to have a good home theatre system. Quality speakers with an av receiver and a subwoofer will always sound better than a soundbar. @@matthiasstuer
Yay. I've been waiting for this one :)
Hope it was worth the wait!
Andrew Robinson it was a great video. This is one of the products I've always wanted but could never financially justify.
Hi does this support high res audio
Late to the party but buying this for 1799. What a deal.
I am looking forward to a review on the new Ambeo Plus and Ambeo Sub, as well as a bit of a re-review on the now markerted Max model with the recent software update
Agreed. I am starting to put together a new media room and am torn as to wait for Sennheiser to release the plus (seems to be delayed) or just go with the Max. On paper the plus seems like a next generation (smaller, less expensive, more refined). Weighing that against my concern that it seems less like an incremental improvement but something so different it is new; which waiting for a few reviews would be beneficial.
It's a one of the best all in one home theater system but the price is a bit expensive, by the way, I think that is worthy in my point of view, cuz I bought it.
What do you think about this sound bar? I am thinking to get it.
I’ve never had a soundbar in my home, altho I’ve listened to a ton (I work for a company that manufactures & sells high end home audio). I’m all too aware that soundbars have come a long way and provide an excellent alternative to multi-point speaker systems. I’m also a massive Senheisser fan and have been for 20 years, especially their headphones. Outstanding content as always. Thanks!
Thank you for watching and for sharing!
As someone who is dipping his toes into the audio world, the absolute disgusting amount of pretentiousness surrounding the hobby is a strong deterrent. Soundbars are perfect for simplicity. Don't have a lot of space, but one something OBJECTIVELY better than the poor speakers in your new flat screen? Why not spend a couple hundred dollars? Don't want to fiddle with all the intracacies of a dedicated sound system? They completely miss the point of having options like this. They are just mad they aren't the target market and will shit on anything that they determine is inferior. Pisses me off and really makes me not want to get into the hobby.
However, I love your channel and the way you present things. It's very refreshing from my other experiences online.
Ryadic, you and I are in complete sync. I couldn't have said it better myself. Cheers!
Ryadic Very well said. Some don’t realize choice helps our hobby. The more sound bars sold, means more people looking for a better experience. In turn, more effort gets put in to higher quality movies and music. Then they don’t think about needs for those that may not be able to setup a discrete system, or secondary systems. I have my theater, which my sound system is a 5.1.4 and relatively high end. Yet I’m looking for a good sound bar for my family room, watching series with my wife or movies when family is over, that I don’t need to watch in the highest quality, but still want to experience good sound. The space is open to both sides of the tv which is mounted above the fireplace, with no room for equipment. In their mind apparently we shouldn’t have the option.
This sound bar is over $2,000 dollars. Powered speakers are still a better deal.
@@MattB415 not if you don't want to fuss with setup or taking up the space in your room. There's value in that
Finally a honest review of the ambeo. I have one and newbie here and agree the fully 100% with your review . It's a very convenient HTS and my wife loves it for it's simplicity. Nice tip for music listening .Thanks and great job eat that Ratings.
So glad to hear you're enjoying your AMBEO!
Really enjoyed your review, you have convinced me into buying this soundbar. Right now I am running a 7.1.4 surround speaker system in a 13'.6"x12'.6" with a 110" projector acoustically transparent screen, but I hate the near field sound, so this may work out perfectly for me, and you are right it not the prettiest soundbar but I can put it behind my screen.
You’re review helped me decide to buy the Ambeo and there’s no looking back. Everything you have said about it is spot on.
I really like how it sounds when it streams stereo music, it’s exactly what I like.
What stereo speakers would you recommend that sound like the Ambeo, for music playback? (It’s for another room and I can’t fit another Ambeo). Just found the answer in the review!
Awesome review! This is the kind of review people are looking for on this sound bar. I’m still waiting on the Nakimachi 9.2.4. review with the duel subwoofers 🔊 🔊
This is an exceptional sound bar.. it’s for sure pricey but worth every penny for its simplicity and top notch performance
Love your reviews and I finally subbed! As a dedicated component system owner with speakers all over, your review convinced me and I am going to give this a try! Thanks and keep up the good work!
Awesome, thank you!
Change is scary when it comes to new tech. You got that right. Filling a room with sound is not like filling a room with unbelievable rich sound. Like listing to loud Kenwoods vs Klipsch Scalas. Keep up the pation and being unbiased as possible.
I would give a soundbar a try when shopping for a system. I'm past having a room full of speakers, much to my wife's relief, so the format certainly works. I have listened to a few in the past but that was a couple of years ago. I wasn't too impressed but, hey, stuff gets better so maybe it's time to try again.
Go for it!
Yes it's probably the best soundbar around at the moment but it won't replace your already dedicated speaker placement in a well placed room. My experience with listening to soundbars is the surround and up firing sound effects demineralise quickly and hardly noticeable anyway compared to a full blown home theatre set-up. Soundbars are best used in small rooms around 3.5metres wide by 5metres long.
Just bought this..damn this thing is good!!!Soundstage is 180 degrees but the 180 soundstage is real good and lot of front effects are playing up in the air over my 77' inch lg oled tv. Previously I had Bowers & Wilks Pano 2 and Sennheiser is much much better than it and as you mentioned more comparable to good high end stereo speakers. In my apartment, bass was 2 much and I had to lower it by 2 db. Are the sound effects very accurate placed... Probably not but it's still damn very good and the effects have texture thanks to the 5 quality tweeters. I find it sounds more immersive in midfield seating distance but it is great for apartment dwellers. The ambeo mode also sounds awesome for Live music.
I'm thinking of the same combo myself. I'm hoping it'll be awesome too in my apartment
@@Altair00rion It's perfectly proportional. LG cx 77 is 60 inches width and ambeo is 50". Also I don't think it's that ugly but beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I'm still wondering if it sounds better without grills but I'll test that later.
I found the soundstage much better on left side where I have a full wall. The Jack Reacher car chase scene, I found the sound of cars on my left side which I have never experienced on my stereo high end speakers (Adam Tensor Delta/Hegel HD30). These are not replacement for stereo speakers but it does Movies better than high end stereo speakers. Now if you don't have any walls on left or right side then the effects might be a bit subdued and your soundstage might be limited to front but you'll till get height in front of you but not over you.
SHEESH! the more I own the AMBEO! the more I love it! It's incredible! and paired with a MARTIN LOGAN 1100X subwoofer and OH WOW! this is SUPER EASY TO SETUP and THE SOUND IS DAMN INCREDIBLE! I highly recommend this! Gifted this setup for my Family and they love it so far!
Hey I see that you bought the Ambeo. How is the vocal clarity for you during high action scenes? What size room do you have it in? And by adding a sub do you think it makes the Ambeo even more detailed in the mids and high frequencies ? Much appreciated for your input…. I’m seriously looking at this as a compromise to a traditional 5.1…. I do have a lot of blue rays, some bars don’t support dtsx and other codes. And I noticed that all soundbars with wireless subs will never compete with a dedicated wired sub.
@@MrNickster12345 Dialogue is clear and accurate! it's not over boosted or saturated! its how you would hear dialogue if you were there in person! now it all depends on the mix! some movies just have terrible Dialogue but its very rare, and during action scenes dialogue is clear but also when its not clear its because of how it was more likely intended without vocals over boosted. You will hear and enjoy things in movies that you will never have heard before! and hear such substance! I love rewatching movies like Jurassic park, Matrix, and now I was rewatching black hawk down and I was astounded! the same with Saving Private Ryan! Then I was watching Kimi on HBO Max and I was just blown away by the clarity and just overall sound stage and presence! it is something you have to hear and experience! Having a Subwoofer is a must! you will enjoy this sound bar a lot! you will hear things in movie mixes that you never heard before!
Also Ready Player One the car racing scene is just EPIC! I have a little demo I recorded with my Iphone 13 pro in 4k and the recording does not do its justice! you have to buy one and just experience it!
The best sound I've heard and super super simple to setup!
Here are Pros
1. Sound Stage is HUGE! Power is impressive, Volume is stellar, you can listen to this soundbar in low to high volumes and you will have an enjoyable experience.
2. Vocals sound natural and do not dominate the sound
3. Surround sound and sound bouncing off walls and ceiling is amazing! it is room dependent but its exceptional in my area
4. Real Speaker Drivers! there is no replacement for displacement and the same is with Speakers
5. It's Sennheiser! the make the best surround sound DSP for consumers
6. it comes with simple and well built controller
7. Able to use any subwoofer with a subwoofer out line, Stand alone subwoofers are always better than soundbars that are limited to their subwoofer
8. Music sounds amazing! super accurate and natural sounding! just as good as listening to 2.1 system
9. Ambeo 3D surround effects is super immersive. You will hear things you haven't heard before in many movies!
10. Different sound profiles and ability to change EQ settings for each one.
11. Having dedicated HDMI connections directly to the SOUNDBAR, being able to plug in your devices into the sound bar is huge! its non compressed and does not need to pass through ARC or EARC. So its able to push out the best CODEC without relying on our TV to process the sound codec.
Cons
1. It's LARGE and HEAVY! you will more likely need another person to set this up! and I recommend mounting your TV to clear the soundbar size
2. App could be better, always have to reconnect to the bar if the app falls asleep on the phone
3. It always defaults to HDMI TV (EARC/ARC) when turning on majority of the time, so I have to use app or controller to change source to watch Xfinity 4k
4. It gets warm, so make sure you have enough room for it to breathe
5. Wish the speaker grill was magnetic so I can see the woofers in action
6. Your ears will get use to the sound and there is a break in period, it's impressive from the get go, but now dialogue is getting clearer and clearer as well as all the other details, or maybe my ears are getting more and more used to it.
7. Sennheiser Ambeo should release wireless rear speakers for us to truly experience a surround bubble, but it's not needed! but it would just be ICING on the cake!
I highly recommend giving this Soundbar a Try! Sennheiser knows that they are doing! and the price is justified. I paid 2k since it was on sale a week or so ago and it's been amazing and I always look forward to watching movies, tv, youtube, etc.
I bought mine a month ago on sale as well. Paired it with Klipsch RS100 sub woofer. Love it. The Ambeo calibrated sub where it blends nicely. I bet it would be even better with that pricey Martin Logan sub that kuya has. Maybe in the future. But still happy with my small Klipsch sub. Tested Samsung Q950A and and Sony A7000 and Bose 900. Room is 20 ft × 15 ft vaulted ceilings and open concept. Different level compared to other soundbars. EQ adjustments on App much better than other soundbars. Even music. I tested with Pink Floyd DSOTM lp and Classical stuff. Compares to my vintage set up down in basement. 20 yr old Yamaha receiver and 40 yr old Pioneer Tower speakers. Warm and silky smooth.
Andrew is correct. AMBEO is clear winner. And Andrew's wife Kristi said it best on another sounbar review comparison video..." you will have to take my Ambeo out of my cold dead hands".
@@thenote2367 100 agree! The clarity and the substance the soundbar bring is just full bodied! The soundstage is huge!
@@thenote2367 do you recall which Video Kristi said that about the Ambeo " you will have to take my Ambeo out of my cold dead hands"
I love the sennheiser headphones at our radio station and they’re pretty basic models, miles better than any of the other brands we have laying around. The construction behind the grille looked very impressive. Interested 😏
Wow, some heady praise ! Great review (as always)
Thanks for watching! It's a great yet bulky product. I love what it represents and the future it's helping to usher in.
It's $1700 now tempting to give it a try
Did you do it?? Thinking that same
Me too
@@TheGirlSkateBoardCothe dragon is going up to 3900usd. I'm thinking of getting this and a powered sub.
Soundbar seems like easiest way to add atmos to your home cinemas, but I think I’d like one with dedicated rear speakers. Beam steering seems difficult to achieve from behind. Which makes sense.
I have no issues with replacing my current surround with a proper soundbar, think it would free up some space and ease for a more dedicated stereo system. The soundbar would probably be enough for that too, but what’s the fun in that 😁
Fantastic review like always. Love seeing the soundbars reviewed. Would really love to see some more focal products on the channel as well. They do make a sound bar I believe!
Two huge advantages of this are a dedicated subwoofer out which is very rare, and it still has freaking RCA analog inputs to hook up like a turntable preamp. My friend just got the Samsung 990b but in my symmetrical reflective room for a while now I've thought this would be my choice. Really wish they'd come out with the Plus so people can review that!
But I actually have a state-of-the-art analog system with AR Phantom rear speakers and M-Ch Audio Research preamp...so I still can't imagine this being a single unit would throw off as convincing rear speaker sound is what I have.
You’ve convinced me. I own a number of their high end headphones; giving this sound bar a try. Question: What subwoofer would be the best fit with this sound bar in your opinion?
My answer to your last question in this review: "what would it take for you to consider a soundbar?" is Room Size. I've got a 11.5 feet by 9.5 feet room, so a full size 5.1 surround system is a bit hard to setup in this room when there's also a slant back corner on the left. Also the door is setup on the right back corner of the room, so satellite speakers placement are near impossible. I'm very tempted to buy the Ambeo but heard a second version with "softer" price would come out soon around this year or the next, so I'll hold off till your next review on the second Ambeo version.
I don't know I managed to setup a very nice 7.2 with a 48 inch CX setup in a 10x 8foot space and it works really well, I don't think space has to be a massive concern
Could you also make a review video about the Sonos Surround Kit with the Arc?
I’m really curious about this set-up as a daily driver.
Just wish more soundbar manufacturers would include wireless backspeakers like LG SN11RG and Samsung HW-950 etc. That makes adds so much more that bubble feel.
Nice to get a review to that soundbar from you. I heard it around release here in Germany in a presentation together with mpeg-h audio codec and was totally impressed. Glad you liked it too.
Great channel. Keep up the good work
Greatings from Germany
Thanks for sharing your experience! We think it's an awesome solution for people. Thanks so much for watching! Always fun to see people from around the world.
Excellent production quality (audio, video, narration, useful info). Thanks and keep it up!
Much appreciated!
Excellent review and video. I also have an “L” shaped room and was concerned how this performed in a room without a right wall. Thank you for the great info. VERY helpful and professional.
i am trying to decide between 4 systems....the Sennheiser Ambeo with a svs PB3000 subwoofer .. or .. Sonos Arc / 2 subs / 2 SL ones ( or add fives )... or the Samsung Q950A....or the SONY HT-A9 speakers what are your thoughts and recommendations of which is the better system...i watch ALOT of movies and tv shows 95 % and music 5 %...thx...cheers from Canada
I have the Ambeo with a Kube 12 and also a Samsung Q950a tested in a room you might call the ideal room in terms of sound reflections. The Ambeo in terms of sound quality/texture is much better than the Samsung from the front. The bass unit on the Samsung is servicable but sounds a little muddy to me and will not compare to your PB3000 obviously. The surround effects are much better on the Samsung with the additional rears, the Ambeo does a great job with Atmos height effects but you won't get much more than a 180 degree soundstage in front of you. So it depends on how much the rear effects mean to you, do not buy the Ambeo if this is the highest priority.
these look awesome and from the tests I’ve heard they sound impressive like I’m at a movie theater or something
It's a very good soundbar.
YOUR THOUGHTS on which sub to put with the Sennheiser Ambeo.....thx...cheers from Canada.......i watch 95% movies and TV shows and 5% music....thx i look forward to your advice
This seems great, but I could only justify a purchase of this bar if I knew I wasn't EVER in my life going to buy something like the HT A9 or an improved version of that. I think I'm just gonna wait a couple years for Sony to bring out something like the HT A9 that comes with a dedicated centre channel. In the meantime, I'm having a blast with the Sony Z9F soundbar.
2 scenarios. Soundbar used is ambeo and tv is SONY XR A95( XR-65A95K)
1. If I connect amazon firestick 4k to hdmi in of the soundbar and then tv's hdmi earc port with hdmi out of soundbar via hdmi 2.1 cable, the sound of, let's say a movie on Netflix, isn't that great.
2. I connect amazon firestick 4k to any hdmi in port of TV. Tv 's hdmi earc port remains connected to hdmi out (earc) port of soundbar via hdmi 2.1 cable. And then I play movies on Netflix app of firestick 4k. Sound is completely different and better.
I tested ambeo with these. In the first setting, even ambeo didn't sound great. What are your thoughts?
Thanks for the detailed review Andrew. I completely agree with all the points. The main problem with the soundbars like these with up-firing speakers come with a constrains. For me, in my room, I have a ceiling fan, which will definitely spoil the sound fired upwards toward. So, even thought had plans to buy some LG soundbar with up-firing speakers, I dropped all those ideas, working to purchase a dedicated home theater system!. Also, its bit pricey to go for. For now, I am using a very basic soundbar from Sony HT-X8500..
Fantastic review. Articulate, informative, and wonderfully non-sales pitchy!
I was going to drive a few hours to the closest store that has one to demo. After this review and similar room set up...count it. Brilliant review. Bloopers on the B&O were pretty funny too. Cheers
Great review Andrew.. keep posting such videos...n stay safe🥂
Thanks, you too!
The most reliable channel on the home entertainment tech. It would be fantastic if you can make a review video on Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 Channel Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar with Dual 10" Subwoofers (Wireless), 4 Rear Surround Effects Speakers, eARC and SSE Max Technology (2022).
The Nakamichi systems are laughably bad. Cheap very lightweight construction, like a cheap toy. It cannot be compared to something like Ambeo.
Also Nakamichi uses cheap in house subs whereas the Ambeo has a real LFE line out and can be used with any subwoofer aka a real subwoofer. Don't waste your money I have spent time with those bars and they suck.
@@tac6044 what about the 2023 Nakamichi DRAGON 😍
Waiting for the Ambeo plus review! ❤
I have replied to several of your videos about soundbars and such...your videos have helped me ALOT with making peace with the fact that a sound bar can meet my needs. I had a discrete system in the past but current living space is just too small.
Very happy to know they have been of help to you. Enjoy what works for you, B!
$2500 is an expensive gamble but I'm considering it. Thanks, as always.
See if Sennheiser doesn't offer an in-home trial, that way you'll know for sure if it's right for you or not.
Andrew...would you mind doing ALL reviews on RUclips? Holy *&#@ you could read the New York phone book out loud and I would still listen right 'till the end!
Oh, and very, very good no-nonsense review. 👌🏼
First off, decent review. Love the soothing tone of your voice. I am considering a soundbar because I live in a brick house and have a big dog and 2 little children. So the idea of wires although tucked away is not done because it is ugly the route I would have to take with the cable-management. My house is full of Sonos. But I have a lot of blurays with DTS (X) sound. Plus my current system has 2 hdmi ins and I use a total of 5. So if I take the Sonos route I have to keep switching HDMI’s and lose DTS playback in surround. So I am thinking Samsung Q950t. I hope you can give us a review in the near future. Or get back to me here. Much appreciated. Thx, a fan from Belgium
We have a Samsung in house for review (just arrived) but it's not the Q950t. We'd love to know just how good the Sonos is and we've tried reaching out to them but it's crickets. Let them know you want to see their products on the channel and maybe that'll motivate them. :)
Andrew Robinson I’ll do my part. My main problem is the DTS. The switching of hdmi is not that often. I am confused about the pcm lpcm part. As I see it now only Samsung and oppo 203 wich don’t exist anymore converted DTS tot lpcm. I have to buy everything now. So I don’t want only stereo. Is there a way around that I am missing?
Hi Andrew, great review! I'm looking to get the Sennheisser Ambeo. One of the things that attract me beside the good quality sound is that it can act as an AVR as well. But after going through the specifications I have some question on its listed HDMI output of HDCP 1.4. All its HDMI inputs are listed as HDCP 2.2. What am I missing? Appreciate your advise. Thanks!
The ambeo (max) is now the same price as the Ht-a9 (sans sub) and about the same as the ambeo plus with sub. The plot thickens
I was actually considering this before buying a traditional setup. Only thing that stopped me was that I have a uniquely shaped room with called ceilings and didn’t see the point in spending that kind of money if I couldn’t get the full surround experience I was paying for
I watch this channel for home décor ideas as well.
I love this!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews of course - your TV stand / cabinet - where is it from??
Good job 👍🏾
I finally took the plunge and purchased the Ambeo soundbar went it went on sale. The sound is indeed brilliant immersive theater sound in your home BUT… as amazing as it sounds, the lack of a subwoofer is not subtle. In fact, it’s downright obvious and inexcusable for a soundbar in this price range, even with $500 off. The missing bottom is not only obvious (not borderline opinion) but totally lacking in movies like godzilla vs. king kong or the dc movies. The “footsteps, punches, and crashes” they use in recent movies is all but completely missing. Since I saved on the purchase, I justified springing for a $249 400 watt Klipsch from Costco. Problem solved, but indeed, a serious problem, not just an issue for “bass enthusiasts”. I have 14 days to take it all back if and exchange for the Samsung q950a. Not sure I want to, but I think it may be worth the trouble to demo both solutions given the price difference.
Q900a is amazing
Well I'm not going to throw my 6.1 Pioneer THX Certified Receiver away, so unless Seinheiser makes a passive Soundbar soon, I'll go with the Definite Technology XTR-SSA5 soundbar instead.
In this price range- no 👎
I actually consider a Sennheiser bar as a center channel until i realize it was a self contained sound bar and not a center channel. It sounded very good 👍
For me at that price point I, again I, would go with seperates. And go through the hassles of set up. But I am a DIY-er.
For the average Joe Q Public ab-so-lutely they s hould consider an all-in-one solution. But they need to audition it first and make sure it ticks off their boxes.
As always a stellar veiw. :-D
Now that I have a dedicated home theater setup, I’d gladly switch to a soundbar, if it offered at least same sound quality at same or lower price. It’s easy to setup, it’s easy to use and they’re generally cheaper then a full blown home theater setup.
Thank for another great video! :)
Thank you so much! We appreciate you watching.
This looks like using similar principals to the YPS (Yamaha Sound Projector) models from Yamaha, which started with the huge YSP-1 in 2005, developed into the even huger Atmos YSP-5600, upto the latest excellent YSP-2700 which is a thin 7.1 surround system from 2017 (?). Worth checking I think for fun if you can get your hands on one - you'd be surprised :)
Thank you for the review, to answer your question: it doesn’t take anything for me to consider something like this, it’s a matter of priorities. I need an elegant sound solution for being a parent that just so happens to enjoy high fidelity while also needing speaker stands, cables, things with buttons and even av furniture not to be present. I have a (mostly) discrete 5.1 system with floor standing speakers on all 4 corners. They are awesome, unfortunately, kids like them too. Just not for the same reasons I do. And don’t get me started on blue buttons, it’s like cat nip for kids.
Robinson, though I watched this video the week you released it and seing how things have played out with new product entry. Three years later, will you recommend buying the Sennheiser Ambeo for $1,999?
Hi Andrew, another awesome review. If I am going to use the sound system more for movie watching, would the LG SN11RG better than Ambeo?
I would be curious to know what it would take for yall to replace your current setup with the Ambeo? Now, I am by no means a person that is well versed in audio, as I am sitting here ripping BB Kings Paying the Cost to be the Boss from CD to FLAC (antiquated NAS stuff), but my response to the aforementioned question would be, aside from the ease of setup and use, and also taking into account I have not heard it, I would tend to think a modest 5.1 say for under 2000 would at least keep up with it and most likely best it for both 2 channel listening and HT duties leaving 500 - 600 to still play with.
If I were to step away from the review game that required me to swap gear out on almost a daily basis, I'm already there.
I’ve actually been using a soundbar that has a similar setup to this (albeit without the Dolby Atmos support), which is the Yamaha YSP-1600 5.1 soundbar. It has a similar beam-firing speaker setup in the front with two top firing speakers on the left and right side and vents behind those. So far its been the only soundbar that has given me LPCM surround sound with my Nintendo Switch and anything else I’ve plugged into it that supports 5.1 surround sound and while the mids are hit or miss, the bass and treble are very good imo assuming you are using it in a room where the sound can reflect off walls effectively. I think I spent around $300 for it a couple years ago (it was around $500-600 when it launched around ‘15-‘16).
Keep up the great work, Andrew! Been watching your videos the past several weeks and learned a lot (including powered speakers like the Kantos).
If you get a chance, would love to see a review of the new (2020) Bose TV Speaker soundbar, especially for those with smaller rooms or volume limitations.
Cheers!
For films, do you think is better this Ambeo or better go for Klipsch The Five (eventually adding the sub)? Thanks
How about Yamaha YSP 5600 Sound Bar
I would like to see you do a review on it.
Please review the beosound stage, quality piece of kit !
We'd love to! Let B&O know you'd like to see them on the channel. We're bordering protective order territory with the number of times we've tried reaching out at this point. 😂😂
Hey Andrew, the Ambeo plus has recently been launched. Any plans to review the new version with a possible comparison to the original Ambeo?
Wow...$2,500?!? I realize you get what you pay for, but you can get a pretty darn good separates system for that kind of money. Yamaha TSR-7850 Atmos receiver for $300 - $500. Tekton Lore Reference for $750 for a pair. Add a low-profile Tekton center for $425, and a pair of Mini-Lore Monitors for $565 for surrounds, and you have yourself a kick-butt system for $2,240 at the absolute most (I would opt for the Yamaha TSR-7850R refurbished unit which you can find for $325). And, if you go the Tekton route, you can have them custom painted to basically any color you like for an additional $100-ish (for all 5 speakers). Sure, you don't have a subwoofer, but the Lore Reference is rated down to 37 Hz, and I would be shocked if the Sennheiser Ambeo could outperform them from a bass standpoint. I love the technology, and I love the convenience, but I just can't see recommending the Ambeo at that price ($1,000 sure, $1,500 maybe, $2,000+ no way)...
Just curious, how long did it take for your Tektons to arrive?
Kristi Wright just about 8 weeks. Well worth the wait... they’re perfect. That said, my son bought a set of standard Lores that were “blems” at a fairly significant discount, he got them immediately and they were perfect too (we literally could not find a defect on them anywhere, and they sound perfect as well). We were actually wondering if they possibly sent him the wrong set. But, we heard that what Eric Alexander considers a blemish isn’t what most would consider one to be...
To clarify, I did have mine custom painted, as well (Behr Shadow Mountain grey)...
I almost bought this when it came out 2 years ago. Went with a Samsung N950 sound-bar instead. It was over $1,000 cheaper, plus it has wireless rear speakers to complete it’s surround sound effects. The Samsung is excellent, especially with high quality source material, but it does have some quirks that are at times annoying . Even so, I still think I should have given the Ambeo a try. I’m looking forward to your review of a Samsung sound-bar. Very curious how you think they compare. Thanks for the great review!
I agree with you on the looks of it, not the most appealing. I'm kind of leaning towards the Bang and Olufsen because it looks very classy and also boasts a great sound. Great review though, thank you.