Customer Ratings & Reviews

This is my first sound bar. The app is very helpful. It helped me dial in the sound I prefer. I wanted to use the ambeo feature but there were times when the sound seemed to be "pushing". It would pick up bass that was unneeded. Ambeo of and voice enhanced was the sweet spot for me. We have a small living room and I didn't want a separate sub. This sound bar checked off a lot of boxes for us. I would recommend it for small spaces if you don't want multiple speakers.

Sound is great for a sound bar. I’m usually a surround system person with AVR and speakers but was pleasantly surprised with his good this sounds.

The audio quality is gem. I got this after trying out all other sound bars in bb including sonos, lg, Samsung, Vizio, Sony and bose. None of them beats the evident difference in audio quality. If i had the budget, would've gone for the ambeo plus. Highly recommend this if you have the budget.

Fantastic Sound!! It's definitely worth the buy! You can really hear the sound travel! The perfect soundbar for the bedroom. It truly gives that 7.1.4 surround sound feel. I'm hearing sounds I have never heard before from my old music. It really amazing. I also love how I can enhance the voice on there. 10/10

Very powerful sound bar for the price. It’s much better than the Sonos beam. If you want premium sound for your living room get this sound bar over anything else. It has FULL 3D audio and takes movie watching to a whole new level

I was delighted with just the TV. But after getting the Sennheiser Soundbar, my TV-watching experience completely changed. I wish Everyone could afford a sound bar with their TV.

PROS + Ambeo 3D surround virtualization is almost magically effective from such a small bar + Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible for movie 3D audio + Hi-Fi audio quality all around + Auto calibration for your room with built-in mics + Solid center channel and dialogue enhancements + Several audio mode presets and app EQ + Very compact and minimalist design + Handy remote with lots of functionality + Sennheiser App with Ambeo|OS provides a ton of control over the bar, and is quite responsive CONS - Without actual up-firing drivers, height effects from 3D mixes are somewhat limited, and can vary heavily depending on your space - At times, the audio can sound over-processed with the Ambeo mode engaged, specifically with some music sources - Decent low-end presence given the size of the small size of the bar, but adding a subwoofer would go a long way towards filling our audio tracks - Limited additional ports on the bar (limited to one eARC HDMI, and a USB port) WHAT WOULD MAKE IT BETTER * The ability to add wireless surround speakers would be great. You can add a Senneiser wireless subwoofer if you want that extra low-end, but there is currently no option for additional wireless surround sound speakers THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini is a great choice for anyone looking for a compact soundbar who still wants a hi-fi audio experience. Sound quality in particular is what Sennheiser is known for across their soundbars and headphones, and the Ambeo Mini does not disappoint in this regard. Despite being incredibly compact at about 2.5” x 27.5” x 4”, the bar is incredibly potent when it comes to audio quality. With the Ambeo processing engaged, you get a shockingly wide and mobile soundscape that, with the right kind of audio source, can sound MUCH bigger than the small bar itself. I would highly recommend checking out the included audio demos accessible via the Sennheiser app, as they really showcase what the Ambeo Mini can do in some almost magical ways. The Primal demo in particular had sounds flying around the room in a convincing manner that, while I never felt I was in the middle of a surround sound system, I absolutely had the impression of a virtual bubble of sound around me. It was really surprising to me just how effective the bar was at making this effect, given its small size and limited number of drivers. In some cases, it sounded like genuine wizardry just how it was placing precise sounds in places in the room around me. The bar almost vanishes into the soundscape, without drawing attention to itself. It isn’t always perfect, as this 3D virtualization can sometimes be stretched a bit too far and you can find complex tracks or music can get a little over-processed sounding without the extra drivers in the bar, but honestly I found this few and farther between. You can also disable Ambeo processing for things like music if you prefer a more traditional stereo or mono sound that is unprocessed by the bar. Speaking of audio quality, Sennheiser really excels here. Even when you take away all of the fancy Amebo audio processing and upscaling, you are still left with clearly high quality drivers that can reproduce sound extremely well, with high detail and definition. I personally never felt the need to touch the EQ, although you certainly can, but for my casual audiophile ears, I found the default sound quality with the “Adaptive” audio preset to be very good for my tastes in both movies and music. Music in particular sounded great, especially with the Ambeo processing dialed down, to give tracks a raw audio quality that came through with fantastic texture. This is bolstered by the Ambeo Mini’s support for high-quality audio codecs and hi-res audio sources. I listened to music over Airplay with Apple Music and Spotify, and played music directly over HDMI from my Apple TV 4K, and everything sounded fantastic. In particular, I actually enjoyed Dolby Atmos music quite a bit, which offered a nice 3D soundscape that pushed out into the room and made me feel more like I was in a concert hall during certain tracks. I did find the bass lacking a bit with movies, but for TV and music it felt more than sufficient. I would highly recommend investing in a Sennheiser wireless subwoofer however, as it will add a lot to the sound quality of the bar for both movies and music in my opinion. In terms of set-up and build quality, both were great experiences. The build quality is fantastic, with a matte black top of the bar, capacitive buttons, and cloth wrapped grill around the bar. It looks great on my TV stands, and feels very solid for such a little bar. It had the feel and impression of quality, through and through in my opinion. This being said, despite being such a small form factor, I do wish there was a wider port selection on the bar itself. You do get an eARC HDMI port for connecting to your TV, but there are no additional HDMI ports, so you cannot connect additional devices directly to the bar. This means if your TV doesn’t support DTS for example, you may not be able to get it played on the Mini, unless you use an alternative solution like a receiver. In my opinion, this makes a strong case of the Mini being best suited for bedrooms, or smaller rooms with a TV that doesn’t have a lot of media you want to connect. You can still use eARC, which may work fine if you don’t plan to connect other devices to the bar directly, but you are somewhat reliant on your TV in this case. Additionally, given the smaller form factor of the bar and reliance on virtualized surround sound, a smaller room will likely suit this bar much better, as it will be able to work its virtualization magic a bit easier. I tested mine in a room that was probably larger than recommended, but honestly was shocked by how well it produced 3D audio. It had me following sounds through the air with my head in a way I simply have not seen virtualized sound do this well without wearing a pair of headphones. I think Sennheiser’s Ambeo technology really is the best in the business. One of my favorite features of the bar is the auto self-calibration, which uses built-in mics on the bar to calibrate it for your space by running a series of test tones. It is a very quick and seamless process done via the app, and when finished, I noticed a significant improvement in sound quality and surround sound virtualization in my space. Don’t skip this step! All-in-all I really love this little bar, and it continues Sennheiser’s legacy of putting audio quality above all else. It won’t work miracles, so don’t go in expecting this to replace a dedicated home theater system, but for such a compact bar, meant to be used in smaller spaces, it more than does the job for creating an all around audio powerhouse. Definitely put this near the top of your list if you are looking for a compact soundbar with premium sound and build quality.

Sennheiser has released their AMBEO Soundbar "Mini". It's a smaller version of their Soundbar "Plus" and does not include a subwoofer. The box includes the soundbar, power cable, HDMI cable, remote control, and quick user guide/paperwork. The soundbar comes with a manufacturer's 2-year warranty. PROS: ----------- * For a smaller sound bar, this one packs a nice punch featurewise and soundwise for smaller areas. * The app provides some sample Dolby Atmos audio files (video included on the device). They sound very cool and also demonstrate the way this soundbar can distribute sound throughout a room. When watching action movies like Top Gun Maverick and Avengers, the sound is spaced out very well, even with the lack of bass. This is even more enhanced with the AMBEO function set to ON. * The speaker is a very solidly built unit and looks super fine in front of a TV. The big rubber feet on the bottom keep it in place. The lighting on top (LED colors, motion, and length represent a ton of different things) and with the AMBEO logo on the front add a nice touch. * The remote is incredibly well-built and solid as well. It even has rubber feet on the bottom so it won't scratch furniture tops. * There is no ON/OFF switch. The soundbar simply is working when there's a connection, and goes into auto-standby when not in use. * There are bolt holes on the bottom that can be used to mount the soundbar (see pic) * This mini soundbar CAN be paired with a Sennheiser sub if needed. CONS: ----------- * Bass is lacking due to small form factor and no sub * Bluetooth (BT) volume is lacking, even when device's connected volume is at MAX. * Initial setup was a bit more wonky than other audio devices I have connected to. I use the latest and greatest Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and S22+, and I wasn't able to connect easily. It showed in my bluetooth (BT) list but wouldn't connect. I downloaded the Sennheiser app, and tried to continue setup/connection, and it still failed. After about 10 minutes, randomly, it "just connected" while in the app. Very strange. I immediately performed the recommended firmware update which then took another ~20 minutes, give or take. * Even with the mini form factor, I was hoping for more than just an HDMI/ARC connection. A digital fiber audio input would have been a great and simple addition to an already-great soundbar. * As well-built as the remote is, it's a bit busy on the lower half with all the sound type buttons. This isn't a huge negative since the only other way to change this might be in the app itself. I don't tend to change modes very often, so this is just personal preference. * The app seems to function well, but on the main page, there's a lot of wasted real estate (see pic). OTHER OBSERVATIONS: ----------- * The AMBEO function works great in most instances if you're trying to spacialize your sound; however, I found that listening to regular music actually sounded better with this function OFF. If ON, it seems to emulate more of a "concert" feel which is really the listener's preference. * Actual paperwork included for operation include a quick user guide printed in multiple languages. If you want the full user guide, you can get it on the Sennheiser website. I highly recommend getting it because it explains all the light sequences/colors of the status light on top of the unit in addition to its full functionality. * I found that when I went from Spotify (using BT) to Spotify Connect mode (playing the same song), that Spotify Connect actually provided more sound/power overall. I'd have to say maybe 30% louder. CONCLUSION: ===================== I have never been one to own a soundbar without a sub - this was my first one. I really thought it would be better, but I guess I'm just used to a complete soundbar system. I think the only place this soundbar might be useful would be in a kitchen, a small apartment (where bass could annoy your neighbors), back porch (if climate controlled), or other small area where bass isn't really useful or needed. Anytime I watch a movie, the subwoofer makes it for me. When I listen to music, the subwoofer makes it for me. I simply enjoy the low frequencies that "complete" an audio experience. Though this soundbar does a good job for the size, it's typically not enough for me. So in more compact areas, it would definitely work better OR if you are someone that simply doesn't like a lot of bass, this would be the perfect soundbar for you. Audio is crystal clear, and the different audio functions are spot-on for what you are listening to (news vs sports vs music, etc). I give this bar a good rating, but still think something is missing that would take it even further - maybe a front display of some sort even so the user doesn't need to know the color codes and motions of the LED on top of the soundbar. Not having an optical input is also a negative. But overall, still a very nice product and would still recommend.

The Sennheiser audio family has a reputation for providing some of the best sound devices available for both professional and consumer. They offer a wide range of audio products, with everything from headphones, speakers, and are now introducing the AMBEO line of soundbars for TV. They offer three different variants of this soundbar, with this one being sans subwoofer as the “Mini” model. In the box you’ll find the soundbar, power cable, a remote, and some warranty material. Unboxing the soundbar is met with a nice premium wrap around the speaker, helping to keep it clean until you remove it from the box. There is only an HDMI which supports ARC and USB port. It features bluetooth connectivity and supports Apple AirPlay 2. Using WiFi, you can also enable voice assistants like Amazon Alexa (which is what I opted to use) and Google Home. Given the size of the soundbar, I was surprised that it offered Dolby Atmos, DTS-X, MPEG-H Audio, and also includes 360 Reality Audio (a codec I’m not terribly familiar with). The remote offers most of the buttons you’ll likely need; such as volume, source, night mode, voice enhanced audio, and various EQ settings for movies and music. Personally, I kept mine on “Adaptive” sound, which allowed the speaker to adjust based on the content I was playing. For such a small form factor, It boasts 7.1.4 surround sound allowing for more immersive sound from just the AMBEO Mini alone. This particular model supports the use of a subwoofer, which can be purchased separately. Setting up the sound bar is fairly simple using a free “Smart Control” App which allows you to take advantage of additional audio EQ options and enhancements. The soundbar also supports TIDAL, Spotify, and even has Chromecast built-in for those with Android based devices. The sound can be calibrated once you’ve set up the Mini using the app, and even allows you to adjust the center channel audio. After a quick firmware update, I was up and running in a matter of minutes, with only an HDMI cable connection required on my TV. I was surprised to see that my Apple TV immediately detected the ability to play Atmos when watching movies in my library. The sound is full, the bass is surprisingly enjoyable, and the mid and high tones come in clearer than my previous soundbar. The night mode does a great job balancing the audio for those late night viewing parties, all without the sudden loud booms during an action flick. The smaller form factor made this a great fit for my bedroom media chest, and given the full sound I didn’t bother picking up the subwoofer. Overall, I’m happy to report that Sennheiser really delivers with the AMBEO Soundbar Mini. The small form factor allows it to fit in almost any listening environment, it produces sound you’d expect from a much larger soundbar, and the bass was plenty for my listening enjoyment. This is a solid buy!

This Sennheiser AMBEO Mini sound bar has a lot of speaker in a small package. It has six speakers which includes two subwoofers all in a sturdy, compact and attractive housing. It works with voice assistants like Alexa and Google. The Alexa connection was easy and fast. You touch the action button to enable speaking to Alexa. I never did get the Chromecast connection to work while doing the setup so I will have to contact support for that. The LED status bar changes colors to indicate different functions. For example, white when booting up or updating the firmware, red when the max volume is reached, blue when pairing with Bluetooth, and purple for other functions. The same goes for the subwoofer display – it also changes colors to indicate when it is pairing, connected, On, and Calibrated. The room calibration function is interesting. Once you set the soundbar where you want it, the soundbar transmits signals throughout the room to capture audio information about your room. The process creates a position for virtual 7.1.4 phantom speakers within the room. When you move the speaker, you repeat the process, and it adjusts to the new environment. For techies, it is interesting to note that the display will indicate which audio CODEC (Dolby, DTS:X, or MPEG-H) is being supported (as long as the audio source supports the CODEC as well). The sound emanating from the soundbar is nothing short of excellent. Voices are crips and audible, even without turning on the “Voice Enhancement” feature. Turn it on and you hear a difference that focuses on the voices. In the demo, helicopter sound feels like it is moving from one side to the other. There is a 3D feel to the sounds, such as announcers in the foreground and fans in the background. I like that I can connect either directly using the HDMI cable, or via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. I connected my iPhone via Bluetooth and was immediately playing my music through this powerful speaker. The Sennheiser Sound Control App is very useful. It allows you to select the type of listening experience (Adaptive, Music, Movie, News, etc.), enhance voices, perform the calibration, and adjust Settings. It also comes with a remote control to adjust inputs, volumes, and select from the experiences as above. I do not hesitate to recommend this product.

I want to do this a little differently and start with the TLDR version. Here are some quick pros and cons of the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini Soundbar: Pros: eARC, Excellent sound quality, Small and compact design, Easy to set up and use, Creates a surround sound experience, no account needed for app. Cons: Low bass, no HDMI out which affected me greatly, No Optical in which also affected me greatly, I don’t know how to turn it off… so it makes randon popping noises. Here’s my experience: I've been using the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini Soundbar as my main soundbar in my ‘man cave’ and I'm really impressed with it. It's a great all-in-one soundbar that delivers excellent sound quality for its size. The Ambeo Mini is small and compact, making it easy to place on a TV stand or shelf. It has a sleek, minimalist design that will complement any décor. The soundbar is also very easy to set up and use. The sound quality of the Ambeo Mini is really impressive. It produces a really clear sound with good mids and highs, but it’s very bad when it comes to bass. I think that’s the reason why there’s an optional subwoofer because by itself, it lacks in that department. Don’t get me wrong, it’s SIGNIFICANTLY better than your Laptop Pro, mobile phone, or TV speaker. I’d even go as far as to say it’s better than any portable ‘party’ speaker too. The soundbar also does a great job of creating a surround sound experience, after you get it setup from the app. The app was super easy to use, and didn't even require an account! Just installed, paired, then firmware updated, and I was off to the races! This is how it SHOULD BE for all companies! I applaud Sennheiser for that! But if you have an account you can connect it to it if you want. I've used the Ambeo Mini to watch movies, TV shows, play video games and listen to music, and it has delivered great sound in all those scenarios with optional sound profiles to match. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a high-quality soundbar that doesn't take up a lot of space. I wish it had better bass though. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though! It annoyed me with its random popping noises when I wasn’t watching anything and all my devices were off. It was like it was picking up interference from my router or phone in random intervals. Like it’ll pop every 30 seconds, the other times once in a couple hours. The pops are quiet but I feel like if I knew how to just put it in standby it wouldn’t be an issue. But the BIGGEST issue I had was an issue with my setup. My TV only has one eARC port and it’s on one of the two HDMI 2.1 ports. So I had to move my Xbox into an HDMI 2.0 port! This isn’t Sennheiser’s fault per se, but because there’s no optical input, no HDMI 2.1 passthrough, it basically caused me to choose if I really wanted this Ambeo in my mancave or not. I seriously considered moving it to my living room where it’ll do fine and I won’t have to sacrifice a port. Ultimately I decided I’ll just get a new TV with 4 HDMI 2.1 ports instead since I like the darn thing too much. Overall, the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini Soundbar is a great choice for anyone looking for a high-quality soundbar that doesn't take up a lot of space. It delivers excellent sound quality and creates a surround sound experience that will make you feel like you're right in the middle of the action. If you can get the sub which I have on order, it’ll transform your listening experience to something that’ll make your friends jealous!

This sleek, beautiful black Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini caught my eye as someone who's always looking for the best sound. If you take it out of the box, you can see right away that a lot of thought and planning went into making it. For any style, its simple design will work, and the matte black finish makes it look classy. Being worried about this shows how important people think it is to look stylish. There are some places where the AMBEO Soundbar Mini doesn't work as well as others, but that's not where its great music quality shines. The brilliant soundscape that comes from the speaker is made possible by Sennheiser's AMBEO 3D audio technology. Seeing a big-budget movie or listening to your favorite song can make you feel like you're right in the middle of things. This is the best gear to have if you want to find great songs. The sound is rich, crisp, and clear, which adds to the general atmosphere of peace and comfort in the room. When you use the customizable sound setting, the device makes sure it works as well as it can in your environment based on how it sounds. This lets you enjoy sound that fits your environment best. The more subtle sounds of a standard symphony and deep, reverberating bass are just a few of the sounds that it can very well imitate. One of the best things is that there are many ways to stay together. Because it supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2, you can connect a lot of different devices to it. Your game system, your phone, and your TV are all easy to connect to the AMBEO Soundbar Mini. There is also a well-designed remote handle that is easy to use that comes with it. It's possible to change the sound profile and how the AMBEO 3D effect works with a program if you are more tech-savvy. There is a lot of control you can use to make sure that the time you spend listening to music is what you want it to be. AMBEO Soundbar Mini was easy for me to use and set up. Making sure everything is hooked up first, then plug it in. There will then be a huge selection of musical styles for you to pick from. Everyone should be able to get the most out of it, even if they aren't very good with music technology. To put it another way, you could say that the AMBEO Soundbar Mini is an investment in your quest for the best music sound quality. Anyone who is worried about sound quality should get this small gadget. It has the most realistic sound I've ever heard. Looking at everything, the black Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini is just beautiful. Sound great, looks great, and uses cutting edge technology. You can turn your living room into a very loud movie theater or music venue with this small but powerful piece of gear. One great thing about the AMBEO Soundbar Mini is that it lets you improve your sound and get lost in music at the same time.

Sennheiser - AMBEO Soundbar Mini. The newest TVs, with their photo-quality images and bigger screens, demand a sound quality and “bigness” that matches. In fact, in my biggest rooms, my home theater and family room I’ve configured audio systems that are pretty grand. I’m spoiled. In my bedroom and smaller activity room I want high quality picture and sound, too. Sennheiser’s AMBEO gets both quality and “big” almost perfectly. Even where I have a trivial criticism, Sennheiser offers solutions. SETUP: The process is a (a) connect power and HDMI wire to the ARC input/output of your TV; (b) download the Sennheiser SMART CONTROL App; and with your soundbar powered on; (c) a bluetooth connection is immediate followed by a hand-off to WiFi. I felt like I was trying to keep up with Sennheiser’s flow of activities, ‘cause it all happened so fast. The App provides some initial guidance and invites you to calibrate the AMBEO so it performs best in your room. The AMBEO uses an array of microphones for the calibration and for responding to Alexa or Google or Siri commands. Setting up my desired Google control was easy. This is all slick and flawless and had me searching for my first movie to try. Top Gun: Maverick and we’re filling the room with cinema quality sound. Well, very close. FEATURES and PERFORMANCE: I didn’t need to know anything or set anything special to achieve outstanding sound from my TV, using the TV’s internal Apps, or the Apple TV connected to it. The AMBEO received the multichannels from either my TV or my streaming device. It creates a 3-dimensional sound stage with its 6 internal speakers (4 full-range and 2, 4” woofers). It is very convincing in every way. I should also note that there is a nice remote control that I rarely used. But it gives access to volume and a number of other settings. The Sennheiser SMART CONTROL App offers a set of adjustments for both connectivity and sound modifications. There’s a set of equalization controls behind EDIT on the Adaptive button. or I can use the fixed equalizations provided by Music, Movie, News, Sports, or Neutral. There is Voice Enhancement and you can recalibrate at any time. No searching for the calibration mic; it’s built in. The AMBEO, in my opinion, outperforms some really good soundbars. There is no voice coloration, so human voices remain natural and believable. In fact voice clarity makes this an especially easy soundbar to recommend to those of us frustrated by poorly mixed or muffled dialog in TV programming. There are even voice emphasis options in the App. Without adding the available subwoofer, the bass output is still satisfying in small to medium sized rooms. The bass isn’t room-shaking but it is properly balanced and contributes to the “wow, this is such a full sounding system!” I didn’t have a wireless Sennheiser subwoofer available to augment the lower bass. I think in most average to smaller size rooms. most people would agree with me that the added bass won’t be necessary. And for those of you in larger rooms, add that subwoofer. I added “Pitch Perfect” and “Fury” to compare very different takes on bass performance, and the bass heavy hip-hop music in the former and the hard hitting artillery and gun fire were jolting coming from this small speaker centered under my 55” TV and then my 65” TV. I didn’t speak about music yet, but in some ways it was the more revealing test of the AMBEO’s sound quality and accuracy. I’ve become very familiar with various music performances and musicians’ voices. It’s here that the Sennheiser AMBEO again separates itself from the competition. One example is an older recording from Laura Nyro. “Billy’s Blues”, a song accompanied by her piano and a sax with a full orchestra joining her sounds large and live. As long as I’m listening to music, I tried testing the ease of using first “Apple Play” off my iPhone followed by Bluetooth from the same phone and my laptop. My music Apps on my phone or my MacPro laptop quickly connected to the AMBEO. No drama. It just connects, disconnects and switches to the other source. And all types of music sound great. CONCLUSION: The AMBEO can create a sound such as I hear on my dedicated, classic studio-like audio system as well as my very modern premium theater multichannel system which both cost far more. The sound is uncolored, natural, and very accurate. Movie special effects and a huge soundstage are fun and desirable. But before anything else, I’m looking for voices I recognize, dialog that is clear, and sound reproduction that can recreate a movie theater when needed. Will I eventually add a subwoofer in these smaller rooms? Unlikely. In a larger room, probably more likely, or I’d look at a bigger system.

Earlier this year I picked up the Sennheiser Ambeo Plus soundbar for my living room. The immersive surround and music reproduction experience is fantastic – and I don’t even have the optional wireless sub. So, when Sennheiser released a “mini” Ambeo, intuitively called Ambeo Mini (“Mini”) I immediately put it on my want list for the bedroom. Having listened to it for a few days now and my familiarity with the Plus, I can say Mini is true to its Ambeo lineage. It’s an excellent sound bar to pair with a 42”-55” TV in a smaller room, perhaps 400 sq ft or less. If you are concerned about bass don’t be unless your goal is to rattle windows. The Mini can’t do that but its bass can get down low (mid and high too). I relish not having an external sub since I don’t have room for one, though an optional wireless one is available. BUILD QUALITY, SPECS, IN THE BOX: I knew the Mini’s dimensions when I ordered it (approx. 41” L x 3” H x 5” D) but I was still stunned when taking it out of the box at its compactness. (I attached a couple pictures of the mini side-by-side with the Plus so you can see yourself). Don’t let its small size fool you, it has a mean punch. In many ways it really is a “miniaturized” Plus designed for rooms where the Plus would be overkill. Start with the Mini’s exterior. It’s almost identical to the Plus which I characterize as “low-key handsome” with black speaker cloth surrounding its ABS plastic frame. It’s an upscale feel and look. A small illuminated “AMBEO” is on the right side when this mode is on. Thankfully Sennheiser had the good sense to allow users to lower its brightness or turn it off via the app which I’ll discuss soon. The top has smooth touch sensitive controls for basic functions plus a microphone with on/off indicator light. If you are like me you’ll rarely touch these controls, opting for the app or included remote instead. It’s nice as a backup that can’t be lost. Naturally the Mini can’t squeeze all of big brother Plus’s speakers into its junior size case. The difference: two firing speakers and one of three front firing speakers are absent. Specifically, the Mini has two side drivers, two front drivers, and two 4” woofers. Obviously, fewer speakers does have an effect on spatialization which I’ll discuss in the “performance” section, but only marginally I think. The Mini also has no output ports. I can’t say this is a “deal killer” for me since the only other device connected to my 42” LG TV beside the Mini is an Apple TV. I still have one open HDMI port on my LG TV with no current plans for it. Connection between your TV and Mini is via HDMI 2.1 (labeled eARC on your TV ). eARC is backwards compatible to the ARC if you have an older TV. eARC potentially delivers better audio than ARC but all the major codecs like Dolby Atmos are 100% compatible with ARC too. Your ears may not even notice the difference so I wouldn’t run out and by an eARC TV, but this does make the Mini a bit “futureproof” when you do replace your TV. A 6’ Premium High Speed HDMI cable and remote control is packed with the Mini. In fact, it’s the same remote included with the Plus. The remote is mostly device centric. It’s not a universal remote, which is a shame, but can control your TV’s power and volume if you enable HDMI-CEC on your TV. The larger problem to me is it’s not backlit. That’s silly for a device intended to enhance movie audio. Fortunately, app mimics the remote functions too, though it’s a bit fiddly to dive into an app just to change equalization modes. APP and SETUP: About the app - when you unpack the Mini a QR code will point you to the download -- or just go directly to the iOS or Android app store directly and punch in “Ambeo.” You’ll need the app to connect the soundbar to Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth for the various music streaming services, AirPlay 2 (Wi-Fi), and Google Chromecast (Bluetooth) and initiate sound calibration. Setup involves attaching the HDMI cable to your TV’s eARC/ARC port and using the Smart Control app to establish a wireless connection and calibrate the Mini to your room. Once calibrated you may want to disable the microphone if you won’t be using either the Google or Alexa voice service. To my knowledge it’s not compatible with Apple’s Siri. That’s it for set up. One tip, if your TV is in a corner be sure to leave some clearance between the Mini’s sides and the wall. Check the manual for placement tolerances. I could not 100% abide by Sennheiser’s recommendation but still get great sound and effects, so don’t be intimidated by the manual’s tone. Also be sure you have your TV’s HDMI-CEC functionality enabled so that the Mini and other devices connected power up at the same time with a single remote. For example, I watch TV programming exclusively though Apple TV apps. So, when I press the Apple TV power button my LG TV, Apple TV, and Mini all power up simultaneously. I can also control the Mini’s volume via the Apple TV. PERFORMANCE: Having experienced the Plus for most of the year my expectations of the Mini’s performance were high. Especially for TV and movie viewing it does not disappoint. Music listening is acceptable, but I think it’s fair to say, plain old stereo music isn’t the Mini’s strength. The quality is great, but the spatialization is limited with the speakers being close together. This is really a “problem” with all soundbars I think. They are designed first for TV dialog and sound effects. I’ll divide my impressions up between TV/movie audio and music. For my own enlightenment, I sampled the same movies and music with the Mini as I originally did the Plus to better judge any differences. I’ll start with movies since immersive surround is the Mini’s calling card. The Mini can decode all the major codecs your TV or streamer can through at it - Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, MPEG-H, Dolby Digital and DTS. I racked up Top Gun: Maverick’s thrilling conclusion. It has everything you’d want in a sound test: roaring jet and “dog fights,” intense explosions, dialog in noisy environments. Listening to all this if I had the lights off I might have mistaken it for the Plus. The Mini is that effective. The hard breathing, the woooosh overhead, the booooom! As the missiles hit target. And every effect in perfect placement. The jet overhead me sounded overhead, not on the screen. Oh, and the bass, it’s plenty across the entire spectrum. It won’t break the windows or rock you out of bed, but I find it completely satisfying. The Mini, like the Plus, is categorized as a 7.1.4 “phantom” system – and all 12 channels show on the app. However, to my ears, compared to the Plus, the planes, for example were over my head and then they went MIA. The rear effects on the Mini are slight at best. Perhaps this is where not having up firing speakers shows. That’s my only guess because otherwise the Mini sound. As I watched the movie I frequently toggled the AMBEO effect on and off, and like on the Plus, AMBEO is a major enhancement. I keep it on except for sports and programming in stereo or mono. To be clear, it’s not fix for poorly mastered movies and TV but a boost to good ones – like whipped cream on hot chocolate – it brings out flavor rather than covers up bad ones. On to music. As mentioned earlier, the Mini has a lovely vibrant sound. The problem is stereo specialization – it’s ability to fill the room. If that is a priority then the Mini might not be your best option. As I see it, playing music on a sound bar is just a bonus. If you want to fill a room up with music get a nice receiver and speakers. With that said, I streamed three different genres – rock, jazz, and classical to see what the Mini can deliver. All selections were played with the music preset in the app turned on. First up was Beck’s Devil’s Hair Cut in ALAC with its jarring deep base. With AMBEO off channel separation was acceptable with clean, clear vocals dead center. The instrumentation was distinct and the bass was bone penetrating just as it should be on this track. Then I flipped on AMBEO on, and it was not meant to be. It sounded too amped up and unnatural to my ears. It had a rougher feel, but not in a good way. But that’s OK, because I think the ABMEO effect is best left for movie audio. Recorded music is not meant to be 3-D. Next up, Duke Ellington’s Arabesque Cookie, a jazz classic. I had AMBEO on for a second out of curiosity but immediately turned it off. Off sounded authentic, like I had the center table in a hole in the wall jazz club. Very intimate. The bass was low, and the cymbals were high, and it all mixed well. Finally, Yo Yo Ma performing Bach’s Cello Suite 1 in G – by this point I didn’t even bother to test out AMBEO. Like the other music the Mini filled much of the front of the room with the emotional richness of Yo Yo Ma’s cello and this suite. However, you won’t mistake it for a stereo system much less sitting in symphony hall. But it’s an enjoyable listen. Never a hint of distortion which this piece can induce with its low bass frequencies. CONCLUSION The Ambeo Mini is the epitome of a compact soundbar. It can genuinely transform a small room into a mini home theater without altering walls or cluttering the décor with a separate subwoofer. The all-over surround is authentic and effective for its size. I think only a proper receiver and 5+ speaker system would outperform it. That said, I wouldn’t put it in a large room (401+ sq. ft.) or match with a 60”+ TV. That is where the Plus takes over.

The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini is an outstanding soundbar designed for ​small to medium size rooms or ​apartments, delivering exceptional sound quality without the need for additional speakers and complicated wiring. As a person who has previously owned more affordable soundbars, I can confidently say that the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini fulfills all my expectations in terms of dialogue clarity, balanced sound, and dynamic audio. From the moment I unboxed the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini, I was impressed by the attention to detail in its packaging. The soundbar is well-packed in a stylish neutral kraft brown box and has a noticeable weight, giving a sense of quality. The front panel is covered in a sleek black fabric with subtle LED lighting, while the recessed top features touch controls that are handy when the remote is not readily available. The smartphone app provides comprehensive control over all features and settings. The soundbar comes with essential accessories, including a power cord and an HDMI 2.1 eARC cable. I particularly appreciate the thoughtful placement of the cords, allowing them to easily slide under the middle of my 65” TV and be positioned on either side. Additional connectivity options include a USB-A input, Bluetooth, and WiFi. The remote itself is well-built and uses a Lithium battery, primarily used for quick volume adjustments. The Sennheiser Ambeo Mini boasts a power output of 250 watts, providing an impressive range of sound. With low frequencies reaching a respectable 43Hz and highs at 20kHz, the soundbar delivers well-balanced audio across the spectrum. One of its standout features is the room calibration via the smartphone app. By emitting pings throughout the room, the soundbar custom calibrates the sound, further enhancing the listening experience. The inclusion of Dolby Atmos spatial audio, along with compatibility with DTS:X, MPEG-H, and 360 reality audio, creates an immersive soundstage with audio flowing throughout the room. This feature works exceptionally well with a growing number of streaming services that offer Dolby Atmos content. I found myself excitedly going through all of my streaming apps looking for Dolby Atmos movies to play. There are plenty to choose from. Additionally, the soundbar can upscale 5.1 movies to create a virtual Dolby Atmos experience. I personally enjoyed using Spotify from both the Spotify app and Spotify Connect, with the latter offering basic controls within the Sennheiser app. Furthermore, the remote and app provide various preset sound modes for music, movies, news, sports, and adaptive sound. Testing sports mode during Premier League soccer matches, I was impressed by the heightened stadium sounds and the roar of the fans. Similarly, the movies setting delivered a more immersive sound experience. I would recommend using these specific preset settings because they really suit the sound. For those who wish to utilize voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant, the soundbar offers compatibility. Moreover, it supports Google Chromecast, Tidal Connect, Airplay, and Spotify Connect, and additional services can be added if required. The soundbar allows for easy switching between input sources such as HDMI and Bluetooth, as well as adjusting settings like LED brightness, center configuration, subwoofer calibration, and lip sync for those annoying dialogue delays. Firmware updates can also be conveniently done through the app. Mine had a firmware upgrade that took about 5 minutes to download and install. Lastly, the inclusion of a night mode is beneficial in reducing sound for late-night viewing or when other family members are sleeping. The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini excels in performance, especially within small living rooms or apartments. It delivers crystal-clear dialogue, impressive bass, and a spatial audio experience reminiscent of a small theater. Previous soundbars I owned struggled with dialogue volume, but this soundbar offers precise control over dialogue and ensures depth without distortion. While the soundbar is capable of producing loud audio, I didn't even need to push it to its maximum volume. The sound quality remains detailed, with excellent representation from highs to lows. Movies and TV shows are where this soundbar truly shines, providing an exceptional cinematic experience. Though the built-in bass is sufficient, adding a subwoofer may be desirable for those who crave more bass or have larger rooms. Pros: Clear dialogue and well-balanced sound Immersive spatial audio with Dolby Atmos support and others Convenient controls via the exceptional smartphone app Thoughtful design and quality build throughout Versatile connectivity options Cons: Additional subwoofer may be necessary for those desiring more bass or larger rooms No HDMI Passthrough I highly recommend the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini for anyone seeking an outstanding audio upgrade within a small to medium-sized living room or apartment. I was hard pressed to find any negatives. If I could use one word to describe this sound bar it would be "Balance." Highs, mids, lows, and dialogue all deliver as one would expect. It is a comprehensive package that includes superior sound quality, a feature-rich app, and exceptional build quality. From my testing, every aspect of this soundbar has impressed me, providing deep, detailed, and immersive sound across various content types and every setting or feature I needed was at my fingertips.

I have a TV in the den that the kids watch and was looking for better sound than the Vizio TV’s speakers offers. The 65-inch TV hangs on the wall, and there is a shallow decorative table that sits below it. I came across this Sennheiser soundbar and decided to give it a try. I wanted something compact to fit on the table without overwhelming it, leaving space for other décor. Another consideration was that I wanted some level of surround sound built-into the sound bar without the need for satellite speakers because even wireless ones would be hard to place in the den because it has no walls other than where the TV is mounted. The furniture “floats” in the room, so there are no power outlets behind it. I came across the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini, and it fit all of my needs. The first thing I noticed when unboxing it was its weight. This is a hefty speaker! I have a few larger soundbars that don’t weigh hardly half of this one. I was hoping all that weight was put into a series of high-quality speakers for plenty of great sound. I was not disappointed. Setup was simple with no need to download the app or connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. I plugged it into the wall outlet and connected its ARC input to my TV’s ARC port. The TV immediately recognized the external device and used it for audio output and was able to automatically switch the Sennheiser soundbar on and off and adjust the volume with the TV’s remote. The sound was very good! My first test was the opening chapter of the movie Swordfish where there is a massive bomb detonation. I was very impressed with this small soundbar’s ability to keep up with the demands of this very loud scene which includes lots of explosive bass as well as directed high-frequency sounds traveling in all directions. The scene is filmed in with a circular, 360-fgree camera movement so the surround information is very immersive. Of course I was not going to mistake this little soundbar’s spatial reproduction for a true 7.1 surround sound system, but it does a fantastic job of projecting audio to present a very wide and deep image. The bass is not as good as what you’d get from a dedicated subwoofer, but it’s strong and distinct. If you must have booming bass, you’ll want to look into Sennheiser’s optional wireless subwoofer module for this soundbar. For what I need out of it, the soundbar itself provides plenty of bass. My next test was to download the app and use the soundbar to play music wirelessly from my phone. The app works well and has options to do a sound calibration. I did that, but I did not notice any difference afterward. I did listen to some music wirelessly from my phone via Bluetooth and it sounds very good with plenty of frequency response, easily working within the limitations of wireless playback. The soundbar’s remote has buttons to select different sound settings. I like the “movie” setting the best as it seems to give the best spatial sound, reproducing a wide stage. There seems to be plenty of power to accurately reproduce sounds at higher volume levels – louder than I’d use for normal listening. Overall, I really like this soundbar. I’d say the sound and quality are easily on par with its price, and definitely exceed my expectations for such a small package. My only negative comments are its lack of inputs. It only has the ability to connect an HDMI ARC input and as Bluetooth source. If you need other inputs, you need to step up to the AMBEO Plus model which is larger. For my needs, the HDMI ARC input is all I need. I highly recommend this powerful little soundbar!

I have several big name quality soundbars that do a very satisfactory job with Dolby Atmos and other 3D sound codecs. I debated whether I really could find another soundbar that would stand above the pack. So, before I ordered the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini, I did some research on Sennheiser to familiarize myself with a company whose name with which I was not too familiar. As I read about this distinguished and innovative German high-end audio electronics company that has been in business since 1945 and is best known in the professional audio community for their studio microphones and headsets used in audio recording, dejaying, broadcasting, movie production, aviation and live concert performances, I was impressed. I was more so impressed that they heavily invest and maintain four research and development sites that develops immersive audio technology for recording, processing, mixing and playback, creating and using the complex algorithms to create the 3D audio experience. After learning that, I knew that I had to try out the AMBEO Mini, which fits my pricepoint for this level of technology. The AMBEO Mini is a mindblowing speaker design that incorporates a built-in sub-woofer, (4) 1.6" mid-range speakers, and (2) 4" woofers into a seemingly impossibly small package. But don't be fooled by its size, because the Mini puts out maximum sound without having to crank up the volume. It is so much better than the speakers at the movie theatre because you can get the 3D 7.1.4 channel audio experience without having to go deaf. I experienced no issues setting up this speaker with my 65" LG television. I downloaded the Sennheiser AMBEO Smart Control application onto my cell phone. Bluetooth and WiFi connections were almost instaneous. I took the time to download and install the latest Firmware update for the unit, which took about 15 minutes, then it was up and ready for the System Calibration. The System Calibration runs tests to discover the area you will be experiencing the AMBEO Mini and the algorithm calculates the best sound for your acoustic space. I was incredibly happy with the results of this calibration and felt that the results were spot on, after running through the multiple demo experiences that Sennheiser provides in the application to test the system with the latest in high definition audio surround sound technologies such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby TrueHD. I could close my eyes and feel that I really was immersed in the jungle or in the city or in other soundscapes with sounds coming from everywhere. Awesome! After checking out the fantastic audio demos, and moving to digitally encoded streaming media, I found the content audibly exhilarating. I pulled my husband in to listen and comment and he felt that the Mini was several steps above our previous high-end system. He did have an issue with dialog in some features being overrun by the music and ambient sounds of the recording. I found the Voice Enhancement feature in the Smart Control application and applied it. It improved the dialog situation to his satisfaction, but at first we experienced a bit of dialog out of sync to the recording. I stopped and restarted the streaming show and that synced it up. No further problems and nothing that we haven't experienced with the setup of other soundbar systems. All-in-all, we are extremely pleased to be using the AMBEO Soundbar Mini with the huge 3D soundscape at lower volumes. I would definitely suggest this great soundbar to a friend or relative.

Smaller than your average soundbar at only 27.5 inches long. Simple and minimalist style. With 1 HDMI port with cable included, 1 USB port, power cord and some buttons. The remote has more buttons that it needs, like they just needed to fill the space to keep it up to size. Play, pause and fast forward functions are done with the single multi-function button yet it needs a separate button for each EQ style? Also, the remote has a source up/down button, but it only changes back to the wired devices if you are using a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth source. No way of going back to those sources with the remote. You have to use something like Alexa, Google assistant or the Smart Control app. You can plug this up and connect to a TV and be running without going through any real set up. But, to take advantage of everything it is best to get the app. This way you can add voice assistants and use other services. Once you run the system calibration, the sound truly does sound dimensional. Giving the effect that there is sound coming from other directions. However, without a subwoofer it feels tiny, lacking lows. Then, if you try to crank it all the way up, the sound starts to break up. It is certainly louder than you would listen to on average, but it just feels like it is a bunch of small speakers trying to be bigger than they can handle. The same goes for switching audio sources, like it is all cracked and broken, like it needs to buffer the audio. Overall, this is like a large smart speaker in the shape of a small sound bar with e-ARC HDMI input. It’s not bad and probably would be a lot better if it came with the subwoofer. I feel for the price range there are some that come with subwoofers, have more input options and provide similar features.

This may be my new favorite soundbar, in terms of size, price and simplicity. I have the Sennheiser Ambeo Plus, which is the larger version of this, and honestly this mini is just as impressive. You should really take room size into account when shopping Ambeo, because the Plus is in my den, and the Mini is in my bedroom, and I feel I get better directional sound from the Mini in my bedroom. The soundbar connects effortlessly with HDMI and a figure 8 power cord. My Sony Bravia immediately recognized the sound bar and the Sony remote allowed me to adjust the volume without any additional configuration. Sennheiser has an app that is fairly simple to use. The soundbar is always in pairing mode with the app, so it should recognize the bar as soon as you open the app and configure the soundbar to your WiFi. The app allows you to do room calibration, which is an odd series of high pitch frequencies that’ll send your cats running. I honestly didn’t notice much, if any difference, after calibration, but I trust that it did something. On Halloween night I unplugged this from my TV, brought it outside and used the Bluetooth option to stream scary music. I was so impressed with the clarity and directional feel of the sound, even while being outdoors. I also love the size of this soundbar, as I prefer a smaller soundbar. This is replacing a much larger, more expensive, name brand sound bar in my bedroom. I’ve been swapping back and forth between soundbars, but both my wife and I decided we like the Ambeo better. I think the clarity of sound is better, and I love the remote has a voice enhancing option, because it really helps when watching movies. I can’t stress enough how important it is to add the subwoofer to a soundbar. I’m fortunate enough to also have the Ambeo subwoofer, and while I’m reviewing this without being paired to the subwoofer, I can say that the experience with a subwoofer is night and day. The subwoofer produces some incredible lows, and paired with the crisp clarity of the Ambeo soundbar, you’ll get an incredible experience. My one wish is that Sennheiser had some rear satellite speakers for their setups.

The jury is still out for me. While I just love the rich sound and it’s compact size (perfect for my small apartment and 48” Sony BraviaTV) there seems to be this annoying lag when turning on the TV. The speaker does not connect instantaneously and it takes a few seconds before it kicks in and/or I have to press the volume up button to get it to connect and emit sound. I exchanged this yesterday and it appears the new one may have the same problem but with a shorter lag time. The Geek Squad is coming next week to see if the remotes, TV, etc. are synced properly and if this might be a fixable issue . If not, I may have to decide if I can live with this annoyance or exchange for different brand altogether. There are still many pros making me hesitant to do that though. Among those pros are excellent sound lots of customizability, a remote (so one is not locked into a phone app 100% of the time), lots of connectivity options, compact size and handsome appearance in my home. Nevertheless, the jury is still out for me.