Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini Review: The King of Soundbars

Sennheiser, typically recognized for its larger soundbars, delves into the compact soundbar market with the Ambeo Soundbar Mini. But don’t be deceived by its diminutive size; this soundbar packs a punch, rivalling some of the market’s best.

Overview

After impressing many with the Ambeo Soundbar Max and the standard-sized Ambeo Soundbar Plus, Sennheiser now experiments with the compact Ambeo Soundbar Mini. Despite its reduced size and limited connectivity options, the Mini model does not compromise on excellence. It incorporates the renowned Ambeo virtualization system, enabling the soundbar to emulate a 7.1.4 channel system and also supports most of the 3D cinema audio formats, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and 360 Reality Audio.

Build

The standout feature is undoubtedly its compactness. It effortlessly complements TVs without dominating the TV stand. At 70 x 10 x 6.5 cm, it’s 35cm shorter than the Ambeo Soundbar Plus, and its slim design doesn’t obstruct the view. For context, it’s comparable in size to a Sonos Beam.

The Mini boasts a meticulous finish. The front is seamless, and premium materials have been utilized. The design mirrors the Plus model, with its sleek edges and a slightly bevelled top. A high-grade matte plastic covers this surface, ensuring no reflections on the TV screen.

Accessories

The soundbar comes with an HDMI cable and a remote, complete with batteries. However, if you’re looking to wall-mount it, you’d need to purchase the mounting kit separately.

Connectivity

In stark contrast to the feature-rich Ambeo Max and Plus, the Mini offers a solitary HDMI ARC/eARC port. This limitation feels restrictive, especially in the absence of an HDMI/optical adapter. It caters exclusively to ARC/eARC compatible TVs, so connecting to PC monitors or older TV models isn’t feasible.

Audio Formats

Sennheiser’s strength lies in its ability to decode a plethora of audio formats. From Dolby Atmos to DTS:X, and including MPEG-H and 360 Reality Audio, the Ambeo Soundbar Mini stands undeterred. It supports:

• Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos
• DTS, DTS-HD, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X
• LPCM 2.0, LPCM 5.1, LPCM 7.1
• MPEG-H, 360 Reality Audio

User Experience

The Mini offers a user experience reminiscent of the Ambeo Soundbar Plus. It retains the touch buttons interface on the soundbar, a commendable remote, and a versatile app with a plethora of settings. For an in-depth review, refer to our analysis of the Ambeo Soundbar Plus.

Connectivity & Wireless Streaming

The Mini supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. For the latter, a significant latency of 700ms was observed. However, an automatic compensation effectively counterbalances this delay for video content. Unfortunately, gamers won’t enjoy such luxury.

On the Wi-Fi front, the soundbar is versatile, supporting AirPlay, Chromecast, Alexa MRM, uPnP, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect. It plays Dolby Atmos-encoded tracks from Tidal and Amazon Music, but not from Apple Music. Interestingly, the soundbar also supports the 360 Reality Audio format from Amazon Music, but not from Tidal. Connection stability remains consistent, regardless of whether it’s Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Voice Capture

Since the introduction of the Ambeo Soundbar Plus, French Alexa has been incorporated into Sennheiser’s soundbars. The Mini excels in voice capture. When seated at a distance of 2 to 3m, it comprehends voice commands perfectly, even amid background noise. An automatic volume reduction during voice requests ensures smooth interactions with Alexa.

Voice & Dialogue

Voice and dialogue reproduction is where this soundbar truly excels. The Mini emphasizes mediums, ensuring crystal-clear dialogues even during intense scenes. A dedicated clarity feature accentuates this further, enhancing intelligibility.

Music Listening Experience

For pure music enjoyment, the Mini may not be the top pick. Although it delivers a balanced sound, it lags in bass depth and response. It’s suitable for casual listening, but avid music lovers might desire a richer bass.

Final Thoughts

The Ambeo Soundbar Mini is exemplary in delivering a surround sound experience. The immersive feel, courtesy of the Ambeo surround virtualization, deserves accolades. Coupled with its clear, balanced sound and distinct voice/dialogue reproduction, it’s a formidable choice. However, its limited connectivity and less-than-stellar bass performance could be deterrents for some. If you prioritize a compact design with superior sound virtualization and dialogue clarity, the Mini is a solid choice. But for those who value deep bass and extensive connectivity, it might be prudent to explore other options.