Equally huge in terms of excellent immersive sound, volume and exorbitant price, we were impressed with the original Sennheiser Ambeo 3D soundbar, but could a new version be on the way?
First introduced in 2019, the original Ambeo system supports all three major 3D audio formats (Dolby Atmos, MPEG-H and DTS:X) and offers 5.1.4 surround sound.
With its directional speakers that make clever use of reflections from nearby walls, the premium soundbar creates one of the most compelling surround effects we've ever heard from a single speaker, but its $2,500 price tag and $2,200 size / AU$3,999) means only the most dedicated moviegoers have likely shelled out for it, and why it never made it into our recommended best soundbar buying guide.
Best known for its line of professional DJ headphones and microphones, Sennheiser hinted that a newer, smaller version of the device was on the way during a virtual press event in March, and now it looks like the wait for the new model could soon. run out.
The German audio company sent out invitations earlier this week for a keynote event at the IFA tech conference in Berlin on September 1, showing an owl walking past what appears to be a new soundbar featuring the Ambeo logo. family.
Encouraging attendees to "take a walk on the wild side," the invitation promises "an exciting new product announcement, a new product experience."
Stay tuned to TechRadar, where we'll have all the news from Sennheiser's presentation next month, as well as the latest from this year's IFA show in Berlin.
Analysis: An Ambeo for everyone would be crazy
While TechRadar does our best to paint a picture of what to expect from a product in our hands-on reviews, the current Ambeo 3D soundbar is one of those devices where words can't do justice to the experience it offers. . You really need to hear it to appreciate how its directional speakers somehow create a bubble of surround sound.
That said, it's far from a practical home theater solution for most households.
It's almost 17cm deep, while its 13,44cm height tends to cause visibility issues when paired with TVs that aren't wall-mounted. And that's even before you consider its bank balance breakout price.
Since Ambeo was first announced in 2019, a wide range of high-end soundbars have grown that offer satisfying Dolby Atmos, but none come close to delivering the same levels of sonic immersion as Sennheiser's behemoth, though be sure. Check out our 6 Dolby Atmos Soundbar Tips to help you get the most out of your bar.
If Sennheiser can somehow distill that magic into a smaller, cheaper model, it could be the convenient and unique solution many home theater fans have been searching for for a long time.