SEPTEMBER 2019 HOME CINEMA CHOICE(streaming and broadcast) and True HD (disc) envelopes- will be familiar to many, MPEG-H is rather less well
known. It's actually a rival immersive audio codec currently
fi nding favour in the Asian market, and could become
a standard in China.
Connectivity is comprehensive for a soundbar, but
not on par with a well-specifi ed AV receiver. Inputs are
recessed under the unit and run from analogue stereo and
digital optical audio to a trio of (v2.0a) HDMI inputs (with
Dolby Vision support), plus one HDMI output, which is
eARC-enabled. There's also an Ethernet connection to
support onboard Wi-Fi, plus a USB power port, and to
help keep all the resulting cable spaghetti in check there's
a rubber cable-tidy. The soundbar also boasts Bluetooth
(v4.2), with NFC for speedy pairing, and is compatible with
Chromecast and the Google Home app.
Setup is straightforward considering the technology
at play here. Sennheiser suggests that when it comes to
installation, the optimum distance between the soundbar
and walls left and right is around 1.5m. But don't get too
hung up on this, it’ll perform well in any room... as long as
it's not cavernous.
Once powered up, the 'bar waits to go through a setup
routine, encouraging you with soothing electronic chirps
to connect the provided microphone into the 3.5mm audio
jack on the front fascia. This calibration system only
measures from a single point, so place the mic in your
preferred hot seat. A few frequency sweeps and you're
done; it doesn't take very long.
What's refreshing about the Ambeo Soundbar's
genre-specifi c sound modes is that diff erences between
them are actually quite subtle, yet still eff ective. For
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PRODUCT:
Single-box Atmos/
DTS:X system with
proprietary Ambeo
processing
POSITION:
Sennheiser's debut
soundbar
PEERS:
Yamaha YSP-5600;
Samsung HW-K950AV I NF O
- At each end of the
Ambeo enclosure are
upfi ring drivers - As well as the
remote, the 'bar can be
used with Sennheiser's
Smart Control app
remixed in Sennheiser Ambeo 3D at Abbey Road Studios.
Sadly, there’s no commercial content available in this
Ambeo 3D format, so it appears here as an enhancement
to other sources, be they immersive or conventional stereo.
This is actually the third Ambeo product from
Sennheiser to hit the market. First out was an Ambeo VR
microphone, which used four cardioid capsules arranged
tetrahedral-style for 360-degree recording. It was followed
by the Ambeo smart headset, which makes 3D audio
recordings on an iPhone.
But while both predecessors are recording devices,
this is a playback solution aimed at well-heeled home
cinema enthusiasts.
It's not short of sonic armoury. The driver array
comprises six long-throw 4in woofers, fi ve tweeters
and those two top-mounted height drivers. There’s no
partnering wireless subwoofer. While one can be added
via the Ambeo Soundbar's sub pre-out, I don’t think many
will feel the need. The whole raison d'etre of an all-in-one
solution is to keep your room free of additional boxes.
A half-sized remote control is supplied which off ers
easy access to a selection of self-explanatory audio
presets – Movie, Music, Sports, Neutral and Night –
plus source selection and volume control. The soundbar
responds to commands with a variety of bleeps and burps.
Sennheiser also recommends users download its Smart
Control app, which introduces an equaliser.
Fully featured
System compatibility is illustrated by a trio of badges:
Dolby Atmos, MPEG-H Audio and DTS:X. While DTS:X and
Dolby Atmos – recognised here in both Dolby Digital Plus