A couple of months ago, we shared our impressions of the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini—a soundbar that, while not exactly a slouch in terms of power and quality, left us eager to see how it would perform with its natural dance partner: the Ambeo Sub subwoofer. Well, thanks to Sennheiser, we now have the pleasure of putting the system to the test to tell you how well this audio duo performs.
Soundbar Technical Specifications
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Item Number (SKU) | 700138 |
| Model: | SB02S |
| Amplifier | 6 Class D amplifiers |
| Total Amplification Power | 250 W (RMS) |
| Total number of built-in speakers | 6 |
| Audio processing | 1.8 GHz quad-core SoC |
| Full range | 4 full-range transducers with 1.6” (40 mm) cellulose cones |
| Frequency response | 43 Hz – 20 kHz (-3 dB) |
| Woofers | 2 x 4″ cellulose cones |
| Connectivity | Built-in Chromecast, uPnP, AirPlay 2, Spotify integration, Tidal integration |
| HDMI TV OUTPUT (eARC) | 1 x HDMI eARC (HDMI 2.1) |
| USB | 1 x USB port (Type A), for powering accessories (external devices): 5 V ⎓, 1 A |
| Microphone input for room calibration | 4 high-precision far-field microphones |
| Dimensions (with feet) | 70 x 6.9 x 10.1 cm |
| Dimensions (without feet) | 70 x 6.7 x 10.1 cm |
| Weight | Approx. 3.3 kg |
| Network transmission system | 2×2 MIMO |
| Transmission frequency (country-specific) | 2,400 MHz to 2,483.5 MHz 5,170 MHz to 5,835 MHz |
| 2.4 GHz band network modulation | CCK, DQPSK, DBPSK for DSSS, 64QAM, 16QAM, QPSK, BPSK for OFDM |
| 5 GHz band network modulation | 1024-QAM, 256-QAM, 64-QAM, 16-QAM, QPSK, BPSK |
| Network output power | 100 mW (maximum) |
| Wi-Fi standard | IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax |
| Bluetooth version | 5.0 Classic/BLE |
| Bluetooth to Sub wireless transmission | 5.2 Bluetooth Low Energy |
| Bluetooth Transmission Frequency | 2,400 MHz to 2,483.5 MHz |
| Bluetooth modulation | GFSK, 4-channel DQPSK, 8-channel DPSK |
| Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, and GATT |
| Bluetooth output power | BT SOC: 10 mW (maximum) BT Sub: 10 mW (maximum) |
| Bluetooth codec | BT SOC: AAC, SBC BT Sub: LC3 |
| Voltage range | 100–240 V ~50/60 Hz |
| Current | Max. 2.5 A |
| Standby power consumption | Max. 1.9 W |
| Temperature range (during operation) | 0 °C to +40 °C Storage: -20 °C to +70 °C |
| Relative humidity | 10% to 90% |
Subwoofer Technical Specifications
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Model: | SW02 |
| Amplifier | 1 Class D amplifier |
| Total audio power | 350 W (RMS) |
| Audio processing | Dual-core SoC |
| Voltage range | 100–240 V ~50/60 Hz |
| Woofers | 1 x 8″ long-throw cellulose cone driver |
| Frequency response | 27 Hz – 80 Hz |
| Audio input | 1x mono RCA, max. 2 V |
| Temperature range (operating) | 0 °C to +40 °C |
| Relative humidity (during operation) | 10% to 90% |
| Dimensions (with feet) | Approx. 27.4 x 36.9 x 27.4 cm |
| Dimensions (without feet) | Approx. 27.4 x 35.7 x 27.4 cm |
| Weight | 8.2 kg |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5.2 Low Energy |
| Bluetooth audio codec | BT Sub: 10 mW (maximum) |
Removing the soundbar and subwoofer from the box
As we showed the other day, the Ambeo Mini (model SB02S) comes in sturdy cardboard packaging—the kind that tells you, “There’s quality inside here.” Everything fits perfectly, carefully protected, and when you lift the lid, there it is:
Inside, we find the soundbar, its remote control (which doesn’t look like a toy—thank goodness!), an HDMI 2.1 cable, the power cord, and the quick start guide for installation and setup.
With the Ambeo Sub subwoofer, Sennheiser has shown the same taste and attention to detail in its packaging. The box is a real stunner, and when you take it out, its 8.2 kilos confirm that this is no mere showpiece subwoofer. This beast has real substance. The design—a cube with clean lines—is the kind that blends in elegantly.
The AMBEO Mini: Small but Mighty
Let’s take a look at the Ambeo Mini soundbar. Don’t let its name or its compact dimensions fool you—it’s 70 cm wide, just 6.5 cm tall, and 10 cm deep. This “little” soundbar is a marvel of German acoustic engineering. It features a matte black finish that prevents glare and fingerprints. The soundbar’s body is high-quality and durable.
The top panel features touch buttons for selecting the input source, a button to enable Bluetooth synchronization, volume controls, and a button to activate AMBEO mode. It also has a touch button to mute the microphone if desired. And, although they’re currently off, there are also indicators for Dolby Atmos and DTX that light up when the content being played is in those formats.
In terms of connectivity, it features an HDMI eARC (2.1) port, dual-band Wi-Fi (up to the “ax” standard), Bluetooth 5.0 (with AAC and SBC), and compatibility with Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect… and even built-in Alexa thanks to its four high-precision microphones! By the way, these are the same microphones it uses for self-calibration, adapting the sound to your room. And yes, it supports every 3D audio format you can throw at it: in addition to Dolby Atmos (including TrueHD) and DTS:X, it also supports MPEG-H and 360 Reality Audio.
Inside, it houses no fewer than six speakers: four full-range speakers with 40-mm cellulose cones—which are what create that magical three-dimensional sound—and two 4-inch woofers, also made of cellulose, facing upward to give the bass that initial boost. Together, they deliver a total of 250W (RMS) distributed across Class D amplifiers.
But the Mini isn’t just all muscle—it’s got brains, too, and plenty of them. A 1.8 GHz quad-core processor powers AMBEO technology, which is Sennheiser’s secret sauce for creating immersive sound that makes you look for speakers where there aren’t any. We’re talking about a frequency response of 43 Hz to 20 kHz.
The included remote control, which feels solid and is well-built, features buttons to turn AMBEO on and off, adjust the volume and change the input source, as well as preset modes (movie, music, news, sports, neutral, and adaptive) and specific “night” and “voice” functions—the former smooths out sound peaks and the latter enhances voices—providing everything you need to control the soundbar.
The Sennheiser AMBEO Sub: The Perfect Partner for Experiencing the Thunder
For its part, the Sennheiser AMBEO Sub subwoofer (model SW02) complements the soundbar with powerful bass. It features a compact, cube-shaped design measuring 27.4 cm on each side and 36.9 cm in height.
Inside, an 8-inch long-throw woofer—also made of cellulose—roars, driven by 350W of Class D amplification. Its mission? To go as low as 27 Hz. In practice, this means it can reproduce very deep bass (down to about 30 Hz effective), which adds that extra “kick” to explosions or low-end electric notes.
The connection between the soundbar and the subwoofer is completely wireless (Bluetooth Low Energy 5.2 with the LC3 codec), so all you need to do is plug the subwoofer into a power outlet; synchronization happens automatically through the app.
Sennheiser Smart Control App
The connection to the Ambeo Mini is wireless, and once paired via the Sennheiser Smart Control app, the auto-calibration system works its magic. This system analyzes the room’s acoustics and adjusts the system’s response to deliver the best possible sound, whether you’re in a large living room or a small student apartment. And boy, does it deliver.
From the app’s main screen, you can control the volume, Ambeo mode (and its levels), choose presets (movie, music, sports, or news), enhance speech, or enable night mode. You can also adjust the brightness of the LED indicators, manage Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, manage music services, use Alexa, and even modify certain settings for the subwoofer and the audio codec currently in use.
In addition, integration with technologies such as Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Amazon Music, and Google Chromecast makes it easy to connect to a Wi-Fi network and play content—for example, from an iPhone—almost instantly.
Software updates are performed automatically, although you can manually check for new versions.
Tests and Assessment
Now, the good part: what happens when these two powerhouses team up? Well, the magic multiplies. Let’s be honest. In the world of home audio, we’re often sold on promises of “cinematic sound” that end up amounting to “well, it’s not bad for watching the news.” But every once in a while—very rarely—you come across something that makes you raise an eyebrow at first, and then leaves you with a grin from ear to ear. And that’s exactly the case with this system.
While the soundbar alone, with its six internal speakers, already did a great job with bass, reaching down to 43 Hz, the Ambeo Sub now allows it to go as low as 30 Hz. The Ambeo Mini, which already stood out for its AMBEO virtualization capable of simulating a 7.1.4 system, benefits enormously from the Sub’s contribution. Explosions in movies shake you to your core, your favorite band’s drums have a “punch” that makes your hair stand on end, and soundtracks envelop you in a way that’s almost scary.
The good news is that the subwoofer doesn’t overwhelm the other frequencies; the dialogue remains crystal clear, and the mids and highs retain that clarity we loved so much about the Mini on its own. What’s more, by freeing the soundbar from the task of reproducing the lowest frequencies, it seems to perform more freely across the rest of the spectrum.
The integration is so seamless that you don’t feel like you’re using two separate devices, but rather a cohesive sound system that delivers a wide and detailed soundstage. Whether you’re enjoying content in Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, or even stereo sources to which AMBEO technology applies its virtualization “magic,” the result is truly impressive. And if you’re the type who likes to be in control, the app lets you adjust the subwoofer level and experiment with different sound modes and equalization settings. Plus, you can boost or cut the subwoofer volume by +/-10 dB and even enable 180° phase inversion.
We also notice the difference in action and adventure games: gunshots and footsteps sound more impactful, and the overall soundscape gains depth thanks to that extra “rumble.”
As for connectivity, it still has everything the Mini already offered: HDMI eARC for connecting to your TV, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and compatibility with Alexa, Google Chromecast, and Apple AirPlay 2. In short, you’ll have everything you need to stream your music or the audio from your favorite TV shows and movies. In fact, Sennheiser lets you connect up to four Ambeo Subs to the soundbar, though with just one—for most “down-to-earth” living rooms—you’ll have more than enough to feel the floor shake.
If we had to find a flaw, it might be that the set isn’t exactly cheap (1,500 euros for the two speakers, 800 euros for the soundbar, and 650 euros for the subwoofer). But let’s be honest: you get what you pay for, and what Sennheiser offers here is top-tier sound in a relatively compact package. The Ambeo Soundbar Mini was already a very strong option on its own—and we gave it a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars—but when you add the Ambeo Sub, the combination becomes a true sound powerhouse that will delight even the most demanding listeners. It’s a substantial upgrade that rounds out a product that was already outstanding.
Let’s face it, the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini and Ambeo Sub bundle is a safe bet if you want home theater sound without cluttering up your space with speakers. The soundbar provides the intelligence and spatial audio, and the subwoofer adds that bass “punch” that throws you right into the action. Here at Islabit, we can’t help but recommend this bundle to anyone looking for a compact audio system with incredible performance—which is why we’re also awarding it our prize.
