Audio T Verdict
The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Max is not really a conventional soundbar with a few extra surround effects added on. With 13 independently amplified drivers, genuine upward-firing speakers, six substantial 4-inch woofers and sophisticated AMBEO room processing, it was designed from the outset to produce a convincing home cinema experience from one enclosure.
Its sheer physical size is part of the reason it can do things smaller soundbars struggle with. Bass extends to a claimed 30Hz without a separate subwoofer, while Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and MPEG-H support combine with room calibration and AMBEO virtualization to build a much larger sound field than the cabinet itself would suggest.
It is big, heavy and needs enough room around it to work properly, so it will not suit every television setup. But if you want serious cinema sound without installing an AV amplifier and multiple loudspeakers around the room, the AMBEO Soundbar Max remains one of the most ambitious single-box solutions available.
Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Max
The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Max is a flagship 5.1.4 soundbar built around 13 individually amplified loudspeaker drivers and AMBEO 3D audio virtualization technology developed in collaboration with Fraunhofer IIS.
Six 4-inch cellulose sandwich-cone woofers handle bass and midrange duties, five 1-inch aluminium-dome tweeters provide high-frequency reproduction, and two 3.5-inch upward-firing full-range drivers help create the vertical effects required by immersive audio formats.
Thirteen Class D amplifier channels provide 250W RMS and 500W peak total output, while the substantial cabinet allows bass response to extend down to a specified 30Hz without requiring a separate subwoofer.
- Flagship AMBEO Soundbar Max
- 5.1.4-channel immersive sound
- 13 independently amplified loudspeaker drivers
- 13 Class D amplifier channels
- 250W RMS total audio power
- 500W peak total audio power
- Six 4-inch cellulose sandwich-cone woofers
- Five 1-inch aluminium tweeters
- Two 3.5-inch upward-firing full-range drivers
- 30Hz to 20kHz frequency response
- Dolby Atmos
- DTS:X
- MPEG-H Audio
- 360 Reality Audio
- AMBEO virtualization and upmixing
- Advanced room calibration
- HDMI eARC
- Three HDMI inputs
- 4K 60Hz video passthrough
- Dolby Vision passthrough
- Optical and analogue audio inputs
- Wired subwoofer output
- Apple AirPlay 2
- Chromecast built-in
- Spotify Connect
- TIDAL Connect
- UPnP network streaming
- Wi-Fi and Ethernet
- Bluetooth 4.2 with AAC and SBC
- NFC Bluetooth pairing
13 Drivers in One Soundbar
The AMBEO Soundbar Max uses considerably more physical loudspeaker hardware than a typical soundbar.
Its 13-driver system consists of:
- Six 100mm / 4-inch cellulose sandwich-cone low and midrange drivers
- Five 25mm / 1-inch aluminium-cone tweeters
- Two 90mm / 3.5-inch upward-firing full-range drivers
Rather than asking a small number of drivers to simulate every direction, Sennheiser combines front, side and upward-firing units with digital processing to create a larger and more precisely controlled sound field.
5.1.4 Immersive Sound
The AMBEO Soundbar Max is designed to reproduce a 5.1.4 immersive listening experience from one physical enclosure.
The system uses its physical drivers together with AMBEO processing and the reflective properties of the room to create virtual channels around and above the listening position.
This allows film soundtracks to extend beyond the width and height of the soundbar without requiring conventional rear or ceiling speakers.
AMBEO Virtualization
Sennheiser developed the underlying virtualization technology with Fraunhofer IIS.
Rather than applying a generic surround effect, AMBEO uses information gathered during room calibration to understand how sound behaves in the individual listening space.
The processing then uses the soundbar's different drivers and the room's reflective surfaces to create virtual speaker positions around the listener.
Room Calibration
A dedicated calibration microphone is supplied with the AMBEO Soundbar Max.
Place the microphone at approximately ear height in the main listening position, connect it to the soundbar and run the calibration routine. The system plays a sequence of test signals and measures the way they interact with the room.
This allows AMBEO processing to compensate for the acoustic characteristics of the space rather than assuming every room behaves in exactly the same way.
Run Calibration Again After Major Changes
Sennheiser recommends recalibrating if the soundbar is moved, a subwoofer is added or removed, or significant changes are made to the room or furniture. The room itself forms part of the AMBEO virtualization system, so keeping the calibration relevant matters.
Room Shape Matters
Virtual surround systems depend on reflected sound to help create apparent speaker positions beyond the physical soundbar.
Rooms with reasonably reflective side walls and ceilings generally give the processing more useful acoustic information to work with than highly irregular rooms dominated by large areas of heavy absorption.
This is one reason a demonstration and sensible room assessment are particularly worthwhile with a product as sophisticated as the AMBEO Soundbar Max.
30Hz Bass Without a Separate Subwoofer
Six 4-inch long-excursion-style drivers and the unusually substantial cabinet allow the AMBEO Soundbar Max to reach a specified 30Hz at -3dB.
That is unusually deep extension for a self-contained soundbar and means many rooms will not require an additional subwoofer simply to achieve convincing low-frequency weight.
Explosions, sound effects and music therefore have far more physical scale than you would expect from a conventional television speaker system.
Adding a Subwoofer
If you have a particularly large room or simply want still greater low-frequency impact, the AMBEO Soundbar Max includes a mono RCA subwoofer pre-output.
A compatible powered subwoofer can be connected by cable and incorporated into the room-calibration process.
The soundbar can store calibration information for operation both with and without the connected subwoofer.
Important: AMBEO Sub Connection Is Wired Only
The AMBEO Soundbar Max does not support the wireless AMBEO Sub connection used by the newer AMBEO Soundbar Plus and Mini. If you want to use the Sennheiser AMBEO Sub with the Max, connect it using the Soundbar Max's RCA subwoofer pre-output.
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos adds height information to a conventional surround soundtrack, allowing sounds to be positioned above as well as around the listener.
The AMBEO Soundbar Max includes two physical upward-firing drivers specifically to help reproduce this vertical information, while AMBEO processing creates the wider virtual speaker environment.
DTS:X
DTS:X immersive audio is also supported, giving the AMBEO Soundbar Max broad compatibility with object-based home cinema soundtracks.
Additional DTS formats supported through suitable connections include DTS, DTS-ES, DTS 96/24 and DTS-HD.
MPEG-H Audio
The soundbar also supports MPEG-H Audio, another object-based immersive audio system developed for next-generation broadcasting and entertainment.
This sits alongside Dolby and DTS support rather than locking the Soundbar Max to one immersive audio ecosystem.
360 Reality Audio
Sony 360 Reality Audio content can be reproduced through compatible network streaming.
The object-based format positions different musical elements within a three-dimensional sound field and provides another way to use the AMBEO system beyond film and television.
Upmix Stereo and 5.1 Content
Immersive sound is not limited to material originally produced in Dolby Atmos or DTS:X.
AMBEO Upmix processing can expand conventional stereo and 5.1 material into a larger three-dimensional presentation.
This can be particularly useful for older films, television programmes and music that pre-date object-based audio formats.
Three AMBEO Intensity Settings
Sennheiser provides three AMBEO 3D intensity modes, allowing the strength of the virtualized effect to be adjusted according to the material and personal preference.
The intention is not to force one surround presentation on every source, but to let the listener decide how strongly the sound should extend beyond the physical enclosure.
HDMI eARC
The principal television connection is HDMI eARC.
Enhanced Audio Return Channel allows compatible televisions to send high-bitrate audio back to the soundbar, including formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS:X where supported by the television and source equipment.
HDMI CEC also allows compatible televisions to control everyday functions such as volume and power.
Use eARC Where Possible
A conventional HDMI ARC connection can still be used, but eARC provides the broadest compatibility with higher-bandwidth home cinema formats. Check the capabilities and settings of your television if you want to use lossless Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD or DTS:X soundtracks.
Three HDMI Inputs
The AMBEO Soundbar Max provides three dedicated HDMI inputs in addition to its television HDMI eARC output.
This allows compatible sources such as:
- Ultra HD Blu-ray players
- Streaming boxes
- Games consoles
- Set-top boxes
- Other HDMI audio/video equipment
to be connected directly to the soundbar rather than relying exclusively on the television's own HDMI inputs.
4K 60Hz and Dolby Vision Passthrough
The HDMI inputs support video passthrough at up to 4K 60Hz, together with Dolby Vision passthrough and HDCP 2.2.
This makes the Soundbar Max suitable for many 4K home cinema systems where source components are connected directly to the soundbar.
For Modern 4K/120Hz or 8K Gaming
The AMBEO Soundbar Max's HDMI inputs are designed around 4K 60Hz video rather than the newer 4K/120Hz and 8K formats used by some modern televisions and games consoles. For those systems, connect the console directly to the television and send audio back to the soundbar using HDMI eARC.
Optical Digital Input
An optical S/PDIF input is provided for televisions and other digital sources that cannot use HDMI.
Sampling rates of up to 192kHz are supported, although optical does not provide the same format flexibility as HDMI eARC.
Analogue RCA Input
A stereo RCA analogue input allows traditional line-level audio sources to be connected directly to the Soundbar Max.
This can be useful where you want the soundbar to serve music sources as well as television and film.
AMBEO OS and Smart Control
Sennheiser's AMBEO operating system expanded the original Soundbar Max platform with updated streaming and control functionality.
The Sennheiser Smart Control app provides access to setup, room calibration, sound adjustment, input configuration and firmware updates.
The Soundbar Max can also be configured through its browser-based interface when connected to the same network.
Apple AirPlay 2
Apple AirPlay allows compatible iPhone, iPad and Mac users to send music to the AMBEO Soundbar Max over the home network.
Because this operates over Wi-Fi rather than conventional Bluetooth, it is particularly useful when the soundbar becomes part of an everyday home music system.
Chromecast Built-In
Chromecast built-in allows compatible apps to send music directly to the soundbar over the network.
It is also the route Sennheiser specifies for compatible Sony 360 Reality Audio playback.
Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect
Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect allow the corresponding apps to control playback directly on the AMBEO Soundbar Max rather than treating the phone itself as the audio source.
UPnP support also provides access to compatible music stored on devices elsewhere on the home network.
Wi-Fi and Ethernet
Network connectivity can be established either wirelessly or through the dedicated RJ45 Ethernet socket.
The dual-band Wi-Fi system supports IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with 2x2 MIMO operation.
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth provides a straightforward alternative when network streaming is unnecessary.
The Soundbar Max supports AAC and SBC Bluetooth audio, while NFC can simplify pairing with compatible devices.
Up to eight Bluetooth pairing profiles can be stored.
OLED Front Display
A graphic OLED display provides useful information directly on the front of the soundbar rather than relying entirely on an app.
The display includes a brightness sensor, while separate status and AMBEO indicators provide further visual feedback.
Remote Control Included
A dedicated infrared remote control is supplied alongside app control and the physical controls on the soundbar itself.
HDMI CEC can also allow compatible television remotes to control functions such as power and volume.
A Seriously Large Soundbar
The AMBEO Soundbar Max measures approximately 126.5cm wide, 13.5cm high and 17.1cm deep with its feet installed.
It also weighs approximately 18.5kg.
Those dimensions are part of what allow Sennheiser to fit six substantial woofers, five tweeters and two upward-firing drivers into a single enclosure, but they need to be considered carefully when planning the installation.
Measure Before You Buy
At approximately 13.5cm high, the AMBEO Soundbar Max can obstruct the bottom of some televisions when both are placed on the same cabinet. Also allow sufficient depth for the soundbar itself and connected HDMI, power and network cables. If wall mounting, use a suitable installation and the correct optional AMBEO Soundbar Max wall mount.
AMBEO Soundbar Max or AMBEO Soundbar Plus?
AMBEO Soundbar Max
- 5.1.4 immersive reproduction
- 13 physical drivers
- 13 Class D amplifiers
- 250W RMS / 500W peak
- Six 4-inch bass/mid drivers
- Five dedicated tweeters
- Two upward-firing full-range drivers
- 30Hz bass extension
- External calibration microphone
- Three HDMI inputs
- 126.5cm wide
- 18.5kg
- One wired subwoofer connection
AMBEO Soundbar Plus
- 7.1.4 virtualized reproduction
- 9 physical drivers
- 9 Class D amplifiers
- 400W RMS
- Two 4-inch woofers
- Seven full-range drivers
- 38Hz bass extension
- Built-in calibration microphones
- Two HDMI inputs
- 105.1cm wide
- 6.3kg
- Up to four wireless AMBEO Subs
Which AMBEO Soundbar Should You Choose?
The AMBEO Soundbar Max remains the heavyweight option. Its larger cabinet, greater number of physical drivers, dedicated tweeters and 30Hz extension make it particularly appealing where outright performance from a single enclosure matters most.
The AMBEO Soundbar Plus is considerably smaller and lighter, incorporates newer connectivity architecture and supports wireless AMBEO Subs, making it easier to accommodate in many living rooms.
The headline channel numbers therefore do not tell the whole story. The best choice depends on room size, television setup, available space and whether you want to add wireless subwoofers.
Who Is the AMBEO Soundbar Max For?
- Customers wanting premium home cinema without separate rear speakers
- Listeners wanting genuine upward-firing drivers
- Dolby Atmos users
- DTS:X users
- Customers wanting substantial bass without a separate subwoofer
- Rooms with enough space for a 126.5cm-wide soundbar
- Customers wanting multiple HDMI source inputs
- People wanting film and music from the same system
- Users wanting AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect
- Anyone wanting a high-performance alternative to a traditional AV receiver and speaker package
Who Is It Not For?
- Small television cabinets with limited width or depth
- Televisions where a 13.5cm-high soundbar would block the screen
- Customers specifically wanting physical rear surround speakers
- Systems requiring 4K/120Hz HDMI passthrough through the soundbar
- Customers wanting wireless connection to multiple AMBEO Subs
- Anyone looking for a particularly discreet or lightweight soundbar
Key Features
- Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Max
- Model SB01
- 5.1.4 immersive sound
- 13 total loudspeaker drivers
- 13 Class D amplifiers
- 250W RMS output
- 500W peak output
- Six 4-inch cellulose sandwich-cone woofers
- Five 1-inch aluminium tweeters
- Two 3.5-inch upward-firing drivers
- 30Hz to 20kHz frequency response
- AMBEO virtualization
- AMBEO Upmix
- Dedicated room calibration microphone
- Dolby Atmos
- Dolby TrueHD
- Dolby Digital Plus
- DTS:X
- DTS-HD Master Audio
- MPEG-H Audio
- 360 Reality Audio
- LPCM up to 7.1 channels
- HDMI eARC
- HDMI CEC
- Three HDMI 2.0a inputs
- 4K 60Hz passthrough
- Dolby Vision passthrough
- HDCP 2.2 on HDMI inputs
- Optical S/PDIF input
- Stereo RCA analogue input
- Mono RCA subwoofer pre-out
- Wired subwoofer compatibility
- USB service socket
- Ethernet
- Dual-band Wi-Fi
- Apple AirPlay 2
- Chromecast built-in
- Spotify Connect
- TIDAL Connect
- UPnP
- Bluetooth 4.2
- AAC Bluetooth codec
- SBC Bluetooth codec
- NFC pairing
- OLED display
- Remote control supplied
- High-speed HDMI cable supplied
- 126.5cm width
- 18.5kg weight
- Optional wall mounting
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Max still current?
Yes. Sennheiser continues to list and sell the AMBEO Soundbar Max as part of its current AMBEO range.
Is this the original Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar?
Yes. The original flagship AMBEO Soundbar is now marketed as the AMBEO Soundbar Max, model SB01.
How many speakers are inside the AMBEO Soundbar Max?
There are 13 physical loudspeaker drivers.
What are the 13 drivers?
Six 4-inch cellulose sandwich-cone low/mid drivers, five 1-inch aluminium tweeters and two 3.5-inch upward-firing full-range drivers.
How powerful is the AMBEO Soundbar Max?
Sennheiser specifies 250W RMS and 500W peak total audio power across 13 Class D amplifier channels.
Does it support Dolby Atmos?
Yes.
Does it support DTS:X?
Yes.
Does it support MPEG-H?
Yes.
Does it support 360 Reality Audio?
Yes, with compatible content and streaming services.
Does the AMBEO Soundbar Max have real upward-firing speakers?
Yes. Two 3.5-inch full-range drivers fire upwards to help reproduce height information.
Does it need rear speakers?
No. AMBEO virtualization uses the physical drivers and room reflections to create virtual surround and height channels from the soundbar itself.
Can rear speakers be added?
No dedicated wireless rear-speaker system is specified for the AMBEO Soundbar Max.
Does it need a subwoofer?
Not necessarily. The Soundbar Max is specified to reach 30Hz and has six 4-inch bass/mid drivers built in.
Can I add a subwoofer?
Yes. A mono RCA subwoofer pre-output is provided for a compatible powered subwoofer.
Can the AMBEO Sub connect wirelessly to the Soundbar Max?
No. Unlike the AMBEO Soundbar Plus and Mini, the Max does not support wireless AMBEO Sub pairing. Use a wired RCA connection instead.
Does it calibrate itself to the room?
Yes. A dedicated calibration microphone is supplied and the soundbar measures the room before creating its AMBEO spatial processing profile.
Should I recalibrate after moving the soundbar?
Yes. Calibration should also be repeated if a subwoofer is connected or disconnected or if significant changes are made to the room.
How many HDMI inputs does it have?
Three HDMI inputs, plus one HDMI television output with eARC.
Does it support HDMI eARC?
Yes.
Does it pass through 4K video?
Yes, up to 4K at 60Hz through the HDMI inputs.
Does it support Dolby Vision passthrough?
Yes.
Does it support 4K at 120Hz?
The soundbar's HDMI inputs are specified for up to 4K 60Hz. For 4K/120Hz gaming, connect the source directly to a compatible television and return the audio to the soundbar through eARC.
Does it have an optical input?
Yes. One optical S/PDIF input is provided.
Does it have an analogue input?
Yes. A stereo RCA line-level input is provided.
Does it have AirPlay?
Yes. Apple AirPlay 2 is supported through the network connection.
Does it have Chromecast?
Yes. Chromecast built-in is supported.
Does it support Spotify Connect?
Yes.
Does it support TIDAL Connect?
Yes.
Does it have Bluetooth?
Yes. Bluetooth 4.2 is supported with AAC and SBC codecs.
Does it have Ethernet?
Yes. An RJ45 Ethernet socket is provided alongside Wi-Fi.
How wide is the AMBEO Soundbar Max?
Approximately 126.5cm.
How high is it?
Approximately 13.5cm with its feet fitted.
How deep is it?
Approximately 17.1cm.
How much does it weigh?
Approximately 18.5kg.
Can it be wall mounted?
Yes. A dedicated AMBEO Soundbar Max wall mount is available separately.
What comes in the box?
The soundbar is supplied with a remote control and battery, room-calibration microphone, high-speed HDMI cable, power cable and documentation.
Related Sennheiser Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Max From Audio T?
The AMBEO Soundbar Max is a product where setup and room suitability matter. Its size, positioning, room calibration and television connectivity can all affect the result, so buying purely from a specification sheet does not tell the whole story.
Audio T can help you decide whether the Soundbar Max is the right solution for your room, compare it with the smaller AMBEO Soundbar Plus and advise on HDMI eARC, Dolby Atmos, room calibration, television placement and adding a wired subwoofer if required.
- Friendly home cinema advice
- Soundbar demonstrations where available
- AMBEO Max and Plus comparisons
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X guidance
- HDMI eARC setup advice
- Television compatibility guidance
- Room placement advice
- AMBEO calibration guidance
- Subwoofer integration advice
- Home cinema system comparisons
- Home demonstrations where available
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store if you would like to arrange a demonstration or discuss whether the AMBEO Soundbar Max is right for your television and room.