Overall Score 7.4 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Overall Score 4.9 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | width | 1,260mm | 651mm |
height | 135mm | 69mm | |
weight | 18,500g | 2,880g | |
volume | 29,202.53cm³ | 4,491.9cm³ | |
thickness | 171mm | 100mm | |
AUDIO | size of speakers | 2 x 3.5, 6 x 4 and 5 x 1inches | ✗ |
number of channels of sound output | ✗ | 5only | |
has bluetooth aptx | ✓ | ✗ | |
has aac | ✓ | ✗ | |
lowest frequency | 30Hz | ✗ | |
highest frequency | 20,000Hz | ✗ | |
CONNECTIVITY | has an aux input | ✓ | ✗ |
has an hdmi output | ✓ | ✓ | |
hdmi ports | 4only | 1only | |
has bluetooth | ✓ | ✗ | |
bluetooth version | v4.2 | ✗ | |
supports wi-fi | ✓ | ✓ | |
hdmi version | v2.1 | ✗ | |
rj45 ports | 1only | 1only | |
has a microphone input | ✓ | ✗ | |
has s/pdif out port | ✓ | ✓ | |
EXTRAS | hdmi arc / earc | ✓ | ✓ |
compatible with google assistant | ✗ | ✓ | |
compatible with alexa | ✗ | ✓ | |
has spotify connect | ✓ | ✗ | |
has dolby atmos | ✓ | ✓ | |
has dts:x | ✓ | ✗ | |
has chromecast built-in | ✓ | ✗ | |
has airplay | ✓ | ✓ | |
supports dolby digital plus | ✓ | ✓ | |
supports dolby digital | ✓ | ✓ | |
has a dedicated smartphone app | ✓ | ✓ | |
See price on Amazon | See price on Amazon |
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) has a width of 651mm. The width represents the horizontal dimension of a device, soundbars are sometimes designed to fit the width of TVs or get close.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar, at 1,260mm
is smaller in width than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with a difference mm
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) measures to a height of 69mm. The height represents the vertical measurement of a device, they are usually designed to be as thin as possible to aesthetically complement a space.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar, at 135mm
rises higher than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with a difference 66mm
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) weighs 2,880g. We consider a lower weight better for the reason that lighter devices are easier to carry around the space.
A lower weight is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes their movement easier, even say for many other kinds of products.
The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar, at 18,500g
weigh less than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with a difference g.
Commonly a genuine quality system is a little bit heavier than average quality products though If you will need to change the position of the soundbar often, then you should aim to purchase a less heavy soundbar.
The quantity of three-dimensional space occupied by the product's chassis or, in simpler terms, the space the soundbar fills. Sonos Beam (Gen 2) takes up 4,491.9cm³, it is a good thing to know the space that a soundbar takes up just so as to confirm that it will easily fit in the space available next to your other gadgets.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar's volume is 29,202.53cm³ meaning it
occupies lesser space than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) by cm³
The thickness of Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is 100mm, to know the thickness of a device you divide its space occupied by the surface area(length by width)
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar has a thickness of 171mm,
meaning that it is thicker than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with a difference of 71mm
Displayed as the number of speakers x size(inches), Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar has 2 x 3.5, 6 x 4 and 5 x 1 measured in inches. The sound quality of any given speaker generally depends on its size which is in turn determined by the driver unit.
For surround sound channels, you’re going to run across numbers in such formats as X.X two-digit, or X.X.X three-digit the first number denotes the number of main speakers, the second number denotes the total of subwoofers, and the third number if available denotes the number of “height” speakers.
NOTE: "Height" speakers are commonly placed on the ceiling of the space that has the soundbar, but they may also just be upward-firing speakers within the soundbar.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) having a sound output value of 5 means that it has 5 main speakers
The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar supports BLUETOOTH APTX, a codec used to transmit audio wirelessly using Bluetooth.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar supports AAC, a codec that is used for Bluetooth audio. It transfers 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it provides better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.
Being the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar will work fine with your MacBook. If you are planning on using these with Android , ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well
Low-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio device reproduces low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on the way through. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar's lowest frequency is at 30Hz.
High-frequency response measures if and how well an audio component reproduces high audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz.
The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar has an auxiliary input, this enables you to play from other audio sources by channeling them through a simple audio port say a 3.5mm jack.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) has an HDMI output port, devices with an HDMI port channel high-definition audio.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar too has a High-Definition Multimedia Interface port by which it outputs "signals" audio into inputs of other digital devices, which can receive and process these signals.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) has 1 HDMI ports, more HDMI ports mean that you may simultaneously connect several devices, such as video game consoles and set-top boxes.
The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar has 4 HDMI ports, meaning
it got 3 more ports than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar supports Bluetooth, a wireless technology that allows you to seamlessly transfer data between different compatible devices.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar has a Bluetooth version of 4.2
Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that allows devices such as computers, and mobile devices .i.e smartphones and wearables to connect and interact with other devices on the internet, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) can connect to Wi-Fi.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar too can connect to a Wi-Fi network.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar has an HDMI version of 2.1, newer versions of HDMI support higher bandwidth, which allows for higher resolutions and frame rates.
RJ-45 ports are used for Local Area Network (LAN) connections. With more ports, you can achieve increased bandwidth across a LAN, or connect to multiple networks. Sonos Beam (Gen 2) has only 1 ports
Having more ports has the added benefit of not losing connection to the network if one fails, Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar has 1 ports.
A microphone port allows connecting external high-end or specialized microphones.
S/PDIF is an interface used to transmit digital audio with high fidelity.
The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) have S/PDIF out ports
Before you needed to connect an optical cable from your TV to the optical input of an audio device on top of the already connected HDMI cable to play all audio through a soundbar, now with ARC you can easily connect all these at a go from a compatible HDMI socket on your TV to an HDMI ARC socket on your soundbar.
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) carries audio over HDMI. ARC is only capable of carrying compressed 5.1 audio, but eARC has higher bandwidth and can carry uncompressed 7.1 audio, as well as formats such as DTS:X and full bitrate Dolby Atmos. It is available on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar has the HDMI ARC/EARC
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is compatible with Google Assistant, allowing you to use voice commands to control the device from other Google Assistant-compatible devices.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is compatible with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, allowing you to use voice commands to control the device from other Alexa-compatible devices.
Spotify Connect allows you to control the music playing on the soundbar from the Spotify app on another device when the devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar has Spotify connect
Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology that allows sounds to be interpreted as three-dimensional objects. Sonos Beam (Gen 2) has Dolby Atmos, which allows them to have immersive, 360-degree sound.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar has it too, Atmos theoretically means you'll be able to hear, say birds chipping from above or a plane moving from over your head into the distance like it would be in a natural environment.
DTS:X is an object-based surround sound technology that allows filmmakers to place and move individual sounds around your listening space, giving you a theater-like audio experience.
More like Dolby Atmos as it aims to create a multi-dimensional sound that "places you at the center of the action", it differs from Dolby Atmos by the required speaker configuration. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar has DTS:X
Chromecast built-in is a technology that allows you to stream entertainment and apps from your phone, tablet, or laptop, straight to the Chromecast-enabled device.
AirPlay allows wireless connection of Apple devices with external screens or speakers. You may stream computer screens, videos, and music from iOS devices, play games like on consoles, or present your slideshows easily on your device.
Both the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) have airplay.
If a device supports Dolby Digital Plus it can deliver up to fourteen (14) different audio channels (sides) with improved bitrates, for much better sound quality. Sonos Beam (Gen 2) supports Dolby digital plus
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar supports Dolby digital plus as well.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) supports Dolby Digital meaning that it can deliver up to six (6) different audio channels (sides) for much better sound quality.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar too supports Dolby digital.
There is a dedicated smartphone app that is designed to be used with the Sonos Beam (Gen 2).
The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar has a dedicated smartphone app.