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Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review: a more compact Sonos Arc alternative

5:49 pm | November 9, 2023

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review: two-minute review

The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar arrives as the most upmarket, most expensive member of the Bose family of soundbars – and it’s been given the far-from-enviable task of taking the Sonos Arc down a peg or two as the most popular all-in-one big soundbar. Which means it has its work cut out.

First impressions – and second impressions too, for that matter – are very good, though. The Smart Ultra is properly built and finished from tactile, high-quality materials, and by the standards of the best soundbars, it’s of very discreet proportions. It’s well specified, including dedicated upward-facing speaker drivers – you’ve always a better chance of generating a convincing impression of spatial audio if you’ve got the physical equipment (rather than just some clever sound processing) to help you. And between a remote control handset, a couple of physical on-bar controls, voice-assistant compatibility, and one of the better control apps out there, getting what you want from the Bose couldn’t be any simpler.

In performance terms, it generally makes a good impression too. Certainly no one’s going to be disappointed by the width and coherence of its soundstage, nor by the impressive amount of detail it retains and delivers from a soundtrack. Dialogue, in particular, enjoys proper expression – and, as we know, that’s always the most important part of any movie soundtrack. There’s a slight shortage of low-end ‘punch’ and substance to the sound, though, and only a very modest sensation of the audio ‘height’ that is basically the whole point of getting one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.

And when you remember that ‘punch’ and ‘height’ are among the two real strengths of the usually cheaper Sonos Arc or the more expensive but exquisite Sennheiser Ambeo Plus, it becomes apparent that the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is sitting in a slightly awkward spot – however, it's notably more compact than the Sonos Arc, which may make it a winner for some people.

Bose smart ultra soundbar close up showing a grille for an upfiring speaker — The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is hiding an upfiring driver behind here. (Image credit: Future)

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review: price & release date

Released October 10th 2023
£899 / $899 / AU$1499

The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar went on sale on October 10th, 2023. It's priced at $899 in the US, £899 in the United Kingdom, and in Australia it will set you back AU$1,499.

This means it’s a little more affordable than the Sony HT-A7000 or Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus, both of which we’re big fans of. And more significantly, it’s the same money officially as the very similarly specified (and extremely successful) Sonos Arc, though the Arc is regularly available with discounts now, which means in real terms you should expect to pay less than the price of the Bose.

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar close up showing the curved corner of the soundbar — The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar's build quality and finish is impressive. (Image credit: Future)

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review: Specs

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review: Features

9 speaker drivers arranged in 5.1.2 channels
Dolby Atmos support, but no DTS:X
TrueSpace turns regular audio into Atmos-like sound

The Smart Ultra Soundbar uses a nine-strong line-up of speaker drivers in order to deal with Dolby Atmos spatial audio soundtracks (and Bose's TrueSpace technology to up-mix non-Atmos content to the point that it uses all nine drivers too).

Six of these nine drivers are 100 x 50mm ‘racetrack’ full-range drivers, and are of plastic with ferrite magnets. There’s one behind each exposed metal grille on the top surface of the soundbar, angled in an effort to create the sonic height that’s basically the whole point of a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The other four are grouped towards the center of the bar – there are two either side of a 25mm neodymium tweeter that’s positioned dead center. There’s another of these tweeters at each end of the soundbar, and they spread sound beyond the physical confines of the soundbar’s cabinet.

It seems safe to assume there are nine discrete blocks of amplification powering this driver array, and it seems safe to assume it’s of the Class D variety. But having seemingly taken a leaf out of the Sonos' playbook of inexplicable secrecy, Bose is neither confirming nor denying. And there’s no indication of the amount of power this putative amplification turns out, either, nor of the Smart Ultra’s frequency response.

Physical connectivity is kept in a couple of little recesses on the rear of the cabinet. In the first you’ll find sockets for HDMI eARC, Ethernet, digital optical and a USB-C slot that’s purely for servicing. In the second there’s power, and a collection of 3.5mm sockets – they’re for data, for connecting the Adaptiq calibration mic, connecting a bass module, and an IR blaster respectively.

Having only one HDMI socket is frustrating here – it's so useful to have at least one passthrough – but the Sonos Arc has the same limitation, so Bose isn't alone.

Wireless connectivity is covered off by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. Chromecast is built in, Apple AirPlay 2 is available (both of which make multi-room set-up straightforward), and Spotify can be embedded into the Bose Music control app.

Sound format support extends to Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus. Bear in mind, though, that TrueSpace is constantly doing its thing, analyzing incoming non-Dolby audio content and deciding how best (or, more particularly, with how much spatial audio effect) it should be delivered. And you’ve further input into the way sound is presented thanks to the defeatable ‘AI Dialogue Mode’ that is constantly assessing audio content to give dialogue (and the midrange in general) a little push towards the front of the soundstage.

Features score: 4/5

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar bass reflex port close-up — The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar's rear-firing bass reflex port aims to help make up for its lack of real subwoofer. (Image credit: Future)

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review: Sound quality

Spacious, organized sound
Poise and insight in equal measure
The spatial sound isn't especially pronounced

Like any worthwhile Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Bose Smart Ultra is at its most impressive and convincing when given some properly accomplished Dolby Atmos content to deal with - and when reproducing the painstakingly remastered Atmos soundtrack on a 4K UHD Blu-ray disc of The Shining to deal with, the Bose wastes little time in establishing its credentials.

For example, it’s impressively detailed from the top of the frequency range to the bottom. This is most immediately apparent through the midrange, where voices project well and are absolutely loaded with information regarding tone and timbre as well as character and emotional state. The Bose communicates freely where dialogue is concerned, and voices are distinct and explicit as a result. But it’s true of frequency information on either side, too – bass sounds are respectably deep and varied, while the top of the frequency range is crisp and attacking.

The Smart Ultra isn’t the deepest-digging soundbar you ever heard, it’s true – those who equate ‘punch’ with ‘excitement’ may be a little underwhelmed – and there could be greater substance to treble sounds to balance out their shininess and bite. It’s possible to mitigate these traits just a little in the Bose Music control app, but the fundamentals of the tonality that’s available here will always be apparent.

The driver array does very good work in conjuring appreciable sonic width to the soundtrack – the distance it can reach both left and right is considerably bigger than the physical dimensions of the cabinet. By way of mild contrast, though, the vertical extension the Bose can muster is fairly modest – there’s some height to its presentation, for sure, but it’s not especially pronounced. If your expectations of a Dolby Atmos soundbar include a suggestion of overhead sound, there’s not going to be much about the way the Smart Ultra goes about things to excite you, especially when you can get the multi-channel mastery of the Samsung HW-Q990C for around the same price.

Switching to some two-channel content lets the TrueSpace technology do its thing – and its thing turns out to be pretty effective. The same accurate, detailed and slightly lightweight tonality is in evidence (though just a hint of sibilance creeps into the top of the frequency range) and the same spacious, well-defined soundstage is apparent too. Also apparent is the technology disinclination (or inability) to summon any meaningful suggestion of height to the sound it delivers.

Using Bluetooth to stream a file of Kraftwerk’s Computer World results in quite a lot of the Smart Ultra’s positivity where soundstaging is concerned going astray. Detail levels stay agreeably high, and there’s decent rhythmic expression to the square-edged four/four presentation – but a mild-but-definite vagueness creeps into the layout of the stage, and the latent edginess of the tonality becomes a little more pronounced. TrueSpace has its limits, and it seems that stereo music is among them.

Sound quality score: 4/5

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar paired with the TV — The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar's reflectivity isn't ideal… (Image credit: Future)

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: Design

Suitable for TVs of 48 inches and up
Very well-built and premium
Glass top is highly reflective

Of course, it’s not enough for a soundbar at this sort of money to simply perform to a certain standard – when you’re charging premium money, it’s important to try and add at least a little perceived value where design is concerned too. Bose has decided the way to do that is to top the Smart Ultra Soundbar with tempered glass.

And up to a point, it’s a sound strategy. This soundbar looks a) very similar indeed to the Smart Soundbar 900 it replaces, especially where the cutaways in the glass to expose the metal grille above the up-firing drivers are concerned, and b) a more upmarket and premium proposition than, say, the similarly priced Sonos Arc. But there are a couple of problems with the admittedly luxurious glass finish: it reflects the light of the screen above it quite readily, and it collects fingerprints like a scene-of-crime investigator.

Otherwise, a combination of perforated metal that covers the front face and wraps around the sides of the bar and high-quality plastic make up the Smart Ultra. Build quality is well up to par, and the standard of fit and finish is appropriately impressive.

Its width is about the same as a 48-inch OLED TV, such as the LG C3, so it should work well with this size of TV and up – which is a plus over the Sonos Arc, which needs a TV of at least 55 inches.

Design score: 4/5

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar remote on top of the unit — The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar's remote control is nicely tactile. (Image credit: Future)

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review: Setup & usability

'Adaptiq’ automatic room calibration
Voice, app and remote control
'AI Dialogue’ mode is new

You’ve got to hand it to Bose: it’s made setting up the Smart Ultra Soundbar about as simple as can be, and made whoever’s doing it look like a weirdo to any observers at the same time.

Once the soundbar is in position, and the appropriate connection to the TV and to power have been made, opening the ‘Bose Music’ control app that’s free for iOS and Android gives comprehensive control of the Smart Ultra. And first things first: it puts you in charge of the Adaptiq automatic room calibration system. Plug the Adaptiq mic into the rear of the Smart Ultra, and then put the mic on your head. You read that right.

The calibration system fires off the usual selection of test-tones in order to best set up the soundbar to suit your specific environment. The app will ask you to change positions as many as four subsequent times in order to do its thing – and after that you can take your little plastic mic-hat off and hope never to need to use it again.

The Bose soundbar's Adaptiq headset mic worn by a man who looks unamused — Your delighted correspondent mid-calibration. (Image credit: Future)

The app also features volume control, input selection, EQ adjustment for center, height, bass and treble, and an audio delay adjuster to help achieve perfect audio/video sync. It allows you to group your compatible Bose products together (including surround and/or bass speakers if you’re going the full home theater hog), gives access to Spotify and TuneIn internet radio, holds half a dozen assignable presets, and allows you to switch AI Dialogue Mode on or off.

It’s where you can set up Amazon Alexa voice control – which proves sharp-earned and reliable. The Bose Voice4Video feature leverages the power of Alexa to allow you to take control of your TV, cable- or satellite TV box using your voice, meaning you can switch on the TV and switch inputs just by asking. The Smart Ultra can also be used with Google Assistant, provided there’s an appropriate speaker on a common network.

This is a responsive, useful app, and is admirably unfussy in the way it presents itself, too.

There’s a little remote control handset too, if you prefer. It covers only the headline controls – input selection volume up/down/mute, play/pause and power on/off – but its rubbery long-travel buttons feel quite good, and it’s useful if the device you’ve installed the app on isn't to hand.

There are a grand total of two physical controls on the soundbar itself, both capacitive touch-surfaces. One switches the integrated mics on or off, while the other is a multifunction ‘action’ control.

Setup & usability: 5/5

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar on the AV rack — The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is the right width to match TVs of 48 inches and up. (Image credit: Future)

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review: Value

Big, organized sound
Great build quality and excellent control options
Seems a touch expensive next to its most obvious rivals

If we accept that Bose has the Sonos Arc squarely in its sights with the Smart Ultra Soundbar, then I have to conclude that the Bose is just a little overpriced. Yes, it’s flawlessly constructed and finished, from materials that look and feel good (the suitability of glass in front of a TV notwithstanding), and it’s simple to set up in the first place and operate thereafter.

But while there’s plenty of merit in the way it performs, not least in its wide, well-defined and nicely balanced presentation, it’s slightly lacking in a couple of areas. And given that these areas – low-frequency impact and the creation of appreciable sonic height – are among the Sonos Arc’s particular strengths as an all-in-one soundbar, they seem almost compounded. Which in turns serves to make the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar seem a less compelling proposition than it otherwise would.

Value score: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review: Also consider

How I tested the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar

Tested a standard living space
Used for over a week
Tested with streaming services and 4K UHD Blu-ray content

The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar has been sitting beneath a Philips OLED TV (where it happily reflects part of the images coming from above) for well over a week. For several days it’s been working full 10-hours shifts while I assess its performance – plus, of course, it’s been doing its thing for an hour or two every evening while the household unwinds in front of the television. The room it’s in is open-plan, so side boundaries are fairly distant, but the ceilings are of unremarkable height, which is helpful to soundbars when it comes to generating overhead audio effects.

Content has been sourced from premium-tier video streaming services, from Dolby Atmos-enabled 4K UHD Blu-ray discs, from broadcast TV and, for music, via Bluetooth and the Spotify account embedded into the Bose Music app.

First reviewed: October 2023
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JBL Authentics 500 review: a speaker with Dolby Atmos chops to rock your socks off

6:00 pm | October 29, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: Dolby Atmos | Comments: Off

JBL Authentics 500: Two-minute review

The JBL Authentics 500 sounds more like an IndyCar Series race than a loudspeaker, but it’s actually the name of the newest premium Wi-Fi speaker with Dolby Atmos support from audio powerhouse JBL.

Launched alongside the more affordable Authentics 200 and 300, this is one of the best wireless speakers for people who are willing to toe the edges of their budget, without splurging too far.

It’s one of the priciest speakers JBL has put out, and at the time of writing it heads up its line of Wi-Fi speakers (which doesn’t include the wallet-melting and LED-bedecked PartyBox line).

In terms of audio quality and features, there’s a good reason for this price. The Authentics 500 has audio chops that’ll rock your socks off, with sharp treble and bass that’s so ground-shaking that the speaker could be picked up by a seismograph.

You’re getting the connectivity tripartite here (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and wired, with bonus USB-C connection in the US) and built-in functionality with a range of different music streaming apps: Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Chromecast, Amazon Music and more all have easy shortcuts and tie into the device.

The third-party collaboration extends to smart home assistants, and the JBL is so smart that it can actually run two assistants at once. This might just sound like a way to use each assistant for what they’re good at; letting Alexa control Amazon Music or Google to find web results, but it’s actually a vital tool for tech fans who have a diverse tech ecosystem that isn’t exclusive to one range.

So the JBL Authentics 500 ties cozily into a smart home and will please audiophiles with its excesses. So why have I only given it four stars out of five? Well, because it can be so damn fiddly to use!

The set-up process was quite a pain, because it involved wading through pages on the app store to find the exact right app and twiddling my thumbs while a massive firmware update was installed. And while connecting to the speaker was often a breeze, the app definitely wouldn't concur, as it sometimes couldn't sense the speaker even when the device in use was literally playing music onto it.

This may seem like a minor gripe, but speaker apps can be rather divisive for music fans, so featuring one that doesn't work perfectly might raise eyebrows. There's no doubt the Sonos Era 300 offers a simpler experience and similar audio quality for less – but it doesn't have as many features as the JBL.

JBL Authentics 500: Price and release date

Released in September 2023
Costs $699.99 / £579.99 / AU$999

The JBL Authentics 500 was announced alongside its 200 and 300 siblings at IFA 2023 at the end of August 2023, and went on sale shortly after.

The 500 costs $699 / £579 / AU$999, so it’s certainly not a cheap speaker – it’s the priciest of the brand’s current Wi-Fi speaker range, narrowly sliding above the Boombox 3. For context the Authentics 200 costs $349 / £299 / AU$499 and the Authentics 300 goes for £379 / $449 / AU$599.

Some of the close competitors to the JBL Authentics 500 you’ll find include the $449 / £449 / AU$749 Sonos Era 300 (which TechRadar gave 4.5 stars in our review), the $799 / £699 / AU$1,199 Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin (five stars in our review) and the $699 / £599 (roughly AU$900) Bang & Olufsen Beosound Emerge.

This isn’t too premium as a speaker though, and most brands have one or more offerings in the four-figure range if you really want to splash out.

The JBL Authentics 500 on a gold table — (Image credit: Future)

JBL Authentics 500 review: Specs

JBL Authentics 500 review: Features

Lots of tie in apps and assistants
Bluetooth 5.3 or Wi-Fi streaming or 3.5mm aux-in
Buggy companion app

The Authentic’s set-up process wasn’t exactly a breeze. While my first few days of testing solely utilized a Bluetooth connection to the speaker, which was simple, most of the device’s features require you to pair with the JBL app. That first hurdle is the biggest, as there are 10 different JBL-named apps on the Play Store, but it’s JBL One that you’re looking for.

When I finally found the right app to install, the speaker told me it’d take 20 minutes to install firmware updates. After that, it decided to crash several times when trying to set up the voice assistants. Not exactly ideal.

My issues continued through the testing period. Occasionally, when I was streaming music from a phone via Wi-Fi, the JBL One app wouldn’t be able to connect to the speaker, even when Bluetooth was enabled. This meant I couldn’t play with the equalizer or control the music through the app itself.

The app is pretty useful when it works, though. You can use it to set up Wi-Fi streaming, set a ‘Moment’ or favored prompt that you can enact by pressing the heart button on the speaker (like a beloved playlist), play with the speaker’s equalizer, and enable voice assistants.

The equalizer gives you a little more control over sound than the on-speaker dials, letting you tweak mid as well as bass and treble, but there’s no way to set or change presets.

Various screenshots from the JBL One app — (Image credit: Future)

The ‘Moment’ button lets you quickly draw from a range of music services including Amazon Music, Tidal and Napster, but curiously missing is Spotify. Spotify Connect is available for Wi-Fi streaming though, as is AirPlay 2, Amazon Alexa, Tidal Connect and Chromecast.

A neat feature on the Authentics is that you can enable multiple assistants, like Alexa and Google Assistant, making this a useful option if you have multiple product ecosystems on the go.

Overall, the list of features and tie-in apps here is really neat. Whichever music service you use, you’ll be covered.

As stated, you can use the JBL either via Bluetooth (5.3, nice and reliable!) or Wi-Fi, giving you a range of ways to listen, with Wi-Fi streaming built into a lot of music apps these days including the ever-present Spotify. I never had any issues with either of these options in terms of dropping or cut-outs, though Bluetooth could sometimes take a while to pair, so I’d recommend you opt for Wi-Fi purely out of convenience. If you are still suspicious about wireless connectivity, there’s also a 3.5mm aux jack you can use.

Features score: 4/5

JBL Authentics 500 review: Sound quality

If you want the short version, the JBL Authentics 500 sounds fantastic.

The bass is the killer here, thanks going to the 6.5-inch subwoofer hidden on the underside of the box for this miracle of music. Unlike some bass-heavy speakers, the element didn't overwhelm the other aspects of a song, instead underlining the rest of each tune. Balance in speakers like this is never a guarantee, so the JBL was pleasantly surprising.

That means the treble remains crisp and clear, no matter what kind of thumping bassline a song normally has. I did find that the top-mounted treble dial seemed to have very little effect, though, with the bass dial having more of a palpable impact on music.

Unfortunately bass does tie in to one audio issue, though the real culprit is the app's lack of sound profiles. The prominent bass became too dominant in certain types of audio, particularly when I used the speaker for podcasts (or other spoken word content) or movies. This could be fixed by changing the dials on the speaker (or in the app, if it wanted to work), but sound presets could make it much easier.

The speaker supports Dolby Atmos Music, the surround-sound tech that makes music and movies sound fantastic, but only for certain apps like Tidal.

The max output on the Authentics 500 is 270W; in my general testing period, I never got even close to its volume limit, thanks to just how loud it was. Turning the dial up to full won’t just annoy the neighbors, but people several towns over.

I found this out the hard way (the neighbor part, not the hyperbole) when I accidentally knocked the volume dial up to about 70% volume with a toe: even at this level, my neighbor had to come around to have a word. That is to say, this is a loud loudspeaker, and no matter the size of your home, you won’t be straining to hear tunes.

Another minor gripe is that there only seemed to be a few volume levels; when you turn the dial, each new volume tier (indicated by a new section lighting up on the dial) ratched up the noise by a noticeable margin. I spent a good while turning the dial just a few degrees one way then another, trying to find a Goldilocks spot, before realizing that one didn't exist. I was stuck deciding between music a touch too loud, or a touch too quiet, which is a first-world problem if ever you've heard one, but a problem nonetheless.

Sound quality: 4/5

JBL Authentics 500 review: Design

Classy ’70s-esque design
Three main dials for volume, bass and treble
Big body and heavy

The JBL Authentics 500 is a big speaker; it makes its 200- and 300-named siblings look like they need to head back to the gym, and while that heft hints at its impressive speaker functionality, it does make this a challenging piece of kit to fit in your home.

Measuring 17.6 x 9.4 x 2.2 in / 447 x 240 x 255 mm, this is a piece of gear that you can’t just leave on any book shelf or window ledge (and weighing nearly 8kg, not all surfaces might support it!). Before buying the speaker, you should probably work out where it’ll sit on your house, and make sure you’ve definitely got space for it.

Not only is your home placement important to check that it fits, but you should also ‘vibe-check’ your home to make sure the speaker fits in with your decor. This is certainly a classy-looking speaker, with a black body and gold trim, and it could be as much of a fashion statement as it is a musical device if you want to channel some old-school cool. It's based on JBL's 1970s-era speakers.

Despite being such a big speaker, the Authentics 500 has a rather barebones set of buttons atop it. That’s mostly a good thing: it’s clear to see which is the dial for volume, bass and treble, the Bluetooth pairing and favorites buttons are clear and the pause/play function is easy to spot too. Privacy fans will also enjoy the physical slider which turns off the microphone, to make sure you’re not being listened to.

That slider is on the back, joined by the power port, 3.5mm audio jack, a USB-C port and an ethernet port, so you can get your internet wired if you’d rather. This USB-C port lets you input music digitally, but only with the US models of the speaker.

What’s missing is a power button: the instruction manual simply shows a picture of the power cable under the ‘Power On/Off’ heading, implying that the only way to turn the speaker off is to unplug the thing. When I wanted to use my phone’s onboard speakers I either had to manually disconnect the Bluetooth or turn the speaker off at the wall, which was rather annoying; a simple power button or switch would be appreciated.

Design score: 4/5

JBL Authentics 500 review: Value

This has so far been a pretty glowing review of the JBL Authentics 500; perhaps the elephant in the room (other than the speaker itself, the chunky monkey!) is the speaker’s price.

This isn’t a cheap speaker, and you can get similar features and decent audio quality from the more affordable JBL Authentics 200 and 300. Plus they’re smaller, and in the case of the 300, is portable with a built-in battery.

So buy this if you’ve got the funds to cover its extra cost, but it’s certainly not the value option compared to its siblings.

Compared to other speakers, you can get the Sonos Era 300, with similar Dolby Atmos support and nearly as many speakers (but no subwoofer) for notably cheaper. But considering one of our criticism of that speaker was that we wanted more bass, and considering the extra connection options of the JBL, the extra money is warranted.

Value score: 3.5/5

Should I buy the JBL Authentics 500?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

JBL Authentics 500: Also consider

How I tested the JBL Authentics 500

As stated in this review, when I started using the JBL Authentics 500 I solely used Bluetooth, just to test how it worked alone; then for a day I used 3.5mm for the music. In both cases, this was for testing purposes, not because I'm a luddite, and then I moved onto using the app which I've covered in detail earlier in this review.

In full I tested the JBL Authentics 500 for roughly a week. A large part of this was with my default listening app: Spotify, using both Bluetooth and Spotify Connect for Wi-Fi streaming.

I also used the speaker for a few other things; I listened to an episode of my favorite podcast 'Fall of Civilisations' (which, at four hours long, counts as some pretty intensive testing) and connected it to my PS4 to watch the new movie No One Will Save You. At several times I accidentally also played autoplaying social media videos through the speaker, but this wasn't an intended part of the testing experience!

For some context on me; I was on the TechRadar team for several years as a staff writer and then editor. I've also tested plenty of other tech for the site, including loudspeakers and headphones since 2019.

First reviewed in October 2023
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LG B3 review: LG’s cheapest OLED TV packs a lot of performance

3:00 pm | October 1, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Televisions | Tags: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, HDMI, Star Wars | Comments: Off

LG B3: Two-minute review

The LG B3 continues a trend that LG has followed for years by providing a great-quality, more affordable OLED TV choice. Upon its release in April 2023, the LG B3 was not the best value set on the market, being roughly $100 cheaper than the step-up entry in LG’s 2023 OLED range, the LG C3, but with clear reduction in features and performance. Since then, B3 prices have dropped to a more reasonable level, putting space between it and more mid-range OLEDs.

Although the LG B3 does not feature the Micro Lens Array tech adopted by the LG G3, or even the Evo panel in the LG C3, its picture quality is nothing short of superb – something you’d expect from an OLED TV. Vibrant colors, deep black levels and great contrast mean the B3 has a picture that surprisingly rivals the C3 and even holds its own against the G3, which is one of the best TVs available in 2023.

Sound quality is one of the weaker parts of the LG B3. The 2.0 speaker system doesn’t create the same quality sound to match the excellent picture quality even on Cinema Mode, which gives decent enough audio performance. This is a TV that could almost benefit from a sound upgrade via one of the best soundbars.

Gaming performance is another area where LG’s entry-level OLED TV shines. Thanks to excellent picture quality, smooth motion processing and an extremely useful Game Optimizer feature, the B3 is certainly a TV that gamers should consider if they want OLED gaming on a budget. It’s just a shame that it doesn’t come with HDMI 2.1 across all four HDMI ports.

For smart TV software, the LG B3 uses webOS 23, which has seen an upgrade from last year’s webOS 22. The result is a neater home menu, more customization options and a Quick Cards feature that allows for quicker and easier navigation of apps if you need.

When it comes to design, the LG B3 has a sleek design with an extremely slim bezel for an “all-picture” look. Unfortunately, the stand supplied with the B3, although a nice color, is made of a cheap-feeling plastic material when other TVs like the C3 come with a more substantial stand.

The LG B3 may not have the features and picture brightness of TVs like the LG G3 or Samsung S95C, but it’s hard to argue against what it does provide for its current price. Although other TVs may offer better sound, such as the Sony A80L or Samsung S90C, or more extensive gaming features, such as the LG C3, the B3 lets people experience OLED on a smaller budget and could certainly be one of the best 4K TVs released in 2023.

For this review, I tested the 55-inch version of the LG B3.

LG B3 TV with green butterfly on screen — Detail levels on the LG B3 rival TVs much more premium than it (Image credit: Future)

LG B3 review: Prices and release date

Released April 2023
From $1,299/£1,199/AU$3,145 for the 55-inch
Up to $2,199/£3,099/$AU6,495 for the 77-inch

The LG B3 is the most widely available entry-level TV in LG’s OLED range (with the A3 not available in several major territories). At the time of its release in April 2023, prices ranged from $1,699/£1,799/$AU3,415 for the 55-inch, $2,399/£2,699/AU$4,095 for the 65-inch and $3,299/£3,799/AU$6,495 for the 77-inch. Sadly, this meant that the B3 was only on average $100 less than the more premium LG C3, leaving people without a real ‘entry-level’ option.

Thankfully at the time of writing, several months after release, prices for the LG B3 have dropped and currently sit around $1,299 for the 55-inch, $1,499 for the 65-inch and $2,199 for the 77-inch, which puts it at a much more competitive price with other entry-level OLEDs like the Sony A80L. (It’s worth noting that in the UK and Australia, the price for the 77-inch is significantly higher at £3,099/$AU6,495.)

LG B3 review: Specs

LG B3 TV with peacock feather on screen — Contrast is impressive on the B3 (Image credit: Future)

LG B3 review: Features

Alpha 7 Gen6 processor
Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support
Two HDMI 2.1 ports for gaming

The LG B3 may not be as well kitted out as LG's higher-end C3 and G3 models, but it does still carry a lot of the same features that those TVs do.

As other OLED TVs evolve, the LG B3 still features a standard white-OLED (W-OLED) panel as opposed to the C3’s Evo panel, which adds to the overall brightness. The G3 also features micro-lens-array technology to further enhance the brightness up to 70%. The LG B3 does however support Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG formats, but like all LG TVs doesn't support HDR10+.

For gaming, the LG B3 has two HDMI 2.1 ports with support for 120Hz Dolby Vision gaming, VRR, ALLM, Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. It also has the same Game Optimizer and game bar featured in the C3 and G3. although its Alpha 7 Gen6 processor won't be as powerful as the Alpha 9 Gen6 processor found in the C3 and G3, the B3 is still packing some very good performance for both movies and gaming.

The B3 features a 2.0 audio system and Dolby Atmos support, though without height speakers it can’t deliver Dolby Atmos effects at their full potential. While its speaker system isn’t as comprehensive as the ones in the C3 and G3, the B3 still supports a lot of the same audio features such as LG Sound Sync and AI Sound Pro sound mode to upmix sound to 5.1.2 when selected.

The LG B3 also comes installed with LG’s latest smart software, web OS23. One of the biggest updates to webOS23 is the addition of a Quick Cards system, which sorts apps into different categories such as Movies, Sport, Music and so on. These can be customized to allow for quicker navigation of your most used apps. The home menu has also been slimmed down to two pages as opposed to the four found in last year’s web OS22 and features less intrusive ads and recommendations.

Features score: 4.5/5

LG B3 TV with Star Wars Ahsoka on screen — Textures and details like skin look natural and life-like on the B3 (Image credit: Future)

LG B3 review: Picture quality

Punchy and vibrant color
Natural quality to picture
Great black levels

Starting with some numbers, the LG B3’s peak HDR brightness measured on a 10% window hit 619 nits in Filmmaker mode and 649 nits in Standard mode. That’s an improvement on its predecessor the LG B2 but lower than the LG C3 which we measured at 830 nits in Filmmaker mode, though this is to be expected given the C3’s brighter Evo panel. On a full 100% window, the B3 hit 133 nits in Filmmaker mode, which is a respectable result considering its peak brightness.

Measured again using HDR Filmmaker picture mode, the LG B3’s average color Delta-E was around 1.3, which is a surprisingly fantastic result. (The Delta-E value indicates the difference between a test pattern and what is actually shown on the TV’s screen, with a number below three considered to be an undetectable margin of error.) Average grayscale Delta-E values came to 1.4, which is another excellent result. DCI-P3 coverage (which is the color space used to master 4K movies and digital cinema releases) was measured at 98% and BT.2020 was 73.14%, both of which are great results and actually match the more premium LG G3.

When I tested it in our lab, I expected the LG B3 to struggle with the harsh overhead lights in terms of reflections as it uses a standard W-OLED panel and not the MLA technology or Evo panel in the LG G3 or LG C3. Although there were some reflections in darker scenes, I was surprised to find the B3 fared better than expected and my general viewing experience wasn’t too badly hindered.

Testing the out-of-the-box preset picture modes, the LG B3 had a brilliant picture. When first viewing in Standard mode, colors were dynamic and punchy and stood out on the screen. There was also a good deal of brightness to rival the effect of the overhead lights in our testing lab. Black levels and shadows weren’t quite as well-defined but were still good. However, once I settled on Filmmaker mode, the overall picture quality improved, with deeper black levels and a more natural look, whilst still maintaining punchy colors.

First watching scenes from John Wick and John Wick: Chapter 2, both of which are set in a nightclub, the pulsing colors of the lights were vibrant and contrasted well with the shadows within the scene when the lights flashed off. Blacks were deep but still had great levels of detail. This was especially obvious in Wick’s black suit, the textures of which you could see despite the overall dark scene.

To test Dolby Vision when watching in the B3’s Dolby Vision Cinema Home picture mode, I watched some scenes from Star Wars: Ahsoka. Contrast here was again impressive, with lightsabers almost jumping out of the screen against the darker backgrounds, regardless of color. The most noticeable thing when watching Ahsoka was just how natural and true-to-life textures and skin tones looked.

For motion testing, I used the opening scene from John Wick: Chapter 2 where John Wick pursues a motorcycle. During the chase, Wick’s car drifts around a corner and the camera quickly swipes from left to right. The B3 did a great job of processing this fast-paced scene, with the quick, panning shots looking fluid as the car and motorcycle weaved in and around traffic.

Using the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark Blu-ray to test professional demonstration content, the B3 did a remarkable job. Night scenes within cities looked crisp, with the lights of the skyscrapers standing out from the black backgrounds. Colors were also dynamic within scenes of nature, with bright blue skies seeming natural against the rocky landscape below. One thing that became apparent however was that the B3 did impart a cooler color bias during snow demo scenes, with the white taking on a blue-ish tint. But this didn’t detract too much from the superb quality of the picture and it can be adjusted for in picture settings.

Picture Quality score: 4.5/5

LG B3 OLED with music menu on screen — The music Quick Card - part of webOS 23, though music won't sound the best on the B3's lacking sound system (Image credit: Future)

LG B3 review: Sound quality

2.0 speaker system
Decent bass levels
Speech lacking a bit overall

The LG B3 features a 2.0 speaker setup outputting 20W of power per channel, with support for Dolby Atmos. With no upward-firing speakers, LG uses its AI Sound Pro sound mode to upmix the 2.0 configuration to a 5.1.2 output in order to try and get the best out of the B3's speakers.

In Standard sound mode, bass levels were good but sadly everything else was lacking. Speech in particular was a bit lost in the overall mix, with trebles sounding a little scratchy and brash at times. Dolby Atmos effects within this mode were almost non-existent. However, when changed to Cinema sound mode the overall sound was definitely improved, with bass, treble and mid levels being balanced to create a better overall sound. Speech was still a little lacking, but greatly improved from Standard mode.

As mentioned above, the B3 does feature an AI Sound Pro feature that will upmix the sound to 5.1.2 configuration and although through it Dolby Atmos effects were more apparent and treble and speech levels slightly enhanced, bass took a massive hit. Playing Top Gun: Maverick through both Cinema and AI Sound Pro, I found the most balanced overall sound to be through Cinema, as the rumble I expected from the jet engines was lost in AI Sound Pro.

The B3's sound quality is probably one of its weakest parts. Although it has better built-in sound than a lot of other TVs, the B3 is definitely lacking compared to other OLED sets like the LG C3, Sony A80L and Samsung S90C. Admittedly, these TVs cost more for better built-in sound, so it might be worth investing in a soundbar with the money you would save.

Sound Quality score: 3.5/5

LG B3 TV stand — The LG B3's stand looks nice but sadly is a bit cheap feeling (Image credit: Future)

LG B3 review: Design

Slim, attractive bezel
Nice-looking but cheap-feeling stand
LG Magic Remote supplied

The B3 features a surprisingly thin profile and a slim bezel at the top of its screen, running to about halfway down. However, the bottom half of the TV does bulk out and although this is noticeable from the back and sides, it doesn’t stop the TV from having an attractive design when viewed from the front.

LG designed the B3 to primarily be on a stand, which is centrally located on the TV. With a dark gray finish, its design is simple yet effective. Unfortunately, compared to its more premium models like the C3 and G3, the stand is a plastic material as opposed to metal. This makes it feel a little cheaper and with the B3 priced as it is (which is mentioned above) this is a real shame. However, unlike the G3, the B3 does come supplied with its stand.

LG’s Magic Remote that’s supplied with the B3 is as great as ever. It has a nice balance and solid quality to it, with plenty of app shortcut buttons and an easy-to-follow button layout. The central wheel is a nice way to navigate menus and the pointer allows you to explore screens without having to press arrows, but you may take some time getting the hang of this.

Design score: 4/5

LG B3 with Quick Card menu on screen — The LG Quick Card menu which can be edited to suit your needs (Image credit: Future)

LG B3 review: Smart TV and menus

webOS 23 re-design for tidier home menu
Quick Cards feature categorizes apps
No hands-free voice control like the LG C3 and G3

The LG B3 comes installed with the latest iteration of LG’s own smart software, webOS 23. This has been streamlined compared to last year's software, webOS 22, by limiting the amount of ads and recommendations on its home page, making for a much neater look.

Quick Cards are probably the biggest feature introduced on webOS 23’s menu system, with the ability to categorize apps by genre such as Music, Game, Movie and so on, meaning you can easily navigate to the type of apps you like. There are plenty of customization options as well, enabling you to organize your apps into these Quick Cards as you see fit.

The Quick Menus featured in webOS 23 are also a welcome inclusion. Pressing the gear icon on the remote will bring up a pop-up menu in the corner of the screen that enables you to quickly change settings like picture mode, sleep timer, OLED pixel brightness and so on.

Thanks to the B3’s Alpha 7 Gen6 processor, navigating the smart TV software and menus feels seamless and easy, with no pauses or stuttering. The B3 does feature voice control capabilities while pressing the mic button on the remote, but not the new hands-free voice control found in the C3 and G3.

Smart TV and menus score: 4.5/5

LG B3 with game menu and battlefield v on display — The LG B3 comes with LG's Game Optimizer and menu, which tailors the gaming experience depending on what you're playing (Image credit: Future)

LG B3 review: Gaming

4K, Dolby Vision gaming support
Game Optimizer mode for better gaming performance
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports

Much like the other OLEDs available in LGs’ 2023 range, the B3 comes with a great selection of gaming features, including 4K 120Hz Dolby Vision support, VRR, ALLM, AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync capabilities and a Game optimizer mode to get the best settings for your gaming experience.

Using the Leo Bodnar 4K input lag tester measuring at 60Hz, the LG B3 yielded a respectable result of 12.6ms. However, when turning on its Boost mode, found in the Game Optimizer, the result improved to 9.2ms, which is not only an excellent result but the same as I measured in the higher-end LG G3.

The LG B3 does an excellent job in terms of gaming performance. Playing Battlefield V on Xbox Series X, with Game Optimizer mode turned on to remove any annoying picture settings like judder reduction that would hinder the game, the B3 handled graphically intense moments well. During an ambush mission in a forest, quick targeting was made easy and wide, with panning shots from one side of the screen to the other feeling seamless.

With the Game Menu in webOS 23, there were plenty of settings to tweak to get the best possible picture including black level and even a game genre setting, which when I switched it to First-Person Shooter (FPS) automatically adjusted colors and motion settings to suit Battlefield V. After doing this, details within the picture were crisp, colors were vivid and black levels and shadow detail were superb.

Despite brilliant overall gaming performance, the LG B3 sadly does only come with two HDMI 2.1 ports, as opposed to the four you would find on some of the best gaming TVs. Those with both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and a soundbar they hope to run through eARC (one of the two HDMI 2.1 ports) may have to seek out alternative options like the LG C3 or Samsung S90C for example. However, looking past this, the LG B3 still offers excellent gaming features and performance.

Gaming score: 4.5/5

LG Magic Remote on brown TV stand — The LG B3 comes with LG's Magic Remote (Image credit: Future)

LG B3 review: Value

Cheaper alternative to the LG C3
Picture quality comparable to higher-end sets
Fairly priced after discounts for what features you get

As the most widely available ‘entry-level’ OLED in LG’s range, the B3 wasn’t going to offer as many features in terms of gaming and performance as its more premium counterparts, the C3 and G3, which meant that it needed to hit a good price for those looking for a good value OLED.

At the time of its release in April 2023, the B3 was only roughly $100 cheaper than the LG C3, which comes with the superior Alpha 9 Gen 6 processor, brighter Evo panel and four HDMI 2.1 ports, meaning the B3 did not provide this cheaper alternative that should have been offered.

However, since its release, the LG B3 has seen fairly large discounts and now sits roughly $200-300 cheaper than the C3, which is a much more reasonable price and enables people to think about any soundbars or accessories they could get with the B3 with the money saved. It is worth noting, however, that at the time of writing there is quite a large disparity in prices between the US and other territories for the 77-inch model, with it being much better value in the US.

Although there is some disparity in prices, it’s hard to argue against the B3 in terms of value, as you are getting a fantastic performing OLED TV with picture quality that in many ways rivals its more premium counterparts, for a now more reduced price.

Value score: 4.5/5

LG B3 with bright image of hot spring on screen — The B3 has vibrant colors that rival some higher-end sets (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the LG B3

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

HP Omen laptop displaying Calman Portrait Displays calibration software hooked up to Murideo 8K test pattern generator — Testing equipment we use for our tests from Murideo and Calman - in this instance connected to the Panasonic MZ2000 (Image credit: Future)

How I tested the LG B3

Tested in our lab room with varying lighting conditions
Measurements taken using Portrait Display's Calman software
Tested through a variety of sources, both SDR and HDR

After running in the TV for a couple of days, displaying SDR content from live TV, I tested various picture modes on the LG B3 including Standard, Cinema, and Filmmaker mode through a variety of SDR and HDR sources from 4K Blu-rays to streaming and also through an Xbox Series X.

After choosing the best picture mode, Filmmaker, I tested the LG B3's picture thoroughly using Disney Plus for 4K Dolby Vision HDR content, the Xbox Series X for gaming, 4K Blu-ray for HDR content and SDR content through live tv and Full HD on ITVX and BBC iPlayer.

When it came time to take measurements of the B3, I used Portrait Displays’ Calman calibration software. Using this, I measured peak brightness on a 10% window and 100% window in both SDR and HDR. I then recorded the Delta-E values (which demonstrates the margin of error between the test pattern and what is displayed) for color accuracy, grayscale and gamma again using Calman. I then measured the color space looking at DCI-P3 and BT.2020 coverage. For all tests, I used the Murideo Seven 8K test pattern generator.

Finally, to measure input lag for gaming, I used the Leo Bodnar 4K input lag tester.

First reviewed: October 2023
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LG G3 OLED review: LG’s brightest OLED TV ever delivers elite pictures

5:46 pm | September 22, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Televisions | Tags: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, DTS, Star Wars | Comments: Off

LG G3: Two-minute review

The LG G3 is the latest flagship OLED TV from the company that has put OLED on the map more than any other. The G3 is another landmark set, though, taking brightness to a new level for LG, and besting what’s come before in many ways.

The LG G3 is priced like a premium flagship TV too, though its price has dropped somewhat since its launch in March 2023 – though the Samsung S95C is a similarly specified TV that’s available for less at the time of writing (though the two will battle this out in price drops, no doubt). With the G3 ranging in sizes from 55-inch to 83-inch (although the 83-inch has a less-bright panel so will perform differently), there’s an option for nearly all home theater lovers, although if you need smaller you can always look at the LG C3, which also ranks among the best OLED TVs.

With the introduction of Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology to improve brightness in its already fantastic OLED Evo panel, plus a new generation of image processor, the G3’s picture quality is phenomenal. Vibrant colors and crisp textures work in harmony with deep blacks and dynamic contrast, making the picture of the G3 nothing short of sensational – at the very top of what you can get from the world’s best TVs.

Although built-in sound in the G3 is decent, with a surprising amount of bass in some sound modes and clear dialogue generally, the LG G3 could benefit from one of the best soundbars to match the excellent quality of its picture. If stronger built-in audio quality is essential to you, you may want to look at TVs such as the Sony A80L and even the Samsung S90C.

As far as gaming goes, the LG G3 is a paradise. With extensive gaming features and compatibility including 4K 120Hz support on all four 2.1 HDMI ports, Dolby Vision gaming at 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM, this is as well-specced as it gets for games. Put all this with an intuitive Game Dashboard menu and extremely useful Game Optimizer picture mode, and it’s hard to fault.

LGs smart TV platform, webOS 23, is intuitive and more streamlined than last year’s software, webOS 22, and offers you greater customization options in terms of categorizing apps via its Quick Card option and also tailors recommendations on what you want to look for. Thankfully, webOS 23 has also toned down the amount of recommendations compared to last year as well, because they were a little overwhelming.

In terms of design, the G3 is a stunning TV, with a sleek, bezel-less build that looks elegant when mounted on a wall. Still, though, it’s extremely frustrating that for people who want to put this TV on a stand, a desktop stand is not included and will cost you extra – it only comes with a special gap-free wall-mount.

If you’re looking for a TV to suit any situation including gaming, movie marathons or daytime viewing, with image quality that’s as good as anything else on the market, the LG G3 is definitely one of your top choices. There are cheaper high-quality OLEDs out there, such the LG C3 or Sony A80L, but they sacrifice brightness or other features compared to the G3. The biggest competitor is the Samsung S95C, which we rate slightly higher due to its better sound and great external connections box, creating slightly better value overall – but the G3 should definitely be one of your options if you’re looking to buy one of the best 4K TVs available today.

For this review, we tested the 65-inch version of the LG G3.

LG G3 with mountainous landscape on screen — The LG G3 looks stunning with Dolby Vision content and shines with landscape shots (Image credit: Future)

LG G3 review: price and release date

Released in March 2023
From $2,099 / £1,999 / AU$4,195 (55-inch)
Up to $5,799 / £5,999 / AU$10,995 for the 83-inch

The G3 is one of LG’s most elite OLEDs, sitting only below the LG M3 and its wild wireless tech, and the 8K Z3 series. At the time of its release in March 2023, pricing for the G3 started from $2,099 / £1,999 / AU$4,195 for the 55-inch version, $2,799 / £2,699 / AU$5,295 for the 65-inch, $3999 / £4,299 / AU$8,395 for the 77-inch and $5,799 / £5,999 / AU$10,995 for the 83-inch version. This was competitively priced with its closest competitor, the Samsung S95C.

At the time of writing, several months after release, prices for the LG G3 have dropped but it still remains well into the higher end of the OLED market. However, expensive as it may be, compared to similarly specced TVs such as the Samsung S95C or Sony A95L, the G3’s price remains competitive.

LG G3 review: Specs

Rear of LG G3 showing connections and ports — The LG G3 has a lot of connectivity options, including four 2.1 HDMI ports (Image credit: Future)

LG G3 review: Features

Micro Lens Array (MLA) OLED Evo panel
Alpha 9 Gen6 processor
4K 120Hz with Dolby Vision support for gaming

OLED technology continues to evolve, and the LG G3 features what LG refers to as Brightness Booster Max; a light-boosting technology that LG claims makes the G3 70% brighter than previous generation OLEDs.

The key bit of technology in LG G3 to achieve this is Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology, which is a layer of microscopic lenses that sit in a layer above the OLED panel and enable much more of the light from the panel to reach your eyes. Absent from the more affordable LG C3, this MLA tech makes the G3 stand out in LG’s line-up. The LG G3 supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG HDR formats, but as with all LG TVs, it doesn’t support HDR10+.

In terms of gaming features, the LG G3 covers a lot of bases, with Dolby Vision gaming support, four HDMI 2.1 ports rated for 4K 120Hz, with VRR including AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, ALLM and HGiG compatibility. Coupled with the Alpha 9 Gen6 processor, the G3 is packing some serious performance for gaming and picture processing.

The 4.2-channel speaker system, with Dolby Atmos and DTS compatibility, aims to improve on the audio performance of other OLEDs in order to attain a sound that can complement the picture on screen.

The overhauled smart TV software, webOS 23, has access to all the major apps including Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video and Apple TV Plus to name a few. A new Quick Cards system in the home screen categorizes apps by genre such as Sport, Music and so on, and its main home menu has had ads and recommendations reduced, allowing the webOS 23 home screen to fit over two pages as opposed to the four it was spread over last year, leading to a neater-looking homepage.

Features score: 5/5

LG G3 with John Wick on screen — Contrast is brilliant and people look natural, as shown here in *John Wick: Chapter 2.* (Image credit: Future)

LG G3 review: Picture quality

Brilliant brightness levels
Detailed and natural image
Deep black levels

Let’s start with some numbers: with the LG G3 in Filmmaker HDR mode, we measured peak brightness at an impressive 1,449 nits on a 10% window, which actually tops the Samsung S95C’s 1,400 nits, making this marginally the brightest OLED we’ve measured so far. It hit a respectable 219 nits on a full 100% window, but that’s notably lower than the 265 nits we measured for the S95C.

LG suggested the G3 would have a 70% brightness increase on previous generations of its OLED TVs, and with these numbers, we can confirm it. Last year’s LG G2, measured in the bright Vivid mode in our review, hit 1,000 nits in a 10% window and the LG C3, in the same Filmmaker mode as the G3, hit just over half the G3’s result with 830 nits. The G3’s MLA panel has certainly boosted the peak brightness by a substantial amount.

During this test, I used the 65-inch G3 and it’s worth noting that the 83-inch G3 does not include MLA, so is likely to perform closer to the LG G2’s results for brightness, although we have yet to confirm this for ourselves.

In Filmmaker HDR mode again, the LG yielded some great results with its color accuracy, delivering an average Delta-E value of just under three. This demonstrates the difference between a color test pattern and what’s shown on screen, and we’re happy that anything under three is accurate enough for TV viewing. DCI-P3 coverage (the color space used for mastering 4K Blu-rays and digital cinema releases) was 98% and BT.2020 was 73.8%, both of which are very good results. Grayscale Delta-E values, testing black levels and contrast accuracy, averaged around 1.9, which is another excellent result.

One thing I noticed straight away was how well the G3, with its MLA panel and anti-glare screen, made easy work of the testing room’s bright, overhead lights and spotlights when we pushed them high to see how it fared. Only the reflection of some awkwardly placed overhead lights was visible, so the LG G3 should be fine with generally bright indoor lights. The Samsung S95C’s higher full-screen brightness will be a little better for really bright, sunlit rooms – though neither holds a candle to mini-LED TVs such as the Samsung QN95C. Nevertheless, with only minor reflections, it’s still extremely impressive how well the G3 handled the bright testing facility.

The out-of-the-box picture is certainly impressive on the LG G3. I cycled through several of the picture presets to test the G3 for color, sharpness, contrast and also brightness, seeing just what the MLA panel could do. Using a couple of scenes from The Batman to test these presets, starting with one scene where Batman lights a bright flare to guide people in a darkened, flooded room. Standard mode had a decent enough picture with bright color, but black levels weren’t as deep and brightness was pushed a little too far.

However, switching to Cinema mode, the contrast was more balanced, enabling the G3 to show how it can accentuate shadows, giving a rich detail to the overall picture. The G3’s Filmmaker mode added further to this, giving the flare a subtle, yet vibrant feel that made it stand out without blowing out. In another scene, where Batman first appears in a subway fight, black levels were outstanding as the shadows and Batman’s suit looked truly dark without losing any detail.

Testing Dolby Vision HDR content, again in Filmmaker mode, I streamed a lightsaber fight from Star Wars: The Last Jedi on Disney Plus. In it, the lightsabers’ colors were punchy and dynamic without being too glaring. Red was a very prominent color in the scene, as guards, Kylo Ren’s lightsaber and a chunk of the background were all red, but the G3 handled the vibrancy well, keeping a natural, yet flashy look with all the red in the scene.

Using the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark Blu-ray to test more HDR content, a range of demo material highlighted the phenomenal picture quality of the G3 even further. Several snowy scenes showcased how the G3 can handle vivid whites without overdoing them and keeping a natural feel. During some landscape night shots of a city, contrast levels were excellent, with the black of the night sky contrasting well with the bright lights of the buildings.

As for motion, the G3 handled fast paced action scenes with ease. Again in The Batman, during the Batmobile chase, the darting cars looked fluid, with the G3 (with little to no motion processing on in Filmmaker mode) making light work of this testing scene. Also, during both the training and final missions of Top Gun: Maverick, the G3s’ processor effortlessly handled the swooping fighter jets, as they careered through the air at a blinding pace, still managing to keep the detail and quality of the picture.

If you find yourself drawn to a brighter picture mode such as Standard – but not Vivid, which should be avoided at all costs – motion processing called Trumotion does create the dreaded ‘soap opera’ effect, but thankfully the G3 picture settings give you ample settings to tweak to avoid this. However, if you want the best picture, my advice is to stick with Filmmaker mode as it makes the G3 shine, putting it up there with the best OLED TVs.

Picture quality score: 5/5

Upfiring speakers of LG G3 — The LG G3 has a 4.2-channel speaker system, with speaker around the edge helping to position sounds to match the screen. (Image credit: Future)

LG G3 review: Sound quality

4.2-channel speaker setup
Good, clear sound with Cinema mode
Dolby Atmos and DTS support

Featuring a multi-speaker setup, the G3 looks to add a more positional sound system than the average TV. There are a variety of different sound preset sound modes for the G3’s TV speakers, which come with varying degrees of success.

The Standard TV preset was solid, with clear enough dialogue and good treble levels, although it was lacking in bass and the volume needed to be pushed more than on other sound modes.

Cinema mode was definitely an upgrade, with a much deeper bass, better overall balance and thankfully, there was no sacrifice to other sounds. While watching The Batman, during the car chase scene, the rumble of the Batmobile’s engine was thunderous through the G3’s speakers in Cinema mode, with the trumpet led score still nice and clear. Dolby Atmos effects such as rain were still present but a little harder to hear.

Another sound mode featured is AI Sound Pro, one of LG’s sound technologies that in the G3 mixes sound from incoming sources to a claimed 9.1.2 mix in an effort to create a more immersive experience. When played through the same car chase in The Batman, overall volume was much louder and Dolby Atmos effects were amplified, with the rain coming through clearer in the mix. However, it became apparent that the bass had been reduced in favor of the other main channels, including dialogue. This ended up giving a more ‘clinical sound’ in comparison to Cinema, but for programs with a lot of speech, including a cooking show I watched on live TV, it definitely improved speech levels.

The G3 also features an Auto Acoustic Tuning mode which promises to balance levels using mics in the remote, although during our test there didn’t seem to be a great deal of difference. The G3 also has the WOW Orchestra feature that combines the speakers of the TV with a compatible LG soundbar (rather than replacing the TV’s speakers with the soundbar), but I didn’t test that during my time.

The G3’s TV sound is good enough from its built-in speakers, with the highlights being Cinema mode and AI Sound Pro (for certain situations), but if you are looking for an immersive sound to go with the G3’s fantastic picture, you’re better off looking at one of the best soundbars to pair with it. If you do want a TV with more powerful, built-in audio, you’ll want to look at the Samsung S95C – our reviewers who’ve tried both recommend its sound higher. As far as TV speakers go, though, the G3 is still well above average.

Sound quality score: 4/5

LG G3 from a side angle on a stand — With an elegant, sleek frame, the G3 is a good-looking TV. (Image credit: Future)

LG G3 review: Design

Elegant, slim design
Flush fitting to wall
Optional stand at extra cost is frustrating

The G3 follows in the footsteps of its predecessors of the ‘Gallery’ range of TVs, with an attractive slim design that makes it look effortlessly sleek on the wall. In terms of the frame itself, its silver and metallic design make it not only look good, but also feel solid.

This is saying a lot, considering the actual TV itself measures at a delightfully thin 2.4cm (just under 1 inch) so you’d be forgiven for thinking the TV will feel flimsy, but thankfully it doesn’t. In fact, it’s quite a heavy and solid beast.

A special flush-to-the-wall wall mount for the TV is provided in the box and sits near the top on the rear of the TV itself, which admittedly does feel like an odd place to put it, with the majority of the weight towards the bottom of the set. However, one welcome return from last year's G2 is that the included slim-fit mount does have some movement to it, enabling you to access the back of the TV to change any inputs or cables if you need to, rather than having to take the TV on and off the wall every time.

During our test, it’s worth noting that we had the optional stand attached to allow us to place it onto our cabinet. Sadly, much like the G2, this stand is not included and neither are any type of feet. Despite the visually appealing and sturdy nature of the stand, it means people looking to place their G3 on any furniture will have to pay extra ($149 / £99), so factor that into the cost.

The supplied remote, LG’s Magic Remote, a staple inclusion with LG’s TVs over the past couple of years, makes a return and still features the same voice control options, buttons and layout as before. The central wheel can still be a little fiddly to navigate menus but is definitely a quicker alternative to the normal arrows. The pointer can also sometimes feel a bit sensitive, but once you get used, it does make navigating the G3 easier.

Design score: 4/5

LG G3 main home menu on screen — The webOS 23 software streamlines the home menu of the G3 and adds Quick Cards for customization. (Image credit: Future)

LG G3 review: Smart TV and menus

Intuitive and easy-to-use smart platform
Streamlined compared to previous year
Quick cards allows for great customization

The G3 is loaded with LG’s smart platform, webOS 23. LG has improved on the Home screen from last year, condensing it down onto two pages rather than the several pages it was the year before. The glaring ads and recommendations have all been toned down as well, making for a much more user-friendly smart platform.

Navigating and changing settings such as picture mode, sound output (if you’re switching from TV speakers to a soundbar for example) and sleep timer is also extremely easy. A quick menu appears on the left hand side of the screen when you press the settings button (the gear icon) on the remote and these options are clearly displayed in an easy-to-use menu. For more advanced settings, the main settings page can easily be accessed and thankfully, this too is neatly laid out into four logical categories; Picture, Sound, General and Support.

The latest feature added to webOS is the introduction of Quick Cards on the main hub. Above the usual line of apps, which can be moved and customized, there sits a group of larger icons listed with titles like Game, Music, Sports. These can actually be used to organize your apps by theme, making for even greater user customization.

Another new feature is the built-in, hands-free voice control. By enabling this feature, you simply say ‘Hi LG’ and the LG awaits your commands. During my test, I found that although it was very responsive and quick to find results, it would sometimes cut me off early and didn’t take me to where I wanted to go. Although frustrating at times, it can be useful.

Smart TV and menus score: 4.5/5

LG G3 with Battlefield V and game bar on screen — The G3 has a game menu to tweak settings to get the best out of video games (Image credit: Future)

LG G3 review: Gaming

Game Optimizer mode and menu
4K 120Hz Dolby Vision support
Smooth and fluid motion during gameplay

The LG G3 is packed with gaming features, including four HDMI 2.1 ports all rated for 4K 120Hz, giving gamers with multiple next-gen consoles plenty of space to plug them in and get the best out of them , whilst still leaving room for a soundbar. With VRR including AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, and ALLM, the LG G3 offers a plethora of choice and support for gamers.

When measuring input lag at 4K 60Hz, the LG G3 yielded a result of 12.9ms, a respectable score. But using the Game Optimizer feature to place input delay into Boost mode improved this result to 9.2ms, which is among the best in class.

When playing Battlefield V on Xbox Series X, I turned on the Game Optimizer picture mode to turn off any unwarranted ‘enhancements’ within its settings, like judder reduction or motion blur, to get the best out of the game. The motion within the game, running at 120fps, was smooth and clean, managing to feel fast paced without feeling sickening or jerky in any places. Panning and swapping between targets was a breeze and kept the action feeling pacy.

Game Optimizer mode also managed to keep depth and details within the graphics, highlighting just how good the G3’s display was. In a stealth mission whilst infiltrating an air base in a rocky landscape, even terrain and small details such as bushes and stones looked natural, with the greens and browns still popping on screen despite darkened lighting. The sharpness of the picture gave everything a defined edge without being too defined, a problem that can occur within the sharpness detail of some TVs.

Also featured was the Game Dashboard menu, which gave lots of opportunity for picture and sound adjustments to get the gaming experience just right. I switched between the ‘Standard’ and ‘First person shooter’ (FPS) picture options and you could see the difference having Battlefield V (a FPS) in the correct mode made, with motion becoming even more fluid compared to the ‘Standard’ game picture mode and lighting conditions improving to highlight hidden enemies.

Much like its predecessors, the LG G3 has stellar gaming features. A wealth of connectivity and compatibility, the G3 is definitely a top choice for gamers. Paired with outstanding picture quality, the G3 finds itself amongst the best gaming TVs.

Gaming score: 5/5

LG G3 remote in person's hand — LG's Magic Remote is featured with the G3 and offers a pointer and mic options (Image credit: Future)

LG G3 review: Value

Most competitively priced with high-end TVs
Excellent performance and picture quality
A couple of minus points compared to equivalent sets

The LG G3 is no doubt a high-end TV, and as such comes with a matching price tag. The picture quality, gaming features and increased brightness compared to normal OLED panels mean you’re getting a lot of TV for that cash, though.

The G3’s closest rival, the Samsung S95C, is almost identical in price in a lot of territories and it looks like the competition over which of these two TVs is slightly cheaper will be hot, but with no stand included, weaker sound and lower full-screen brightness than the Samsung S95C (and given the S95C's great external connections box), the LG G3 isn’t quite as good value for money, despite beating it in some ways.

If you are looking for a premium OLED TV, you expect to pay the money. Thankfully, since its release, the G3’s prices have dropped notably. An outstanding, detailed picture and excellent game performance definitely make this a TV worth its money – we just think Samsung S95C ekes a little more out.

Value score: 3.5/5

LG G3 with lake view on screen — Another landscape showing off the G3s' phenomenal picture quality (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the LG G3?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

LG G3 review: Also consider

How I tested the LG G3

LG G3 with snowy scene and wooden fence on screen — (Image credit: Future)

Tested in our lab room with varying lighting conditions
Measurements taken using Portrait Display's Calman software
Tested through a variety of sources, both SDR and HDR

After running in the TV to ensure the best OLED performance, I began to test the LG G3 with a couple of different sources including gaming on an Xbox Series X and 4K Blu-ray discs, plus streaming content from several streaming services, including Disney Plus.

After assessing its presets, I chose the LG G3 most natural preset, Filmmaker mode, and began to watch things primarily on this picture mode (though this doesn't work with Dolby Vision). I used a number of 4K Blu-rays to look at elements such as color, sharpness, black levels, brightness and motion. I also streamed content from various sources, including Disney Plus for streamed Dolby Vision HDR, and watch live broadcast digital TV.

The next step was to take measurements of the G3, using Portrait Displays’ Calman calibration software. I measured the peak brightness on a 10% and 100% white window, with both HDR and SDR. I then measured grayscale, gamma and color accuracy, again using Calman, to provide average Delta-E values (which demonstrates the margin of error between the test pattern and what is displayed) for each of these categories. I also measured color space looking at DCI-P3 and BT.2020 coverage. For all these tests, I used the Murideo Seven 8K test pattern generator to create the patterns being measured.

To analyze input lag for the G3, I used the Leo Bodnar 4K Input Lag tester.

First reviewed: September 2023
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Samsung HW-S60B soundbar review: wireless Dolby Atmos for a modest price

1:00 pm | September 10, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: Dolby Atmos | Comments: Off

Samsung HW-S60B: Two-minute review

If you're after an all-in-one soundbar solution that sounds great with Samsung smarts, then the HW-S60B is a solid option packaged in a compact and slim design. On its own, it can give your TV's audio a significant step up, boosting its sound and adding features such as Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants as well as more connectivity options like AirPlay 2.

With a 5.0 channel surround sound that supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the HW-S60B soundbar works hard to deliver expansive surround sound (albeit digitally). It's great for watching movies and listening to music, but to the more attuned ear you might notice some slight shortcomings (go to the sound quality section for more).

It's priced at the lower end of the soundbar price spectrum, but still has loads of premium features. In fact, the HW-S60B could easily rival some of the best soundbars we've reviewed if it weren't for the fact that its biggest selling points are limited to just Samsung TVs from 2022 or newer.

For Samsung TV owners, though, you'll be able to wirelessly connect it to your set as well as other speakers or subwoofers from the range, which is great if you're already in the Samsung ecosystem. You'll also get access to Q Symphony and SoundFit, which are features seen among the top of the line soundbars in the range that allow you to use and calibrate both your TV's and soundbar's speakers at the same.

Losing out on the wireless feature isn't that much of big of a deal when considering its HDMI input and small footprint though. It will sit proudly in front of any media cabinet and won't take up too much space thanks to its slimming dimensions. In a nutshell, the HW-S60B is a small but mighty soundbar that's the ideal companion for Samsung TV owners.

Samsung HW-S60B: Price and release date

The Samsung S60B soundbar — (Image credit: Samsung )

Released in April 2022
$499.99 / £449 / AU$599

Samsung launched the HW-S60B in 2022 as part of its S-series range. The range consists of soundbars with a central console and no subwoofer (also, if you like me are wondering, the H in the the model's name stands for high-end, while the W stands for wireless).

It launched at $499.99 in the US, which is in line with similar offerings from competitors like the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Bose Smart soundbar 600. But, at the time of writing (September 2023), it is selling for a discounted price of $249.99, down from $349.99. In the UK, it'll set you back £449, while those in Australia can pick it up for AU$599.

The HW-S60B replaces the HW-S60A, which was launched in May 2021 for $329 in the US, £399 in the UK and AU$529 in Australia. It has also since been succeeded by the HW-S60C in 2023, which costs the same price at $499.99 / £289.99.

Samsung HW-S60B: Specs

Samsung HW-S60B: Features

The Samsung HW-S60B — (Image credit: Future)

Wireless Dolby Atmos and Q-Symphony (if you have a Samsung TV)
HMDI ARC and optical digital connections
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 and Alexa support

Samsung made some great upgrades to its lifestyle soundbar range in 2022, adding premium features like its proprietary SpaceFit Sound, which is a room tuning correction tool, and virtual Dolby Atmos/DTS:X surround sound. This completely elevates the all-in-one solution of the HW-S60B, allowing it to deliver 3D spatial audio formats without wires via a Wi-Fi connection.

However, its wireless capabilities, Samsung's Q-Symphony audio format and SpaceFit Sound feature are limited to selected Samsung TVs from 2022. You do see an option to turn on the SpaceFit Sound in the app, although this didn't appear to change much with my non-Samsung TV. Its wireless functionality is also probably the reason why there's only one HDMI port with ARC but sadly no eARC support.

You don't completely lose out by not having a Samsung TV though and for the sake of this review, I did not test this model out with one. There's still access to Samsung's own SmartThings control app to easily setup the soundbar and tweak settings, such as switching sound modes from Standard and Music to Game and Adaptive Sound as well as DTS:X (virtual). You can also adjust bass, treble and the channel levels for both centre and side speakers just as easy.

In addition to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and AirPlay 2, I was be able to effortlessly stream music from my phone to the HW-S60B through the app's Tap Sound feature. It also has Spotify Connect, which allowed me to play music from anywhere in my home as long as I was in range. It's these types of connectivity features that I found really neat, as it made transforming my living space a seamless experience.

While I'm sure the Alexa support is useful if you have an Alexa-connected device connected to your SmartThings app already, with an iPhone it wasn't a straightforward experience for me and I wasn't able to get it working through the Alexa app. Overall, the HW-S60B is packed with helpful features but the limitations to a Samsung TV lose points for us.

Features score: 3.5/5

Samsung HW-S60B: Sound quality

Expansive audio but can sound flat and lacks in bass
Loud and clear vocals
Useful sound modes

I tested the HW-S60B in a spacious room with soft furnishings connected to a non-Samsung TV through a HDMI cable to ARC. It was a big step-up from my TV's built-in audio and while the detail in the audio gets a little bit lost by turning the volume up, it had an impressive loud room-filling sound.

Given its compact size, I was very impressed with the expansive sound it was able to deliver. It was able to make dialogue expressive and clear. For example, while watching movies with the Voice Enhancement feature and Adaptive Sound mode turned on, it helped to increase the dialogue legibility of the likes of Christopher Nolan's Tenet, which is no small feat.

There are some big limitations in bass though, which is to be expected given its small size. These were very noticeable while watching action scenes, such as Top Gun: Maverick's test run training sequence, as it couldn't deliver the full might of the fighter jet's engines firing.

Listening to music is where you'll notice this even more though. As a reference track, I've heard Elton John's Rocket Man in million pound Dolby Atmos screening rooms and on premium Bower & Wilkins speakers, so know the incredible dynamic range needed to hit the highs and lows in the song. When I played this on the HW-S60B, I started to notice some limitations.

While listening in Music mode, I noticed that it still mainly revealed a compressed dynamic range and sounded a bit flat. The rhythmic bass that I was used to hearing was not there and the treble struggled to reveal the leveled range in the track that builds to the chorus. This wasn't limited to this track either and when compared to the Sonos Beam Gen 2, it was even more noticeable.

I tested the different sound performances from the TV but also through Bluetooth for listening to music via Apple Music. I also switched to Spotify while testing the Spotify Connect feature, which worked instantly when connecting via my iPhone.

Sound quality score: 3/5

Samsung HW-S60B: Design

A small and slim profile with curved edges
Hard, robust-feeling plastic
Stylish remote is let down by flimsy buttons

Soundbars tend to take on a similar rectangular design and the HW-S60B doesn't stray too far from this, adding in rounded edges to boot. It's slim, sleek and subtle. The HW-S60B is the black model, while the HW-S61B is the white color option. In terms of any other detailing on the soundbar itself, it has a very small Samsung logo (once you get passed the giant sticker on the front of it).

It's not the slimmest of Samsung's soundbar range (that'd be the ultra-slim S800B, which comes in at just 38mm), but it's not going to block too much of your TV with a height of just 62mm. I found it very easy to adapt it into my setup.

The Samsung HW-S60B has a plastic gridded mesh around the speakers, ditching the fabric mesh that once covered its predecessor's speakers. It's weighty and doesn't feel like it's going to go anywhere, appearing inconspicuous underneath a TV.

It has four physical buttons on the top of it. These are dedicated to powering on and off, volume, as well as a connectivity option, which allowed me to pair my phone via Bluetooth, and an option to mute the mic. If you continue holding the connectivity button, you'll also be able to get to Wi-Fi and sound modes.

In addition to these controls, you also get a dedicated remote. This gives you quick access to sound modes, tone control, levels, Bluetooth pairing, muting and settings. The option to play and pause is in the middle of a circular directional keypad. It's the only part of the remote that sticks out slightly, aside from the two giant protruding pieces of plastic. They're for volume/channel and bass/treble control. And while being able to adjust these settings quickly is handy, the buttons themselves felt like they were a little too fragile.

Apart from the small Samsung logo at the bottom of it, the remote is fairly clear except for a handy reminder that says 'soundbar' on it (just in case you forget which remote is which). Overall, the remote – much like the soundbar itself – is a good looking slim design.

Design score: 4/5

Samsung HW-S60B: Setup and usability

Quick and easy setup
No HDMI or optical cable included
SmartThings app is intuitive and better to use over the remote

The HW-S60B's packaging was neat and not too wasteful. Inside you'll find – aside from the soundbar itself of course – a power cable, remote, AA batteries, wall mounts and a manual, so you'll need your own HDMI and optical cord to get it going still.

Of course, if you own a Samsung TV then the lack of an input connection is not an issue as you'll be able to wirelessly tether via Wi-Fi, allowing you to access the Q-Symphony spatial audio and SpaceFit sound features.

For the purposes of my testing, I used the HDMI input. It was a quick and easy setup once connected to the TV and to a power source, that was it. I loaded up the SmartThings app to test, which gave me full control to a wide set of controls.

Samsung has worked hard to make the HW-S60B easy to use and setup, and it really is painless. The controls are very intuitive both from the physical clicker to your phone's screen to the soundbar itself.

Usability is really where the HW-S60B shines. It gives you plenty of options to control for no matter what you're doing. Whether you've just walked into the room and need to quickly turn it down by the soundbar or if you're on your phone. There are some controls that work better than others though.

For example, adjusting the bass, treble, volume and channels is much simpler to do in the app, where you get a dial. On the remote, however, it's slightly fiddly as you have to switch the settings around for bass and treble as well as volume and channels using a button that activates a voice to tell you which you're now changing.

Overall, the HW-S60B was a walk in the park when it came to functionality and usability. With such a quick and pain-free setup thanks to the SmartThings app, Samsung has made it easy to start instantly playing audio.

Setup and usability score: 4/5

Samsung HW-S60B: Value

Great value and feaures for Samsung TV owners
Soundstage is limited but fair at this level

If you own a Samsung TV, then the HW-S60B is going to be the best value option for you as you'll get way more features and usability perks out of it than those without. Although, if you can spend a bit more money then it might be worth looking at the company's Q-series soundbar range instead as you'll find more premium features on offer.

On its own, though, the HW-S60B is still a great option for anyone not looking to spend too much money on their first soundbar. Ultimately, it's good value by itself but great value if you already own or plan to buy more Samsung products.

Value score: 4/5

Should I buy Samsung's HW-S60B?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Samsung HW-S60B

Tested for over two weeks
Tested with streaming and the Xbox One
Reviewed in a standard living space

I tested the Samsung HW-S60B with a Sky Glass TV for more than two weeks. The soundbar was used for watching regular TV as well as for streaming during the evenings. I also connected it to an Xbox One to test it out while gaming and tested the Bluetooth connectivity by streaming music over my iPhone XS.

The room that it was used in was of standard size and had soft furnishings throughout, although this wasn't too much of an issue given that the Q Symphony and SoundFit weren't used for this review.

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First reviewed September 2023

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: huge Dolby Atmos from a compact soundbar

1:01 am | August 31, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: Dolby Atmos, HDMI | Comments: Off

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini: Two-minute review

The Sennheiser Ambeo Mini arrives as the smallest, most affordable member of what is now a three-strong family of Sennheiser Ambeo soundbars. What it lacks in stature, though, it makes up for in asking price – this is not an especially budget-conscious option, especially when you consider how much the best of its size-comparable rivals cost.

The Sennheiser Ambeo Mini goes a long way to justifying its asking price even before you hear it, though. Its six-driver speaker array is powered by 250 watts, has the grunt to reach down to a claimed 43Hz at the bottom of the frequency range without a subwoofer, and is subject to some very thorough virtualization technology in an effort to extract a true sense of Dolby Atmos spatial audio from a soundbar with no dedicated upfiring drivers. And all this is concealed inside a discreet, well-made cabinet that’s never going to draw attention to itself.

And there’s the choice of control options. Between the Smart Control app, the full-size remote control handset, built-in Amazon Alexa voice-control and some integrated touch controls, you’re not short of options here – and they’re all beautifully realized and eminently usable in a way that not all of the best soundbars manage.

It’s even pretty adept at generating an impression of spatial audio from 5.1 or even two-channel movie content when Dolby Atmos isn't available, although trying to pretend a stereo music file consists of 12 channels proves a bridge too far.

Only the rather modest sensation of true "height" to its soundstage prevents the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini waltzing off with full marks. Or, rather, it’s the combination of this slight reticence along with pricing that suggests it should nail every area that holds it back just a little. If it sounded just a little taller, or if it were just a little less expensive, the Ambeo Mini would be approaching "no-brainer" status. As it is, if you have a TV of 40 inches to 55 inches, and the budget, it should be a seriously tempting option.

As it is, you've got an interesting choice of small subwoofer-free soundbars between this, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 if you want great fidelity for a lower price (and an even less wide size), or the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 if you want real Dolby Atmos height from a small soundbar, though without the bass of the Ambeo.

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini on a glass TV stand, under a 48-inch TV — Here's how the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini looks under a 48-inch TV. (Image credit: Future)

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Price & release date

Release date: 1 September 2023
Price: $799 / £699 / AU$1,299

The Sennheiser Ambeo Mini is on sale across the world from 1st September 2023. In the United Kingdom it sells for £699, while in the United States the going rate is $799. Customers in Australia will need to part with AU$1299 to acquire one.

Yes, this is the most affordable of Sennheiser’s three-strong Ambeo range of soundbars – but that’s not the same thing as being fully affordable, not really. This pricing puts the Ambeo Mini notably above the likes of the compact Sonos Beam Gen 2 or Bose Smart Soundbar 600, and pushes it nearly into competition with the likes of the Sonos Arc, which is much bigger and even better equipped for spatial sound. But if you wanted big, you probably wouldn't be looking at the Mini, right?

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Specs

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini logo close up

Lighting on the Ambeo Mini's tell-tale sign can be switched off in the app. (Image credit: Future)

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Features

250 watts, 43Hz - 20kHz frequency response
7.1.4-channel virtualized sound
Only one HDMI port

It’s not, strictly speaking, a feature but more of an ambition: the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini intends to create an impression of 7.1.4 -channel spatial audio using just six speaker drivers and a whole lot of complicated virtualization technology developed in conjunction with Fraunhofer. And that means every worthwhile spatial audio standard out there, too – the Ambeo Mini is compatible with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, MPEG-H and 360 Reality Audio.

Two of the six drivers are upward-facing 102mm (four-inch) bass drivers that offer low-frequency extension down to a claimed 43Hz. The other four are 38mm (1.5-inch) full-range affairs – there is one at either end of the chassis, positioned to create some sonic width, and two more fire forwards. All six drivers are made of cellulose, and all six contribute to the virtualized "top" effects that ought to allow the Ambeo Mini to create a sensation of height to its presentation.

Class D amplification supplies the power, and there’s a total of 250 watts on tap. Sennheiser isn’t saying exactly how it’s divided, but then again, Sonos doesn’t even like to say how much power is on board its soundbars, so I guess we should be grateful for any information that Sennheiser supplies…

As far as connectivity is concerned, the Ambeo Mini has ample wireless options, and just the essentials as far as physical connections go. An HDMI eARC and a USB-A slot sit alongside a power socket, a ‘reset’ button and a ‘setup’ button in a recess on the rear of the chassis – and that's it in terms of the physical stuff. The lack of HDMI passthrough may conceivably be a deal-breaker for some people, especially as quite a few similarly priced alternatives include it – and the kinds of smaller TV that this is aimed at are more likely to have fewer HDMI ports.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 (with SBC and AAC codec compatibility) cover off the bulk of the wireless stuff, and there is compatibility with UPnP, the Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast. The last couple mean that the Ambeo Mini can easily become part of a multi-room audio system.

Features score: 4.5/5

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini speaker grille close-up at the ends — Perforations in the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini's frame for speaker drivers are just about visible all the way around under the cloth. (Image credit: Future)

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Audio performance

Remarkable low-frequency presence and control
Sound is far bigger than the product’s physical dimensions
Not the most spatial of spatial audio presentations

The Ambeo Mini wastes no time in calibrating itself to your specific environment, and once it’s done so there are numerous positives about the way it goes about churning out the sound of movies and music alike.

It goes without saying that the best results come from the best sources – and when given the Dolby Atmos soundtrack to a UHD 4K Blu-ray disc of Dune to deal with, you’ll quite quickly forget the "mini" aspect of the Ambeo Mini and concentrate on the mightiness of its presentation.

Most immediately, its low-frequency punch and presence is almost startling. 43Hz is deep, sure – but the bass the Sennheiser generates is so solid, so controlled and so full of variation that it sounds even deeper, somehow. Sennheiser is pleased with the fact that you can connect as many as four optional wireless Ambeo subwoofers to the Mini (and in our experience with the Sennheiser Ambeo Plus, using three subs can be an amazing time), but unless you are setting up your soundbar in a big, vaulted space I’d seriously question whether you need even one, let alone four.

Mid-range fidelity is impressive – the center channel of audio information is always the most critical, and the Ambeo Mini delivers it with authority, packing voices with detail and character. It projects well, even when the low end is strutting its stuff, and is able to retain plenty of information about tone and texture even when the soundtrack is at its most bullish. And despite the lack of dedicated tweeters here, the Sennheiser has ample bite and brilliance at the top of the frequency range, along with the requisite levels of detail.

The whole of the frequency range hands together well and, although the Ambeo Mini is undoubtedly working its socks off to create what says is a facsimile of 12 channels of information using just six drivers, there’s a coherence to the way it delivers the Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The soundstage it creates is way bigger than the soundbar from which it emanates, and long-travel effects move around the stage in pretty convincing fashion.

What there isn’t a huge amount of, though, is sonic height to the sound. Yes, the Sennheiser can put sound upwards with reasonable success – but even when accompanying a 48-inch OLED TV (for which the Ambeo Mini is the perfect size to fit between its feet), sound never really gets above the television’s top bezel. This slight lack of upward projection will be familiar to anyone who’s heard the (similarly sized, much more affordable) Sonos Beam Gen 2.

In every other respect, though, the Ambeo Mini has the better of the size-comparable Sonos. It’s more dynamic, and able to make you jump when the hissed exposition switches suddenly to almighty action sequence. It’s more open, able to create greater width across the front of the soundstage and position effects more precisely. And it’s more punchy, too. Quite a lot more punchy.

Watching soccer highlights over streaming, Sennheiser’s Ambeo virtualization technology does impressive work in hacking even a mild sensation of spatial audio from a stereo source. The stage is still big, detail levels are still high, and the "smack" as boot addresses ball is profound. Switch off the Ambeo processing and the sensation of scale pretty much disappears – although this is still a fuller and more enjoyable sound than most TVs have a hope of delivering by themselves.

Use Bluetooth to stream a two-channel file of Grouper’s Alien Observer and the Ambeo technology can’t prevent a little vagueness creeping into the presentation as it attempts to open the recording up and out as much as possible. Ultimately, it’s better – or, more accurately, more convincing – to leave stereo music unvirtualized. You miss out on sheer size, but the sound has greater accuracy.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini connections — The Sennheiser Ambeo Mini's connections are well-recessed in the back. (Image credit: Future)

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Design

Mostly plastic and cloth construction
Slightly wider than Sonos Beam
Suitable for TVs of 40 inches and up

If you’re even remotely familiar with Sennheiser’s recent Ambeo Plus soundbar or the Sonos Beam Gen 2, you already have a good idea of what the Ambeo Mini is like in terms of design.

In its cloth-wrapped plastic construction and its slanted top panel, the Ambeo Mini looks just like – hey! – a miniature version of the Ambeo Plus. And its dimensions are very similar to those of the Sonos Gen 2, though it's slightly wider and slightly shorter, both of which are fine in our book.

As you might imagine, the quality of build and finish here is basically impeccable. Everything is put together flawlessly, and the Ambeo Mini is made from materials that are durable and even quite tactile. There’s nothing luxurious about the Ambeo Mini, and it’s hard to make a product as functional as a soundbar stand out in design terms… but nevertheless there’s something quite appealing about its combination of discretion and purposefulness.

Some may wish for more than one choice of finish, of course – but Sennheiser has long been of the opinion that Henry "any color you like as long as it’s black" Ford was onto something.

Design score: 4.5/5

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini app, showing control options for volume and lighting levels, and the calibration tool — The Sennheiser app makes accessing all kinds of options really friendly. (Image credit: Sennheiser)

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Setup & usability

Automatic room calibration
Voice, app and remote control
Numerous listening modes

Credit where credit is due: Sennheiser has made setting up the Ambeo Mini about as straightforward and painless as is realistically possible.

Put the soundbar in position. Make your power connection and hook the HDMI eARC socket to the corresponding connection on your TV – and you’re all set. Then it’s simply a question of opening the Smart Control app and letting the automatic room calibration routine do its thing. A fairly brief selection of test tones plays while the app assures you that all is well, and then the Ambeo Mini is optimized for the position in which it finds itself. And it’s easy to recalibrate should the need arise.

As well as the ability to switch the Ambeo virtualization technology on or off, there are six EQ settings (from "adaptive" to "neutral" via "music" and "movie"), a "night mode" that squashes dynamic response and "voice enhancement" that pushes the center channel information forward. Input selection, software updates and all the rest are available here too.

There’s a brief selection of capacitive touch controls on the slanted top of the soundbar which cover most major functions – and there’s a mute button to disable the four in-built mics. As well as calibration, these mics handle voice control, so if you want to use your Ambeo Mini simply by talking to it, Amazon Alexa is built in and Google Assistant is also available if you’ve appropriate speakers on a common network.

Or you may prefer the old-school charms of a remote-control handset. The wand supplied with the Ambeo Mini is tactile and angular, and covers more-or-less everything in terms of day-to-day control of the soundbar. Its labels could be larger, sure, and some backlighting wouldn’t go amiss… but it’s fair to say that some more expensive soundbars are supplied with much less satisfactory remote controls.

Setup & usability: 5/5

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini front cloth close-up — The Sennheiser Ambeo Mini hides a lot of power behind its cloth outside. (Image credit: Future)

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Value

Big, authoritative sound with no need for a subwoofer
Exemplary build and finish, great control options
Cannot help but seem just a little too expensive

The Sennheiser Ambeo Mini seems just a little expensive. A small part of that is down to the sheer size of the product – because for all that it is beautifully built and finished from materials that seem durable, and has several well-realized control options, perceived wisdom is that soundbars this small don’t cost this much money and/or soundbars costing this much money are bigger than this.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with paying a premium price for a more manageably sized soundbar, especially if you don’t have that big a room to fill with sound and if you don't want a separate subwoofer – but it still needs to outperform more affordable alternatives in every department.

As it is, though, the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini outperforms its more affordable alternatives in almost every department – if it could just summon a little more sonic height when it's doing its Ambeo thing, the value for money here would be excellent. Instead, it's merely good value – which is not a problem at all, if it's within your budget.

Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Also consider

How I tested the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini

Tested for over a week
Tested with Blu-ray and streaming
Reviewed in a standard living space

The Sennheiser Ambeo Mini has been positioned between the feet of a 48-inchin Philips OLED TV for over a week, and it’s been used for at least a few hours every day – some of that is critical listening, some is simply sitting down in front of the TV to unwind. The room is open-plan, which means side boundaries are fairly distant, but the ceiling is not especially high – so the fact the Ambeo Mini can create plenty of sonic width is particularly commendable, while the relative lack of sonic height isn’t.

Content of all kinds has been through the Sennheiser, from native uncompressed Dolby Atmos tracks via a UHD 4K Blu-ray player, to more compressed Atmos from Netflix and Disney Plus. Music has come in high-end form from Tidal Connect, and I've watched broadcast TV or streaming services for standard stereo viewing.

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First reviewed August 2023

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: the biggest little Dolby Atmos soundbar around

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Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Two-minute review

The Sennheiser Ambeo Mini arrives as the smallest, most affordable member of what is now a three-strong family of Sennheiser Ambeo soundbars. What it lacks in stature, though, it makes up for in asking price. Compared to the best soundbars, this is not a budget-conscious option, especially when you consider how much the best of its size-comparable rivals cost.

The Ambeo Mini goes a long way to justifying its asking price even before it’s plugged in, though. Its six-driver speaker array is powered by 250 watts and has the grunt to reach down to a claimed 43Hz at the bottom of the frequency range. It is subject to some very thorough virtualisation technology in an effort to extract a true sense of spatial audio from a soundbar with no dedicated ‘top’ effects drivers. And it’s concealed inside a discreet, well-made cabinet that’s never going to draw attention to itself.

There’s also the choice of control options. Between the ‘Smart Control’ app, the full-size remote control handset, built-in Amazon Alexa voice-control and some integrated touch-controls, you’re not short of options here – and they’re all beautifully realised and eminently usable.

Performance, though, is where a product like this lives or dies – and in almost every respect, the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini is alive and kicking. Literally kicking where bass response is concerned, the amount of drive and punch it can summon is remarkable given the discreet proportions of its cabinet. It creates a big, open soundstage, piles on the details at every point, and is able to project dialogue to the front without it ever sounding remote or estranged. It’s even pretty adept at generating an impression of spatial audio from 5.1 or even two-channel movie content, although trying to pretend a stereo music file consists of 12 channels proves a bridge too far.

Only the rather modest sensation of true audio ‘height’ to its sound prevents the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini waltzing off with full marks. Or, rather, it’s the combination of this slight reticence along with pricing that suggests expertise in every area that holds it back just a little. If it sounded just a little taller, or if it were just a little less expensive, the Ambeo Mini would be approaching ‘no-brainer’ status.

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Price and release date

On sale September 1 2023
$799 / £699 / AU$1299

The Sennheiser Ambeo Mini is on sale across the world from September 1 2023. In the United Kingdom it sells for £699, while in the United States the going rate is $799. Customers in Australia will need to part with AU$1299 to acquire one.

Yes, this is the most affordable of Sennheiser’s three-strong ‘Ambeo’ range of soundbars – but that’s not the same thing as ‘affordable’, not really. This pricing puts the Ambeo Mini into competition with the well-regarded likes of Samsung’s HW-Q930B and the Arc by Sonos, both of which seem to offer plenty more – not least where dimensions are concerned.

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Features

250 watts of Class D power
43Hz - 20kHz frequency response
7.1.4 -channel virtualised sound

It’s not, strictly speaking, a feature but more of an ambition: the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini intends to create an impression of 7.1.4 -channel spatial audio using just six speaker drivers and a whole lot of complicated virtualisation technology developed in conjunction with Fraunhofer. And that means every worthwhile spatial audio standard out there, too. The Ambeo Mini is compatible with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, MPEG-H and 360 Reality Audio, putting it on par with the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.

Two of the six drivers are upward-facing 102mm (4in) bass drivers that offer low-frequency extension down to a claimed 43Hz. The other four are 38mm (1.5in) full-range numbers. There is one at either end of the chassis, positioned to create some sonic width, and two more fire forwards. All six drivers are made of cellulose, and all six contribute to the virtualised ‘top’ effects that ought to allow the Ambeo Mini to create a sensation of height to its presentation.

Class D amplification supplies the power, and there’s a total of 250 watts on tap. Sennheiser isn’t saying exactly how it’s divvied up - but then again, brands like Sonos don’t even like to say how much power is on board its soundbars, so I guess we should be grateful for any information that Sennheiser supplies…

As far as connectivity is concerned, the Ambeo Mini has ample wireless options and just the essentials as far as physical connections go. An HDMI eARC and a USB-A slot sit alongside a mains power socket, a ‘reset’ button and a ‘setup’ button in a recess on the rear of the chassis - and that’s your lot in terms of the physical stuff. The lack of HDMI passthrough may conceivably be a deal-breaker for some customers, especially as quite a few similarly priced alternatives include it.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 (with SBC and AAC codec compatibility) cover off the bulk of the wireless stuff, and there is compatibility with UPnP, the ‘Connect’ versions of Spotify and Tidal, with Apple AirPlay 2 and with Google Chromecast. The last couple mean that the Ambo Mini can easily become part of a multi-room audio system.

Features score: 4.5/5

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Sound quality

Remarkable low-frequency presence and control
Sound is far bigger than the product’s physical dimensions
Not the most spatial of spatial audio presentations

It goes without saying that the best results come from the best sources – and when given the Dolby Atmos soundtrack to a UHD 4K Blu-ray disc of Dune to deal with, you’ll quite quickly forget the ‘mini’ aspect of the Ambeo Mini and concentrate on the mightiness of its presentation.

Most immediately, its low-frequency punch and presence is almost startling. 43Hz is deep, sure - but the bass the Sennheiser generates is so solid, so controlled and so full of variation that it sounds even deeper, somehow. Sennheiser is pleased with the fact that you can connect as many as four wireless Ambeo subwoofers to the Mini, but unless you are setting up your soundbar in a big, vaulted space I’d seriously question whether you need even one.

Midrange fidelity is impressive – the centre channel of audio information is always the most critical, and the Ambeo Mini delivers it with authority, packing voices with detail and character. It projects well, even when the low end is strutting its stuff, and is able to retain plenty of information about tone and texture even when the soundtrack is at its most bullish. And despite the lack of dedicated tweeters here, the Sennheiser has ample bite and brilliance at the top of the frequency range, along with the requisite levels of detail.

The whole of the frequency range hands together well and, although the Ambeo Mini is undoubtedly working its socks off to create what it reckons is a facsimile of 12 channels of information using just six drivers, there’s a coherence to the way it delivers the Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The soundstage it creates is way bigger than the soundbar from which it emanates, and long-travel effects move around the stage in pretty convincing fashion.

What there isn’t a huge amount of, though, is sonic height to the sound. Yes, the Sennheiser can put sound upwards with reasonable success - but even when accompanying a 48in OLED TV (for which the Ambeo Mini is the perfect size to fit between its feet), sound never really gets above the television’s top bezel. This slight lack of upward projection will be familiar to anyone who’s heard the (similarly sized, much more affordable) Sonos Beam Gen 2.

In every other respect, though, the Ambeo Mini has the better of the size-comparable Sonos. It’s more dynamic, able to make you jump when the ‘hissed exposition’ switches suddenly to ‘almighty action sequence’. It’s more open, able to create greater width across the front of the soundstage and position effects more precisely. And it’s more punchy, too. Quite a lot more punchy.

With a feed of Match of the Day 2 coming in via the BBC iPlayer, Sennheiser’s ‘Ambeo’ virtualisation technology does impressive work in hacking even a mild sensation of spatial audio from the stereo source. The stage is still big, detail levels are still high, and the ‘smack’ as boot addresses ball is profound. Switch off the ‘Ambeo’ processing and the sensation of scale pretty much disappears - although this is still a fuller and more enjoyable sound than most TVs have a hope of delivering by themselves.

Using Tidal Connect to stream a Dolby Atmos file of You Ain’t No Celebrity by Jungle featuring Roots Manuva lets the Ambeo Mini once again demonstrate its powers of resolution, of even-handed frequency response, of prodigious low-end presence and control, and of simple scale. The sound is open and well-separated, but unified and focused at the same time - and the virtualisation technology does good work in summoning up authentic width and a degree of height to the sound. Use Bluetooth to stream a two-channel file of Grouper’s Alien Observer and the ‘Ambeo’ technology can’t prevent a little vagueness creeping into the presentation as it attempts to open the recording up and out as much as possible. Ultimately, it’s better - or, more accurately, more convincing - to leave stereo music unvirtualised. You miss out on sheer size, but the sound has greater accuracy.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Design

65 x 700 x 100mm / 2.6 x 27.6 x 3.9in (HxWxD)
3.3kg
Almost entirely plastic and acoustic cloth construction

If you’re even remotely familiar with Sennheiser’s recent Ambeo Plus soundbar and the Sonos Beam Gen 2, you already have a good idea of what the Ambeo Mini is like in terms of design.

In its cloth-wrapped plastic construction and its slanted top panel, the Ambeo Mini looks just like - hey! - a miniature version of the Ambeo Plus. And its dimensions are almost exactly the same as that of the Sonos Gen 2 – so it competes in aesthetic terms if not where price is concerned.

Nevertheless, there’s something quite appealing about its combination of discretion and purposefulness. Some may hanker after a choice of finish, of course – but Sennheiser has long been of the opinion that Henry ‘any colour you like as long as it’s black’ Ford was on to something…

Design score: 4.5/5

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Setup and usability

Automatic room calibration
Voice, app and remote control
Numerous listening modes

We have to give credit where credit is due: Sennheiser has made setting up the Ambeo Mini about as straightforward and painless as is realistically possible.

Put the soundbar in position. Make your two connections – the figure-of-eight socket to the mains and the HDMI eARC socket to the corresponding connection on your TV – and you’re all set. Then it’s simply a question of opening the ‘Smart Control’ app and letting the automatic room calibration routine do its thing. A fairly brief selection of test tones plays while the app assures you that all is well, and then the Ambeo Mini is optimised for the position in which it finds itself. And it’s easy to recalibrate should the need arise.

Once the Ambeo Mini is set up, controlling it is equally straightforward no matter which of the numerous interaction options you prefer. The control app itself is typically Sennheiser inasmuch as it’s flawlessly realised, clear and logical, and covers every realistic eventuality. As well as the ability to switch the ‘Ambeo’ virtualisation technology on or off, there are six EQ settings (from ‘adaptive’ to ‘neutral’ via ‘music’ and ‘movie’), a ‘night mode’ that squashes dynamic response and ‘voice enhancement’ that pushes the centre channel information forwards. Input selection, software updates and all the rest are available here too.

There’s a brief selection of capacitive touch-controls on the slanted top of the soundbar which cover most major functions - and there’s a ‘mute’ button to disable the four inbuilt mics. As well as calibration, these mics handle voice control - so if you want to use your Ambeo Mini simply by talking to it, Amazon Alexa is built in and Google Assistant is also available if you’ve appropriate speakers on a common network.

Or you may prefer the old-school charms of a remote control handset. The wand supplied with the Ambeo Mini is tactile and angular, and covers more-or-less everything in terms of day-to-day control of the soundbar. Its labels could be larger, sure, and some backlighting wouldn’t go amiss… but it’s fair to say that some more expensive soundbars are supplied with much less satisfactory remote controls.

Setup and ssability score: 5/5

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review: Value

Big, authoritative sound with no need for a subwoofer
Exemplary build and finish, great control options
Cannot help but seem just a little too expensive

Ultimately, the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini seems just a little expensive. A small part of that is down to the sheer size of the product - because for all that it is beautifully built and finished from materials that seem durable, and has several well-realised control options, perceived wisdom is that soundbars this small don’t cost this much money and soundbars costing this much money are bigger than this.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with paying a premium price for a more manageably sized soundbar if you don’t have that big a room to fill with sound - but only if it can outperform more affordable alternatives in every department. As it is, though, the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini can only outperform its more affordable alternatives in most departments - in what is arguably the most important of the lot, the truly ‘spatial’ aspect of ‘spatial audio’, it comes up just fractionally short.

Value score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini?

Buy it if...

You know small is beautiful
Getting big, bold audio performance shouldn’t automatically mean a big, bold loudspeaker - and the Ambeo Mini sounds a lot bigger than it looks.

You’re bass-happy
The ability to connect as many as four subwoofers might seem like overkill - or it may seem like the greatest idea you ever heard.

You admire ergonomic good sense
From the quality of its control app to the quality of its remote control, via its exemplary automated room calibration, the Ambeo Mini is an ergonomic masterclass.

Don't buy it if...

Your home cinema is the size of a cinema
The Ambeo Mini sounds bigger than it looks, sure, but there are limits to its powers. That’s physics for you…

You’re expecting overhead sound
The Sennheiser can create a much bigger soundstage than might seem feasible, but it struggles to put sound up above the top of your TV screen.

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini: Also consider

How I tested the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini

The Sennheiser Ambeo Mini has been positioned between the feet of a 48in Philips OLED TV for the best part of a fortnight now, and it’s been used for at least a few hours every day - some of that is critical listening, some is simply sitting down in front of the telly to unwind of an evening.

The room is open-plan, which means side boundaries are fairly distant, but the ceiling is not especially high - so the fact the Ambeo Mini can create plenty of sonic width is particularly commendable, while the relative lack of sonic height isn’t.

Content of all kinds has been through the Sennheiser, from native Dolby Atmos stuff via a UHD 4K Blu-ray player, Netflix and Disney+, and TIDAL Connect, to the bog-standard two-channel content available via broadcast TV or catch-up services.

Samsung HW-Q990C: Two-minute review

Unlike previous Samsung flagship soundbars, the Q990C doesn’t deliver any design differences from its predecessor aside from sporting a slightly different color.

However, a few new features make the Samsung HW-Q990C one of the best soundbars. For starters, SmartThings Hub functionality has been added so that you can monitor and control other devices in your home. There’s also built-in support for Amazon Alexa voice control and Alexa device grouping to create effective multi-room setups.

There’s a new, more integrated auto-calibration system, too, while tweaks to Samsung’s Adaptive Sound mode are claimed to deliver a more lively, detailed sound at low volumes. Meanwhile, a new generation of Samsung’s Q Symphony enhances the way the speakers in Samsung’s TVs and soundbars work together.

It’s still the headline features that the Q990C carries over from its predecessor that matter, though. Namely, the colossal 11.1.4 channel count and massive 656W of power, which ensure that while the Q990C doesn’t sound significantly better than its predecessor with movies, it certainly sounds just as good – meaning it’s still the best Dolby Atmos performer in town.

It turns out that some retuning by Samsung’s sound engineers has also delivered a significant improvement in music playback, addressing the Q990C predecessor’s most significant limitation.

The soundbar part of the Samsung HW-Q990C pictured from above on a wooden table. — With 11.1.4 channels and more than 600W to play with, the Q990C creates a true dome of sound around you. (Image credit: Future/TechRadar)

Samsung HW-Q990C review: Price & release date

Release date: May 2023
Price: £1,599/$1,599/A$1,999

The Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar was released in May 2023. Its £1,599/$1,599/AUS$1,499 pricing clearly establishes it as a very premium soundbar. In fact, it’s Samsung’s flagship model for 2023. For perspective, it’s twice as expensive as the Sonos Arc or Sony HT-A5000 soundbars.

Samsung does provide a lot of bang for your buck, though, in the shape of a four-component system delivering a class-leading channel count. It’s worth pointing out, too, that there are a few single-bar or bar-plus-sub solutions out there that cost considerably more.

Samsung offers a step-down model to the Q990C, the £1,149/$1,099/AUS$1,499 HW-Q930C, that uses a smaller, less powerful main soundbar, drops a couple of channels, uses a more ‘standard’ subwoofer design, but still includes rear speakers.

Samsung HW-Q990C review: Specs

The rear speaker of the Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar system. — The Q990C's subwoofer adds serious impact to movies. (Image credit: Future/TechRadar)

Samsung HW-Q990C review: Features

16 real channels of Dolby Atmos sound
2x HDMI inputs, but no 4K 120Hz support
New auto-calibration system

The Q990C lives up to its billing as Samsung’s flagship soundbar by playing an impressive numbers game. It delivers a class-leading 11.1.4 real (rather than ‘virtual’) channel count, backed up by 656W of power coursing through 22 separate speakers fitted into four separate included components: the main soundbar, a hefty subwoofer, and two rear speakers.

The idea behind including so many channels (which include four up-firing drivers) is to deliver a ‘proper’ experience with the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X formats the Q990C supports. That is, an experience that puts you at the heart of a hemisphere of sound (including overhead effects). There’s no ‘front sound only’ or ‘virtual height effect’ compromise here when playing the latest and greatest movie soundtracks.

The Q990C also impresses, for the most part, with its connections. In particular, it provides a two-input, one-output HDMI loop-through system capable of carrying the premium HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR formats (as well as the basic HDR10 and HLG systems).

It’s a pity the HDMIs don’t extend to supporting the 4K 120Hz gaming feeds the latest consoles and PCs can deliver, especially given that Samsung cares about gaming enough to equip the soundbar with a Game preset that enhances specific placement effects so that it’s easier to tell where enemies are shooting/approaching you from. You can connect your 4K 120Hz-capable gaming device directly to any TV that supports HDMI’s eARC technology and pass Dolby Atmos soundtracks to the Q990C that way. Provided your set-up doesn’t suffer from the audio syncing issues occasionally experienced with ARC technology.

The Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar rear speakers pictured on a wooden table. — The HW-Q990C’s multiple channels even in its rear speakers tells you that is serious about Dolby Atmos. (Image credit: Future/TechRadar)

The Q990C supports many sources beyond those associated with its physical connections, including Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, AAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, MP3, OGG and ALAC hi-res audio files.

However, all the features we’ve discussed were also found on 2022’s Samsung HW-Q990B. So how does the 2023 model move things on from its predecessor?

The two most significant advances are its new SpaceFit Sound Pro auto-calibration system and the new tuning of the soundbar’s music performance. The first of these finally see Samsung auto-calibrating the system’s subwoofer and other speakers in unison rather than using a separate system to monitor bass. Activating this feature has an instant positive effect on the sound, and from then on, the system will continually monitor the sound to compensate for potential changes in your room set-up. I’ll talk about the new music tuning in the next section.

The Q990C also adopts a new (third) generation of Q-Symphony technology, where recent Samsung TVs can join audio forces wirelessly with compatible Samsung soundbars to create a larger, more detailed front soundstage. This new version deploys all the speakers in both the TV and soundbar, rather than leaving some silent, and allows the soundbar to draw on the power of a Samsung TV’s AI-boosted audio processing.

Also new for the Q990C is built-in support for Alexa voice control and the ability to set up Alexa device groups – the latter of which gives you a simple way of establishing a multi-room sound system. Finally, you can use the Q990C with the SmartThings app for your phone to control other devices around your home, thanks to the new SmartThings Hub functionality.

Features score: 4.5/5

A close-up of the top of the Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar — The single most outstanding trait of the Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar is its ability to craft an exceptionally immersive and full surround sound experience (Image credit: Future/TechRadar)

Samsung HW-Q990C review: Audio performance

The HW-Q990C’s monster channel count signals that this soundbar is exceptionally – almost uniquely – focused on getting the best out of film soundtracks. And as with its predecessor, it lives up to that promise in spectacular fashion.

Its single most outstanding trait is its ability to craft an exceptionally immersive and full surround sound experience that places you at the heart of the sort of hemisphere/dome of sound required to create a whole Dolby Atmos experience more seamlessly than any other soundbar I’ve heard (bar last year’s Q990B). The side- and up-firing drivers in the two rear speakers and main soundbar join forces immaculately to ensure there’s no distracting, immersion-breaking gap in the three-dimensional sound stage.

Placement effects are exceptionally accurately positioned within the Q990C’s cocoon of sound, too (especially with the SpaceFit auto-cal system doing its thing), and the various drivers’ combination of power, sensitivity and projection means that the soundstage always appears busy, detailed and convincing. Including when it comes to handling transition sounds across or through the hemisphere of sound.

The cinematic feel of the Q990C’s sound with DTS:X and, especially, Dolby Atmos soundtracks is enhanced even further by how loud it can get without a hint of distortion, buzzing or crackling. Your ears will give in way before the Q990C’s speakers.

Even the most shrill trebles manage to avoid sounding harsh or exposed, the mid-range is expansive, expressive and able to shift through more gears than most soundbars to take on swelling action scenes, and the bass from the subwoofer is deep, enthusiastic (without becoming over-dominant) and reactive. The unusual Acoustic Lens design of the subwoofer, which sees a diffusing ‘plate’ sitting an inch or two proud of the eight-inch driver, also helps the exceptionally rich, deep bass emanate throughout your room more smoothly and evenly.

Despite the impressive bass depths the subwoofer can achieve, low frequencies don’t feel at all baggy or detached from the sound output by the main soundbar – which speaks volumes (pun intended) about the dynamic range the soundbar is capable of.

As ever, with soundbars that reflect sound off walls and ceilings, the Q990C’s sound stage building can be affected by quirks in your room layout or design. However, while vaulted ceilings could present an issue with the clarity of the up-firing drivers, the latest Space Fit auto-cal system does an outstanding job of compensating for pretty much any other room shape problem you might have.

While the Q990C’s class-leading movie performance is beyond reproach, aside from a little more bass cohesion courtesy of the latest Space Fit auto-cal system, it doesn’t improve much over the Q990B. This is not the case, though with music – provided you put the Q990C’s subwoofer in the right place.

I’ve been critical of previous Samsung soundbars, including the Q990B, for being unable to adapt the immense power and dynamic range they bring to movies to music playback as convincingly as I’d like. New tuning by Samsung’s audio engineers, as well as the improved SpaceFit system, has finally delivered a flagship Samsung soundbar that’s consistently enjoyable to listen to with music, even in basic stereo mode. The sound is more coherent, consistent and balanced, retaining a musical feel despite the immense power bubbling away underneath it all.

The subwoofer can sometimes kick in slightly too vigorously with a sudden heavy beat or plummeting bassline. Still, such distracting moments are far fewer and further between than they have been before on the Q990C predecessors. Provided, anyway, that you place the subwoofer forward of your seating position rather than to the side of or behind you.

An Adaptive Sound option for music playback, which essentially remixes stereo tracks to take advantage of all of the soundbar’s channels, also impresses, often delivering results that sound like professional remixes. For the first time with a Samsung flagship soundbar, though, I slightly preferred listening to music on the Q990C in native stereo mode (the soundbar’s ‘Standard’ preset).

Turning to Q Symphony, I didn’t notice any major differences generated by the system now using all the speakers in the soundbar and a connected Samsung TV. Being able to draw on the audio processor in the TV did seem to yield slightly more refined and content-appropriate audio results, though. And the general ability of Q Symphony to blend the sounds from the TV’s speakers with those of the on-paper much more potent soundbar remains surprisingly effective.

Sound quality score: 5/5

A close up of the Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar — The main soundbar is heftier, wider and chunkier than most of its rivals. (Image credit: Future/TechRadar)

Samsung HW-Q990C review: Design

The HW-Q990C ships with no less than four separate components – so it’s more of an imposition on your living room than most soundbars. Nothing as imposing as a full-on separates system would be, of course.

However, Samsung would make no apology for this because while it still offers a simplified audio solution, the Q990C also wants to provide a true surround sound experience.

The main soundbar is heftier, broader and chunkier than most, though it still fits underneath the screen of current Samsung TVs (and those of most rival brands, too, come to that), as long as they're 55 inches or up.

It angles back sharply at each end to accommodate side-firing speakers, giving it a distinctive and attractive shape that combines form and function perfectly. The rears feel impressively engineered, too, maintaining a surprisingly small footprint considering they house three separate channel drivers each; benefitting from a stylish sloped top to help train the up-firers slightly forward; and helpfully sitting on small feet that help to prevent unwanted vibrations getting into whatever shelf or bit of furniture the speakers are sitting on.

The subwoofer is a big, chunky affair, as you would expect for the rumble it can produce. The lens that protrudes above the large side-mounted driver gives it a more sophisticated, high-tech look than your average bass boomer.

At first glance, each speaker in the Q990C package looks the same as it did with 2022’s Q990B. Closer inspection reveals that the Q990C sports a slightly greyer finish than the metallic black of its predecessor.

Design score: 4/5

Samsung HW-Q990C review: Setup & usability

Samsung has gotten progressively better over the years at delivering stable wireless connections between the various components of its flagship soundbars. I’m happy to say that throughout many hours of testing the Q990C, I’ve yet to experience a single dropped connection from any of the speakers.

The speakers all find and connect immediately without any manual input when you first plug the system’s elements in. I was relieved that the Q990C sports an LED display on its front edge, where you can see it while sitting on your sofa, rather than putting it on the top edge like some previous Samsung flagship soundbars have.

The remote of the Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar. — The Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar ships with an attractive and well organised remote control. (Image credit: Future/TechRadar)

There’s plenty of choice over how you control the Q990C. It ships with an attractive and well-organized remote control, for starters, but also supports basic but effective voice control via built-in Amazon Alexa. Or, if you prefer a more ‘visual’ control system, you can use Samsung’s SmartThings app on your phone – an app that makes it easy to get the soundbar set up on your Wi-Fi system. A few basic setting buttons are also built into the soundbar’s top edge.

Of course, most control will just be turning it on and off, and adjusting the volume, and HDMI-CEC handles these from your standard TV remote.

One last nice touch is Tap Sound support, where touching a recent Samsung phone to the soundbar’s bodywork is all it takes to establish a music-sharing connection between the two devices.

Setup & usability: 4.5/5

Samsung HW-Q990C review: Value

At $1,599 / £1,599 / AUS$1,499 officially, the Q990C resides in the upper echelons of the soundbar world. You can buy an excellent 55-inch OLED TV for that sort of money. If you can afford it, though, I’d argue the Q990C is good value.

It justifies its cost in two main ways. First, it gives you four separate, well-built components delivering a fantastic 16 channels of sound, which helps it create the complete Dolby Atmos experience in the soundbar world. Second, it can pump out colossal amounts of power without losing precision or clarity. This makes it the nearest thing in the soundbar world to a separate system – but without the cables, AV receiver, multiple speakers to position… the convenience is valuable too.

Value score: 4/5

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First reviewed July 2023

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus review: awesome Dolby Atmos from a single soundbar

4:25 pm | April 3, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: Dolby Atmos | Comments: Off

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus: Two-minute review

The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus is an all-in-one soundbar (meaning it's a single unit), that's designed to deliver a huge home theater audio without multiple boxes dominating your room. It's a clear contender for one of the best soundbars on the market today… but getting there has meant it comes at a high price.

Coming a couple of years after the slightly-too-large, slightly-too-expensive Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max, this step-down model captures the same dynamic audio in a more reasonable shape, size and pricing category.

Despite being a single box, it claims to deliver 7.1.4 channels of detailed Dolby Atmos sound system, thanks to virtualization tech – no other single-unit soundbar makes such loft claims. This is paired with a thorough feature set to ensure you can utilize the premium formats and music streaming services common to any audiophile.

Costing well into four figures, the Ambeo Soundbar Plus still isn’t cheap – but it offers excellent audio performance, with the finesse and control needed to ensure the sound never overpowers you. We have a couple of questions about its user interface capabilities (why don’t those buttons click?) but the Ambeo Soundbar Plus excels where it matters: with its sound.

While you’ll need Sennheiser’s separate subs to get a fully fleshed-out home theater experience, the soundbar alone is still a quality piece of audio gear, and should elevate any TV setup with aplomb – especially if what you want is big cinematic sound from a single, simple box.

Of course, you won't get the same truly behind-you rear sound that you'd get from the Samsung HW-Q990B, which is a similar price. And if you want something like this, but the price puts you off, the Sonos Arc will save you a lot.

A closeup of the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus — The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus doesn't look exciting, but it will look the part in almost every home. (Image credit: TechRadar/Henry St Leger)

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus review: Price and release date

The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus retails for $1,499 / £1,299 / AU$2,399, and was released in late 2022.

It’s a little pricier than a lot of other high-spec soundbars – in our guide to the best soundbars, only the Samsung HW-Q990B matches it for price, though that specific model includes a few separates alongside the base soundbar (two rear speakers and a subwoofer). The Ambeo Soundbar Plus is a premium all-in-one model, then, though it backs up its price tag with quality performance, as we’ll detail below.

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus review: Features

You get a single HDMI 2.1 port, to connect to a TV with eARC, alongside two additional HDMI 2.0 ports for connecting additional media players or game consoles to your television – so there's no passing through of 4K 120Hz video from a console. That's a bit of a shame at this price, but won't affect everyone. 4K HDR Dolby Vision is passed through just fine, though.

Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Sony 360 Reality Audio are all supported here for spatial sound – so whatever you listen through, you can get the full effect.

The soundbar supports most important wireless connection standards, including Bluetooth 5.0, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Chromecast.

While this is a single-unit soundbar as sold (and as we're reviewing it here), you can purchase and wirelessly connect standalone Sennheiser subwoofers (up to four at a time) to get more low-end performance, which we'll talk a little about later. Uniquely, you can add up to four of them for distributed bass.

Features score: 4.5/5

The rear of the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus — There are lots of inputs on the upper side of the soundbar. (Image credit: TechRadar/Henry St Leger)

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus review: Audio performance

The Ambeo Soundbar Plus deftly navigates frequencies both high and low, with none of the sudden contrasts of cheaper soundbars, where the bass seems to come from an entirely different source from the higher frequencies.

The bass performance can, in fact, be so subtle that it’s hard to notice at all at lower volumes – though it will arrive with force when needed, thanks to a pair of upward-firing subwoofers. It's a soundbar that prefers to be driven hard.

Watching HBO’s The Last of Us, the full range of frequencies on offer are on full show. The Ambeo Soundbar Plus can draw out incredibly complex instrumentals, each pluck of a guitar vibrating and fading out in turn; but when hushed voices are replaced by the crash of a truck into a building’s brick wall, the Ambeo’s quietly rumbling engine comes into focus. This is a soundbar that excels at weaving between different acoustic demands in a continuous and dynamic way.

Sennheiser boasts that the Ambeo Soundbar Plus can output “thundering bass” as low as 38Hz, and it’s certainly no slouch in this department – if a little more controlled than some listeners may be used to. The higher-end Ambeo Soundbar Max should reach a little lower, starting at a 30Hz bass response, but given that model is almost twice the price, there’s not much reason to opt for it (it lacks the Ambeo Plus’ voice assistant support too).

A host of audio modes help matters further, for Music, Movies, Sport, News, and the like. The Voice Enhancement mode is brilliant for verbal clarity, bringing voices to the forefront of the soundstage, and I found myself using it constantly; Sennheiser’s AMBEO mode also creates that four-channel virtual height elevation to make sound output more immersive and three-dimensional, aided by the upward-firing bass drivers. The difference with the AMBEO mode on is stark, and certainly worth trying out, even if you prefer the sound balance in other modes overall.

One thing to note is the ability to add external subwoofers – up to four of them. We're not counting this towards the sound score in this review, because it's not something you can do out of the box. However, we've tried it, and using more than two subwoofers is a game-changer for cinematic bass.

Audio performance score: 5/5

The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus remote held in someone's hand above a wooden surface — We liked the Ambeo's sleek remote. (Image credit: TechRadar/Henry St Leger)

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus review: Design

Measuring 1050 x 75 x 120mm, and weighing 6.3kg, it’s not the smallest soundbar, but a simple matt black finish and mesh detailing makes it pretty innocuous next to a decently-sized TV – 55 inches and up is ideal.

The remote is a sleek affair – a boxy rectangle with a subtle incline on the uppermost side to improve ergonomics. Its soft rubber buttons are a delight to touch – with inputs for switching source, altering volume, and switching between key audio modes such as Movie, Music, Voice enhancement, and Night – though there’s no backlighting to help out in the dark. (Just make sure you follow the setup instructions, as you’ll need to twist the battery cover before activating the remote for the first time.)

Design score: 4/5

The top of the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus control panel — There are lots of ways to interact with the Ambeo Soundbar Plus, including the built-in controls on the top. (Image credit: TechRadar/Henry St Leger)

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus review: Setup and usability

At setup, the Ambeo Plus runs through an automatic calibration system, which involves a lot of loud noises (we wouldn’t do this around a toddler or pet if possible). This allows the soundbar to virtually map the acoustic landscape of your room and calibrate its output in response – with Sennheiser advising you to repeat this process if you move any furniture around or implement new surfaces, such as curtains on the windows. It’s a little irritating on the third go, but will be fine for more static homes.

The companion Smart Control app is brilliantly done, with easy nudges towards connecting important streaming services (or the Alexa / Google Assistant capability) and ticking them off as you go. Between the remote, this mobile app, the built-in controls, and support for voice assistants, there’s plenty of leeway to interact with the Ambeo Plus however you want.

There are inputs on the upper side of the soundbar itself, with a dynamic LED bar that lights up when in use – blue for Bluetooth, green for Spotify Connect, white for volume, and the like. These inputs don’t click inwards, though, so it’s hard to tell immediately whether an input has been registered.

Setup and usability score: 4.5/5

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus review: Value

Though it's obviously expensive, it's very hard to fault the value of the Ambeo Plus, because its sound is so rich, so dynamic, and so big for a relatively compact bar. It's a lot more expensive than something like the Sonos Arc, which is already pretty premium, but it also brings lots more features than the Arc – as well as delivering even more convincing spatial audio.

Now, I said it's "hard" to fault the Ambeo Plus, but there is one obvious omission: no HDMI 2.1 passthrough. The (slightly cheaper) Sony HT-A7000 offers this, and is also an all-in-one unit, so games using a TV with a limited number of HDMI 2.1 ports might be better off with that.

Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus?

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Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus review: Also consider

First reviewed: March 2023
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