Perfect Surround Sound for Me - Without the Wires

I've waited a while to post my review of the AMBEO Max soundbar. For me, it's perfect. I have a dedicated TV room - mostly for watching movies, though occasionally for streaming a series or watching sports. I had planned to install rear surround and ceiling ATMOS speakers for a wired 9.1 system, but then I read the Sennheiser AMBEO reviews on Crutchfield's web. The soundbar simplified ????????????????????. Yes, it's expensive and there are lower cost options, but it costs less than a new ATMOS amp and speakers with installation. The calibration is relatively quick and spot on in this large 14x17' rectangular room. I was able to use my existing Velodyne 12" sub. Aesthetically, it blends perfectly in front of my Mitsubishi 73" DLP TV. The surround sound is immersive. Subtle most of the time, but a lot of fun when cranked up. Getting the initial connection with the Sennheiser SmartControl app was a little tricky, but rock solid once done. I've also listened to some DVD-audio, DTS and SuperAudio surround music via my OPPO DVD player and really enjoyed it.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

nice sound bar but a little pricey

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A beast!

Went from a full surround sound system including a center channel speaker, wall-mounted fronts and rears, and a 16" subwoofer to the AMBEO Max. We wanted to get rid of our media cabinet, get rid of speakers mounted to the wall, and all of the related wiring without compromising on sound quality. The AMBEO didn't disappoint. The sound while watching movies encompasses you with a good amount of bass. Listening to music was still good, although not as good as my previous system. I may go with a small subwoofer and hook up a wireless adapter to boost the bass. This soundbar doesn't need it, but it's more a personal preference that I have....I'm looking to fill out the sound at the low-end bass levels. The phone app worked great and allowed me to adjust the music settings which helped. Overall, I highly recommend this soundbar!

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Impressive Soundbar.

We bought this sound bar with the hope that it would not only perform as a solid TV speaker system but as a suitable replacement for our hi fidelity system (2 floor standing speakers, 2 bookshelf speakers, center speaker and subwoofer). That's asking the impossible. We were aware that it would not sound as full as our current system but was hoping that it would still provide a "good" listening experience. We needed to downsize but we were waiting for a sound bar system that was large enough to contain descent sized woofers creating a more full sized sound. The result. Easy set up. Okay sound without subwoofer for TV but not music. Added a 10" subwoofer, used the Ambeo setting, adjusted the equalizer to our liking and the sound quality is just amazing. We listen to our music through Apple Music. Much of Apple's library is lossless recording. The system really shines when you have lossless recordings. We watch our movies through Apple TV, Netflix and Amazon Prime. Sound quality is really good. The Dolby Atmos effect is okay but that could be a result of our listening arrangement. The Atmos effect definitely works but the sound effect separation might not be enough for some. Okay for us though. We realize this is an expensive sound bar but it's definitely worth the money as it is more than a suitable replacement for our "high fidelity" system we had. If your looking for a system that can double as a TV and Music system you might want to give this a go.

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Great Product

Great Soundbar - Just a few minor problems but well worth it! Superb Sound

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Wait.....For It

Sound is good...not phenomenal, but pretty good. I have it paired with a 12" subwoofer and the calibration did a good job of setting the crossover. I have found this soundbar performs when fed high quality source material but doesn't deal well with lower bandwidth material like some local broadcasts, especially sporting events. For those rare occasions, I use the TV speakers. My number one complaint is the time it takes to decode the sound codec being played. We watch a lot of YouTube videos and when the video resumes after an ad, you lose the first few words of the video you're watching. This also happens when doing a fast forward or rewind on a DVR and it's annoying. There seems to be a delay in how the audio information is decoded from the HDMI datastream. If Sennheiser ever fixes this with a future firmware update, I'll come back and change my rating to 5 stars. The soundfield and localization of sounds is very good for what it is, phantom sounds bounced off the walls. This will be different for each application based largely on the room characteristics. Overall, I liked it well enough to keep it but not well enough to say I'd buy another.

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Great Soundbar

I purchased this soundbar to replace my Yamaha YSP-5600 I purchased 7 years ago. Setup was pretty easy, though there was some problem connecting to wi-fi, which turned out to be due to the fact my router was dying. Once my router was replaced it connected right away. I have the Ambeo connected to a SVS PC2000 Pro. After running the calibration software we decided to watch Enemy of the State. I thought the Yamaha sounded good, but I think the Ambeo blows it away. The Yamaha is no slouch but the Ambeo just sounds so much better.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Easy set up. Great sound. Easily beats our Samsung soundbar

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Excellent Sound in large rooms

I figured I would try this soundbar as the quality of my other Sennheiser products are top notch. It sounded like they now have most of the bugs worked out of it, and we wanted something that wasn't so visually overpowering in the room as the old floorstanders. Follow the directions and keep the foam for tipping on its front, you WILL need them later in life....trust me! Setup was easy minus one point - connecting to internet. My iphone quickly found the Ambeo, but the Ambeo would not connect to my 2.4 or 5Ghz wifi, once hardwiring it connected instantly. In room calibration was easy. Initial listening was just OK, not overwhelming, so I proceeded to leave it playing for 72 hours to break in. 72 hours wasn't enough, it really took about 2 or 3 weeks of using for it to really open up. I re-calibrated after the 3 week "break in". I was using Pink Floyd's "Goodbye Blue Sky" as a test track (what better to test a Sennheiser with?) Music sounds very good - I use "Ambeo Light" processing and it still sounds centered with a bit of ambient surround sound. Everything sounds great except for Metallica. The sub is crossed too low by the Ambeo for the kickdrums, and you just cannot get a proper kickdrum from a small speaker. Movies are STELLAR - this thing swings way above its size. I do not doubt the 30Hz rating, but only at low volumes. At movie volumes it does not have the low end. I added an SVS PB-2000 and this is now an amazing setup.

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Don't buy. Zero Customer Service from Sennheiser.

I purchased this soundbar in April of 2020. It lasted less than 3 years before the center channel gave out and now everything sounds muffled. I have come to find out this is a very common problem with this soundbar. The problem is, there is no way to get support from Sennheiser other than to fill out a web request, which they ignore. I have been waiting for over two weeks without a response. This is not acceptable customer service for a soundbar that costs this much. I believe I now own an expensive paperweight. I will update my review if I am able to get the product serviced, otherwise, I suggest you avoid Sennheiser products until they improve their customer service.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

This soundbar was amazing for not having to have surround speaker to get the surround sound effect! Highly Recommended!!

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Great sound bar. Easy to set up. There could be more information on the different modes on the app.

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Virtual surround outstanding enough to startle you

I was truly blown away by this sound bar. I can not say enough good things about it. If you want the closest thing to being in a movie theater in your own home with a sound bar, this is 100% the one to go with. I startle easy and this sound bar made me jump multiple times because it truly sounded like the sound was coming from behind and beside me. It was also really great for music, I would airplay to my tv while I was cleaning and the fullness, clarity, and bass output was awesome. I highly recommend putting on some Dolby Atmos videos when you first get it to experience just how amazing this thing sounds.

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Crutchfield response on

Amazing Sound Bar

Great sound! It's well built, also. It is a beast, though. For most of us, it takes two people move it around. Delivered with surprising speed, very well packaged. I love Crutchfiels!

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Great Soundbar

The Sennheiser AMBEO soundbar does an amazing job at simulating surround and atmos speakers and is super immersive. I would highly recommend this soundbar for someone who has a smaller room that cant fit a traditional 5.1.2 or 7.1.2 setup, which is my case. Make sure if you are thinking about getting this soundbar you check your dimensions and probably have your tv wall mounted because this soundbar is massive. My only complaint is the low end of the soundbar though. It does have good bass reproduction; however, if you have ever used a dedicated subwoofer or listened to setup with a dedicated subwoofer this soundbar will leave you wanting more bass. 4 stars because I have to buy a subwoofer because I'm used to that sound and feeling you get from a dedicated subwoofer, otherwise I would give it 5 stars. Still sounds amazing though!

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

First off, I ended up returning the Amber soundbar. Hear me out. Was is good, yes. Was it worth the money, no. I love that it packed a punch, but I still don't think its worth the money.

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Phenomenal Magic.

As always Crutchfield has knocked it out of the park with customer service. I had originally purchased a Klipsche Cinema 1200 system that had failed and been replaced under warranty with the 2nd unit eventually failing as well. I purchased the Sennheiser Ambeo to replace the Klipsche system and I'm absolutely blown away by this soundbar and it's literally magic how it creates a full surround sound stage from just the bar itself. It does lack thunderous bass but that can be easily fixed from adding a sub into the mix which I'll definitely be doing.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

great sounding !!!

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"Failure To Communicate"

My unit will simply stop responding to both the remote and the panel buttons for no apparent reason: it will just suddenly stop responding to the volume or the power buttons. My only "fix" is to turn off & on the power switch on the surge protector for a complete power drain (which means waiting for everything to reboot). When I sought answers, I received an unbelievable if not indecipherable email from Sennheiser which is an absolute essay in double-speak redundancy that only a NASA physicist could read. I thought that spending top dollar for the ostensible best soundbar on the planet would be "worth the money " but nope! Save your cash and buy another soundbar. And I am a Verified Buyer!!

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Great, for a sound bar. The highs and mids sound great while the bass is weak compared to, say, a sub, but it does have some bass. It does make it sound like movie effects are off to the left and right of the bar. I don't hear any sound coming off the ceiling, but I have mine closer to the tv than is recommended. I feel like I got what I paid for. One note on the setup - I had to run the sound setup with the mic before it would let me connect my phone to it via bluetooth. Pictured under a 55in tv.

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Not Worth It

Not worth the hassle. When it works, it's a great sounding soundbar. But there are tons of functionality problems. The subwoofer output will stop working, the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection will stop working, and my bar no longer calibrates itself. It just says failed after the processing starts. For this price, it should work perfectly and work all the time. It doesn't. Great sound quality does not overcome a defective product. Read the reviews and forum posts, this soundbar is just not worth the trouble.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Amazing sound quality plus strong bold bass out performed my expectations so much that I purchased a second unit.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Great sound out a small (relatively) package. To be honest, I expected it to be bigger based on other reviews. But in comparison to having floor standing speakers (or large sized stand mount speakers), it still takes up visually less space.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

The sound this produces is great.

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Complete home theater setup in a single soundbar!

The Sennheiser AMBEO is an impressive soundbar with a full and rich sound that would work well for many applications where space may be at a premium or wire-running may not be feasible. In fact, it's a solid option even if the aforementioned issues don't exist in the listening space! Unboxing the AMBEO, I noticed immediately how much it weighed (in the best way possible). That 40-lb weight pays off in the depth of the low end, which is stronger than any other soundbar I've tried. It might not replace the need or desire for a traditional subwoofer in larger spaces, especially, but it sure comes close. The first order of business was room correction using the included microphone, and it made a big difference in my difficult room lay-out. The Atmos effects worked well, and there were sections of films where it truly sounded like there were physical surround speakers. The overall sound is quite beefy while retaining clarity for dialogue that can often get lost in the mix. I particularly enjoyed music through the AMBEO, and it performed better than other soundbar that I've used in the past. I don't often listen to music through a soundbar setup, but I could get used to this one. Ultimately, I would add a subwoofer to the mix, which is easy with the mono RCA output on the AMBEO. With music, I don't find it necessary, but I would prefer the addition for action movies. In the end, this is an excellent-sounding piece of equipment that I highly recom

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Another outstanding piece of audio gear from Sennheiser. Great sound, great design. Expensive but if clear, full sound is important to you then it's definitely worth it.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Crutchfield experience was outstanding including delivery 1 day early and fast. AMBEO soundbar is everything all the magazine reviews say it is. It was time to downsize from a >$5000 5.1 surround system. The AMBEO is not the same, but I have nothing to complain about for sound quality. I did keep my subwoofer, so I can't say for sure what it's like without one. The weekend deal for $2000 was unbeatable for what you get. At $2500, I would have waited to sell all my old stuff first, but I still would do it at that price based on what I know now.

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Amazing

This single sound source is as Amazing as I had heard it would be . We got it on sale , so even better , and when you spend this kind of $$ you are assuming a Great result . Best of all - the wife LOVES It !!! What more can I say

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Had the Sonos play bar for years and was never really happy w the performance. Bought the ambeo a month or so ago and I absolutely love it. I'm a full time rvr and space is a commodity and this was a fantastic purchase. I've always owned kef separates and this is as close as you are going to get to have the same quality of sound. I've had zero issues w it and couldn't be happier.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Great sound quality. Easy to stream music to. Plays at very good volume with very little to no distortion. Very clear and natural sounding. We watch a lot of concerts on blu ray and streaming, and it was very enjoyable. With ,my room's open concept design, however, we were not able to take full advantage of the features of the Ambeo with Atmos and surround sound while watching movies. So while not ideal for every room, when you have the right space for it, the sound is outstanding.

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Just better TV speaker, no bass

Dialogues are clear but it's just Bigger TV speakers. Usable Bass is just above 129Hz. It sound smooth above this but big drumbeats sounds like small baby drum. After adding B&W 8" sub it imported a lot. Surround and Atmos effect is not so good. I may get better surround effect if I have walls on both sides without any openings. Atmos effect compromised because of wall mounted tv. Some sound of top drivers fired behind the tv as tv stays few inches away from wall. I finally end up putting Ambeo in kids room and bought Bose soundbar and subwoofer which phase Guide technology project surround sound better And give gives better room filling sound even for Atmos! And surely less expensive with subwoofer and sleek design and definitely "full" enjoyable sound!

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Amazing sound, worth the money

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Horrible waste of money!

It sucks. Hooked up via HDMI ARC to my TCL 6 series and has terrible sound. Bad dialog on all types of input live, Streaming atmos or any other. Box has gone before I read about the defective units if that is the problem with mine so I cannot return it. Wasted my my cash. So dissatisfied and disappointed. Going to BOSE.

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Crutchfield response on 9/13/2021

Albert, we're sorry you're having issues with your sound bar. While your order is beyond Crutchfield's 60-day return policy, please feel free to reach out to our Tech Support team for help, or for information about the 2-year warranty on this sound bar. Lifetime tech support comes with every Crutchfield purchase.

Great Soundbar

The sound decoding is very good. Add a good powered subwoofer and the sound is excellent. Rarely mentioned in the reviews is the very good connection through the eArc interface. The soundbar automatically turns itself on and off with an Arc enabled TV / Monitor. Setup is very easy with its built-in calibration program. The only "issue" is its large size but there is no substitute for cubic inches. Other soundbars try to boost the sound and thereby add distortion. This Sennheiser AMBEO takes a purist approach. It's big. It's expensive but it is very good. I use the soundbar in my RV and people wonder how such a big home theater sound can come from from my small RV. Great job Sennheiser. Those Germans are so clever.

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Crutchfield response on

Sennheiser

Exceedingly simple to set up, not as sensitive to the room as my 2 channel system had been due to its digital mic setup. tweeter and midrange are excellent but the base is a little light, though it has an input for a subwoofer. I have HD800 Sennheiser headphones and I have been exceedingly happy with them, and the Ambeo is another well-designed and executed product that provides that same quality.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Amazing product considering no subwoofer. I live in an open landscape home, make sure you place atmos where you watch TV when calibrating the soundbar and nothing blocks the up firing speakers.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

What a technical marvel this is. I am an engineer and really appreciate both technology and craftsmanship. My only complaint and it's only because I am 75 years old and was placing the soundbar in an elevated position, is it is HEAVY. Which is generally a really good thing. We use the app more than the remote, because you have the ability to fine tune your listening more.

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Crutchfield response on

Ambio, crazy good sound.

If you are looking for a all around great sound bar, Ambeo is it. The sound is crisp and clean, brilliant. For those replacing mid to high end separate equipment, you will need to add a subwoofer. If you have to have sound coming in from behind you will need a very specifically shaped, very neutral room to take max advantage of Ambeo's sound bouncing abilities. As many other reviewers have mentioned, the software is very finicky. Do a software update as soon as you set it up. Getting hooked up to the internet is the first obstacle. After a week with the Ambeo I am still trying to get Google Chrome to function properly, sound works great, can't get the video to work, will have to talk to the techs at Crutchfield. Streaming music works great, sound is spectacular! If your TV doesn't have eArc, you might consider replacing it also. Many video software quirks seem centered on that. I am patiently waiting for Crutchfield to send my new Samsung NEO TV. One last tip: make sure you have good ventilation at the center back of the bar, it does run warm.

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Crutchfield response on

Awesome soundbar!

I ordered this in February 2021 from Crutchfield. I have tried the 950t, the q80r, jbl 9.1, and the lgsn11rg - The ambeo sound completely blows them out of the water - warm, natural, organic tones from vocals, effects, and movie soundtracks. *I will admit the marketing for a complete 5.1.4 is a farce in my room . Nothing comes from behind or behind-above me, but sometimes pretty close.* Back to the good stuff - this is the most theatrical sounding soundbar out there as we speak. I mean i'm not even kidding; the T-REX roar in the first jurassic park is ungodly - so much power! Yes i would LOVE to have rear speakers but theres always one thing you have to sacrifice when buying any soundbar whether it's lack of audio codecs, rears, weak sub, no side-firing speakers, etc - this soundbars downfall is the rears BUT that's not to neglect the power and sheer ferocity it can produce. The soundstage is massive. The best thing about this soundbar is you can add ANY subwoofer you want. Ive been holding out because i live in an apartment and i want to use a big ol' sub not a small one with this bar. Even without a subwoofer it still performs very well. Sometimes youll notice bass missing, but thats to be expected without a sub. Totally would recommend! Just a fair warning - as with most soundbars really - room acoustics are important: side walls, 14ft flat ceilings or lower, and proximity between you and the bar itself (probably about 8-10ft away at most if possible).

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

After the last update the sound is muffled and the voices are very faint and inaudible I've reset and recalibrated it and still no good and I'm waiting for a response from Sennheiser on my warranty. The company is not easy to contact like most quality companies I've dealt with in the past.

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Good, but not good enough! am returning item.

sounds OK, but not quite like a real surround system. Does not support turntable, and headphones. insufficient source and switching capability.

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Crutchfield response on

Great Center Channel speaker

It's an outstanding center channel speaker. Not what I was hoping for, but I guess there is only so much you can do with directional drivers and DSP. In an effort to keep the peace in our home, I re-did the main TV setup. Removing the 7.1 setup and replacing with the Ambeo and a SVS subwoofer. I knew there would be some loss in surround sound effect, but I was hoping the technology had come far enough to mitigate the absence of drivers on the walls beside and behind. It hasn't. There still is no substitution for an actual speaker producing a sound in a physical location. There are good things about the Ambeo, however. The clarity is excellent. At virtually all listening volumes, dialog is easily understandable and completely anchored to the scene. Volume is also good. Considering it is a self powered unit, I thought it was going to have problems with high-intensity scenes (Matrix Lobby scene, Endgame finale, etc.) but it handles them quite well. When paired with the SVS sub, it sounds very good. But there is no mistaking that all the sound is coming from the front. In Ambeo's defense, I have the absolute worst room for reflections/DSP to work their magic, irregular angles, high, sloping ceiling, open on one end. But the wife is happy. Setup is very easy and the presentation is very clean and simple.

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Crutchfield response on

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

The Sennheiser Ambeio soundbar is far and away the best I've ever heard! You get what you pay for to get the best soundbar available. Thanks

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

The most amazing soundbar, Just short of a full surround theater system. Though I believe this is no fault of its own, andis probably related to my particular theater. I have noticed no delay in voice, as others have mentioned. it is extreemly easy to set up. It works easily as well for music, as theater sound. Worth the $$$

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

La razón por las dos estrellas: Mis expectativas fueron muy altas con el producto y así de altas fue la desilusión. No quiero decir que el producto es malo, pero no lleno mis expectativas. Voy a tratar Sonos Arc y veremos que pasa. The reason for two stars: My expectations were very high with this product and the disappoinment was just as high. I don't want to say that the product is bad, but it did not fulfill my expectations. I am going to try the Sonos Arc and see how it goes.

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Crutchfield response on 4/2/2021

Translation provided by Crutchfield's International Sales and Support team.

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar is the best-sounding single speaker I've ever heard. Sound is so realistic.Better than any of the soundbars out there. It has plenty of connections.Even EARC. Which is a plus.

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Crutchfield response on

This Soundbar is a Waste of Money

It never works. The center channel constantly cuts out. Worse, the entire sound from this entire bar cuts out. I have read online it has something to do with integration between this soundbar and Apple TV and/or other services, but who cares. It cuts out. Leaving you with your TV sound system. In other words, spending this much (or $20) on this is a bad investment. (This site made me give it 1 star....)

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Crutchfield response on

Very happy with the Ambeo

The Ambeo sounds great in a 12 X 12 room with our 60" tv and an AVS SB-2000 Pro subwoofer. The set up was easy and quick. The app works ok without any issues, but it is very basic. Crutchfield had it to my door within a week. So far I am very happy with my purchase.

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Very disapointed

The sound is good but I've had a multitude of technical problems since I got it that I never had with my previous surround sound. Audio cuts out for a few seconds every few minutes, the screen will turn to static every once in a while for no reason and I'll have to restart the sound bar, the remote works doesn't work half the time, sometimes I'll start a show and there's no vocal audio, and now sometimes when I'm on my PlayStation the volume, for no reason, will turn to full and bout blow my eardrums out. I've tried replacing the hdmi cable but didn't help. Didn't even come with the power cord. Don't know if I got a lemon but extremely disappointed with this product considering how much money I paid.

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Crutchfield response on 1/13/2021

Malcolm, we're sorry you're having issues with your soundbar. Whenever you encounter a problem with anything you purchase from Crutchfield, please contact our Tech Support team right away. Lifetime tech support comes with every Crutchfield purchase.

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

I love this sound bar. Exceeded my expectations.

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Crutchfield response on

STAY AWAY FROM THIS SOUND BAR!

I currently just sent inn my 3rd sound bar in for repairs to Sennheiser because I'm passed my warranty with Crutchfield. Crackling sound coming from left speaker and still unable to connect and calibrate sub to it, tried every trouble shoot possible with Senn. Tech, no results. 1st bar worked fine for a couple of months with no issues calibrating my sub to it. After a few months, the center speaker started to sound muffled. Bar was returned and second one was sent out. 2nd bar had issues with calibrating the same sub i had calibrated with the first bar. Returned it and received a 3rd bar. 3rd bar had same issues with sub not calibrating out the box so i just assumed maybe an update was needed. So i kept it and after a few more months, no luck with sub and crackling sound started coming from left side of speaker during low bass scenes. So now I'm awaiting news from Sennheiser in regards to current issues with bar. This whole experience has just been a pain in the butt! Its quiet disappointing to see a great reputable company as Sennheiser release faulty products like this soundbar. Crutchfield needs to really look into this and maybe even stop offering this product until Sennheiser can get their act together. Also, good luck getting through to Sennheiser customer service / tech for this bar. I've been dealing with them since the first bar and its a pain getting through. Keep in mind that first couple of times were PRE-COVID so theres no excuse for the long wait time

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Crutchfield response on

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

The only reason I gave this four stars is Crutchfield had to replace the soundbar. The second one worked flawlessly. This is a amazing soundbar. It dose what it says it will do. Its not a perfect surround sound but it's very close.

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Sweet!

The most difficult part of setup was just getting the bulky heavy box into the house and over to the listening room. I'm very happy with this unit and I've gotten over the sticker shock.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Amazing sound!!!

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Crutchfield response on

Perfornance Wow, Repairs Wow

When it works amazing. The problem is trying to keep it working. I have had two defective soundbar. I sent mine in for repair under warranty. They have ok customer service but today I finally get my soundbar back and they didn't send me the power chord. So beware. If your willing to go through some repairs the performance is great. It is like a Ferrari... amazing but always in the shop!

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Crutchfield response on

Quality Sound System

Hey, this soundbar is the best I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I have always bought top end electronics. Most soundbar systems don't give you their frequency response, this one(Ambeo) is 30- 20k , and it has 500 watts of power! Drop the mic! Walk away!

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Great except Wifi Setup

Sound quality wise, it is exactly what I expected from such a soundbar at this price. I would have given it a 5* if not because of the wifi setup. I setup the soundbar with a wired network temporarily (by pulling a network cable from my router ) and it worked beautifully the first time. Then I unplugged the network cable and tried to setup the wifi connection. It took me 8+hrs over 4 days to set it up. I almost gave up (mind you, I have 20+yrs of computer network experience). I had plenty of smart devices around my house, and this is by far the hardest device to setup for wifi. Honestly, if I have to do it all over again, I don't know I could do it. No idea why Google Home is required just to setup a network and it is extremely flaky. I do not expect this from a $2,500 soundbar. A $30 FireTV is much easier to setup.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Great room-filling sound.

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Ambeo

It is far above the rest! The Ambeo may cost a little more, but if you think of the quality of sound, it is well worth the extra cost. Crutchfield rep discussed several other soundbars, but having settled on the Ambeo, my next purchase will be the SVS 2000 Pro sub to complete my system.

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Audiophile sound for a fraction of the price

I added two JL Audio subwoofers to go along with the Sennheiser AMBEO soundbar and the results have exceeded my expectations. Being a bit old school, it is hard to get your head around not needing an Audio / Video processor, but this soundbar sounds fantastic for both cinema and music. Very highly recommended!

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Great all-in-one soundbar. Very happy with my purchase.

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Best Soundbar I've ever heard

Amazing Soundbar. I have a bery high vaulted ceiling so I don't have the optimal room shape for ATMOS but this speaker was a perfect all-in-one setup for me. I have a minimalist setup with no wires or boxes showing. I have an AppleTV 4K mounted behind my 65" LG 4K TV. I didn't want a bunch of gear (i.e. receiver, speakers, wires, etc) and the AMBEO Soundbar was a perfect solution. It doesn't fully replicate a complete 7.1 component system but it comes very close. I mostly watch movies and sports and this soundbar does not disappoint. I did add a subwoofer to get that extra boom with movies but it also did OK with bass on its own. I as worth the money for me to get superb quality sound with one soundbar. I dont' regret it all.

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Think outside the box

You could build a home theater with this.

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Ambeo Soundbar.

Great sound bar that even gets better when you add a good sub woofer to accompany it.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Very easy to setup. I haven't done the calibration yet, but it sounds good so far. The HDMI CEC works well with my LG NanoCell TV. This is a HEAVY soundbar. I put it on my mantel and it's holding up, but I have considered reinforcement.

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Top Tier sound bar

This is the third sound bar I've owned, but the first time coming back to one since going all in on a surround system. I kept the surround system in our main living area, and decided to try this out in our game room as a chance to save on wiring running. I own several other Sennheiser products (HD800S, HD650), so I knew to expect top tier quality from them...even so I was floored by this. This bar is an absolute monster - completely blows away the Klipsch and Bose sound bars I owned prior. The setup was simple with the microphone calibration, as was the app via my iPhone. Honestly, I couldn't be happier with the sounds. It completely fills the room and is on par with my 4K hardwired surround system. With the Ambeo effect on, movies sound like you are in a theatre and playing video games gives you a full sense of 3D awareness. You will get a better overall experience by using an external sub, but the bass that comes out of this is impressive that you don't NEED to have one - however I'd still suggest it if you have it in your budget. Overall, I couldn't be happier - would highly suggest this to anyone that's looking for a sound bar, but doesn't want to give up on terms of sound quality.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Amazing. No complaints.

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Nice soundbar

This purchase was an effort to declutter and simplify our "home theater" equipment and operation - it replaced a surround sound receiver and 5.1 speaker setup. I wanted a good soundbar that would accept the various inputs (Xfinity DVR, Blu-Ray Player and Apple TV box) and just send video to the TV and this does that just fine. It does occasionally have some "no sound" input issues when I switch devices, but it may be an issue with the Apple TV - still monitoring that. The sound is excellent, although I did keep the subwoofer which helps a bit. It is not quite as dramatic as a full 5.1 or "higher" surround system, but for most of what my wife and I watch, it is fine.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Replaced AV system. I can hear again, over the top sound. App makes settings easy.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Great sound and bass for a soundbar definitely recommend I did add a svs pb 1000 for some extra bass

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To Ambeo or Not to Ambeo

Someone who owns both the Sony HTTS5000 and the Sennheiser Ambeo: I do not have a lot of free time to write in detail, but I will offer up some highlights. First off, I have owned many variations of home theater systems from a $20,000+ Martin Logan Electostats 5.1 with Bob Carver Sunfire amplification and processing. On the video end I am running a JVC RS2000 with a 116" Screen Innovations Zero Edge Plus...I believe my point is that I am not the person coming from the $700 Samsung Soundbar who is going to be automatically blown away by the soundbar in question. My analysis of "decent" sounding means not just as far a soundbars go. Taking HT on the Internet is not typically rewarding as this interest often attracts arrogant and standoffish iceholes, who get some kind of satisfaction for making others feel stupid. The keyboard has become their sword, because in the world the vast majority of them do not have the skin to say a word. Now for the comparison: The Ambeo really does provide a workable level of advanced surround sound effects. The dialogue is what matters most to me, and the Ambeo has a large soundstage full of clarity and depth. Remember that I am viewing a "116 screen and the dialogue seems believable for a fairly large picture. The Sony HTTS5000 has somewhere in the area 88-93% of the clarity of the Ambeo and still a soundstage or presence almost every bit as good as the Ambeo.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Um, WOW! Great sound! Dolby Atmos content gives the best 3D sound, so I try to utilize Atmos content when I can. When gun shots are off to the left or right, it actually sounds like shots are coming from the left or right side of the room, not the soundbar. The Sennheiser app is great, the only issue I found is when pairing my phone to the soundbar the order of pairing the phone and app to the soundbar matters if you want to bluetooth connect for music. However tech support at Crutchfield an Sennheiser is great and that small issue was taken care of. I have an odd shaped room, so there are times I can hear sound behind me though it is not consistent. However, that may be due to the way the movie has the sound set up, but I'm not sure. One more thing, this soundbar fills the room with sound without sounding "front heavy."

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

The Best Sound bar Period! Great sound, Easy set-up It's worth the money!

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Great sound in one box.

If you want terrific music and home theater sound without speakers all over the room, and not even the need for a subwoofer, then it's an easy decision.

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Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar

Great sound quality. A significant improvement over my previous 5.1 system. I think this is most likely due to the room correction system available in the Ambeo. Very happy with the product and Crutchfield's service.

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First time is a flat second time's a charm

I had to return the first sennheiser ambeo sound bar. It just wouldn't work out of the box. However, the second sound bar I received and plugged in worked right away very happy I've only had it for one night the sound is great and look forward to having it in my room for the next 10 years.

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low volume

The sound bar ia heavy and sound really good with the high and mid lack of the low, must have a bass speaker, and the volume is very low have to turn to max and still not very loud compare to my 700 Bose, have to return and try another unit, hopefully is a bad one that i got

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Good as a sounder can get

Depends on what you're coming from and what you looking for. If you have 5.1, 7.2, this is not a replacement. If you want a soundbar without all the equipment, wire runs, speakers, this is good as it gets. Best for an apartment, bedroom, but not a home theatre. I have a separate room from 2 channel audio and in my family room, this works great. Music is not that good, at least via Bluetooth, a couple of Homepods sound better, but need to experiment a bit. One thing I hope turns off is the AMBEO logo on the bottom right, like a car light hitting you while you're watching a movie. As a soundbar, the best there is right now and filled my need and purpose well. Very well made, so is the mic for setting up.

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You gotta hear this!

Hands down this soundbar does it all! A/V receiver, Dolby Atmos,3D sound, no brainer connectivity & the sound is incredible. Perfect for my space, sound fills the room. I'd buy it again!

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2 thumbs up

Surpassed my expectations

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Very unhappy considering the cost of the unit. Quit working after abo

The unit quit working after a little more than one month. When I plug it in and hit the power button the unit scrolls "Call for service." I have not investigated it further at this point but have connected two Polk Audio rear surround speakers to augment the television audio.

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Crutchfield response on 6/29/2020

We're sorry you're having issues with your soundbar. If you purchased this from Crutchfield, feel free to contact our Tech Support team. They can help you solve the problem or set up a return within 60 days of purchase. Lifetime tech support comes with every Crutchfield purchase.

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Amazing sound from a single soundbar!

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Worth the $ if you've got it!

We stretched into this sound bar. However, this sound bar is worth letting you know it is worth the $ if you've got it. We put it in a room that really isn't ready for any audio set up but it's the only big TV room we've got. It's a wide, narrow room (I.e. 20+ feet wide but the TV is only 10 feet away) with one end of the room open to the rest of the house. We just watched the latest Matrix Atmos release and the Sennheiser exceeded expectations. It filled the space, things came in from the sides, and most impressively came in from behind. That said, we also use it to play music and it fills the entire 3k sq ft ranch house (remember the open end of the room...). Tremendous sound for high quality music; I wish I had one in my home gym!

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Great Product, When Everything Works Properly

First AMBEO Soundbar had the muffled center channel speaker issue and my second AMBEO had handshake issues until I updated with the latest firmware. Now, there are lip sync issues while using eARC on my LG C9 TV (which defeats the benefit of eARC). My 4-star rating is in reference to the aforementioned issues, which shouldn't arise with a soundbar in this price range. Although, Crutchfield's Technical Support and Customer Support certainly deserve a 5-star rating, as they have been nothing but knowledgeable and supportive through each issue!

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

The ambeo sounds great, and I love the auto configuration tool using the provided mic. It's still a step down from my old 7.1 system, which could accommodate the funky furniture arrangement I have, but if you have a space dedicated to viewing, and ideal placement, the AMBEO is a really winner.

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Sensational sound

Sensational sound.I listen to lots of music on YouTube,mostly classical, and this bar is perfect. I also connected my CD player to it and the sound is better than what I had with my old stereo and big speakers. Also, very easy to setup.

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Excellent Sound but hard to setup

Let me preface this by saying that before I retired a few years ago, I had reviewed audio/video products for several magazines. That said, this has one of the most poorly designed user interfaces I have ever encountered. (1) It does not have a video display of the menu nor any other functions. This is unacceptable. Any such product at this price should have a video menu. (2) I had problems with Bluetooth connection of my iPhone Sennheiser app, which is the only way to do many control functions. I had several emails with both Sennheiser and Crutchfield before I finally got everything functioning. It is not clear what finally caused everything to work. In the end the sound is very good, even without a subwoofer. But if you are even considering a return, be aware that it is packaged in 4 levels of boxes like Russian dolls and not easy to repackage.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

I replaced a perfectly good Yamaha YSP-1000, and boy am I glad I did. I knew I needed more modern connectivity (bluetooth, wifi, HDMI switching), and I've heard so much about Dolby Atmos that I was ready for that upgrade too; and I'd hoped this would improve music listening. I was not disappointed. Dynamic range and sound quality are amazing. Exceeded my expectations. I'm using it with a newer KEF subwoofer and 65" LG OLED display and I couldn't ask for more. My room is not an ideal shape and I haven't watched much true Atmos content (adding a 4K DVD player to get the full impact of that), but the Ambeo processing on music, satellite, and streaming content is very nice. Very natural compared to the Yamaha soundfield processing.

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HUGE Sound

This soundbar is HUGE, both physically and in sound production. I have a very small house and wanted a single-box sound solution. This sound bar, with a powered sub added on, is truly all you need in a small room to have surround sound and excellent signal response. Please do note the dimensions and weight...it is a monster.

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Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar

Bought the Ambeo soundbar to replace a 5.3 speaker setup.I moved to a much smaller apartment and needed a system that sounded good but without the rumble my speakers put out. I am amazed with the Sennheiser,I get the Dolby Atmos,DTS X effects that sometimes surprise me.The sound seems to come from all over the room,even from behind.The only thing I miss is the bass that only a subwoofer can provide.Dont get me wrong the bass from the soundbar is more than enough for this room,but if you're able and have a bigger space than I have,I would invest in a subwoofer. Also I have the soundbar wired to my router and I've had no problems with updates or the Sennheiser app.

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Great product

Easy to set up. The sound is amazing. No complaints at all.

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Happy guy

Awesome Sound Bar

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Absolutely the best sound reproduction available in a soundbar today!

Absolutely the best sound reproduction available in a soundbar today. Yes the price is high, however if you don't have room for a discrete setup and don't want to compromise on sound quality. This is the setup for you! You'll definitely want to pair with a good sub. I'm using an old Klipsch reference we had laying around.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Sounded great but died within a week. Hopefully, the replacement will be more robust.

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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar | Max

Everything is is great with this sound bar. Your must have the eARC to connect with this sound bar to work with, otherwise you can't take the adventage of this sound bar. I have a Sony A8F OLED and connect with the sound bar to the ARC to the TV. It can not connect every time if I change the input. I have to unpulg the cable and plug it again. It have 3 to 5 second delay . So I return the Sony to the local store and pick up LG C9 because it have a eARC. Doing everything again the LG and it working great with the connection and the sound bar. I have no problems at all. Until today I don't test the dolby atmos but I will update later if I have test it.

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OVERPRICED

This is a big disapoitment for the price. It does put out some decent sound but not for the price. Now I'm stuck with it becasue the boxes it came in got tossed. Also has connection problems, it takes around 30 seconds for it to start working.

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Superior sound

Top of the line Soundbar. I purchased this for my family room in Fl. This unit is replacing a 10 year old Polk sound bar. The unit is heavy for sure, but sits well on my mantle. Excellent choice for rooms where hardwired speakers are out of the question. Compared to my Marantz 7.2 system that I have set up in my other home, it is close. If you want superior results, this unit is it. Setup is easy. I paired this with an LG OLED 55E9 TV. Oh, and the Dolby Atmos, crazy good.

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Just Okay... Not Worth It

I purchased an open box item and was disappointed instantly... The item had a blown speaker. Once turned on you could tell instantly, it sounded terrible. But after I hooked up the sub, it got better. It was able to send the distorting bass to the sub and not sound so bad. Once that happened, it was more enjoyable to listen to. It deffinately put out a lot of sound, and it threw sound where it was supposed to as well. The ambeo function sounded very nice as well. Nothing extraordinary though... Some of the problems include: would cut in and out during playback, when switching video functions it would stop producing sound for whatever reason, a subwoofer is deffinately needed (it is able to hit some deep tones though... just not good enough though), and music playback sucks. And it would be nice if it could be controlled with a video function, not an app. I am coming from a Sony htz9f and love having control on the TV vs app. And for this price there should be more control options. As the most expensive soundbar option out there, I was a little disappointed for numerous reasons. I have been just as happy with less expensive units. I thought the Sony st-5000 is just as good for half the price...

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Crutchfield response on 1/8/2020

This customer contacted our Customer Support team and set up a return. Purchases from Crutchfield can be returned or exchanged within 60 days.

Excellent sound

Wonderful sound - particularly notice the background noises clearly and sometimes it seems they truly are coming from behind me. It is large and heavy, but setting up is no problem. Very glad we splurged on this!

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