The Sennheiser AMBEO Smart Headset is a decent, wired in-ear headset for mixed usage, with a unique feature for recording 3D audio using binaural mics. They have a fairly common in-ear design, with ear hooks that make them stable enough for sports. They're also noise cancelling headphones that isolate sufficiently well for commuting. Unfortunately, they don't have the most comfortable fit, and you can only use them with iOS devices since they have a lightning connector and don't come with an adapter.
Our Verdict
The Sennheiser AMBEO aren't bad for mixed usage. They're a versatile option for most usages thanks to their decent isolation and sound performance. These headphones are compact with a stable ear hook design, and they don't require a battery. Unfortunately, they don't block as much noise as some of the other noise cancelling in-ears we've tested, so they won't be the ideal choice for commuting. Their sound quality is decent, but they're not the most durable headphones. They're also limited to iOS since they have a lightning connector and don't come with an adapter.
- Decent and customizable sound.
- Above-average isolation.
- Stable in-ear fit.
- Restrictive lightning connector.
- Slightly uncomfortable ear-hooks.
The Sennheiser AMBEO are alright for neutral listening. They have a decently balanced sound that tends to sound a bit sharp on already bright tracks. They pack a good amount of bass but have a slight bump in high-bass/low-mid, which may make them sound a bit boomy and cluttered. Also, since they're small, closed-back, in-ear headphones, they can't create a soundstage as spacious as most open neutral listening headphones. Overall, they'll sound good enough for most, but they won't be the ideal choice for more neutral listeners.
The Sennheiser AMBEO are mediocre for commuting. They block a good amount of noise, have an easy-to-use and efficient control scheme, and are compact enough to fit in a jacket pocket. Unfortunately, their noise isolation is not as strong as some of the other in-ears we've tested like the QC 20, so you will hear a bit of ambient chatter when on public transit unless you play your audio at higher volumes.
The Sennheiser AMBEO are alright for fitness and sports use. They have a decently stable ear-hook design that won't fall while exercising. They also have a good control scheme and are fairly lightweight. Unfortunately, they're not as compact as most in-ears, so you may not be able to carry them on you at all times. They're also wired with a pretty cumbersome dongle that will sway a lot while running and working out.
The Sennheiser AMBEO are passable for office use. They don't leak much and have enough isolation to block the ambient noise of a moderately lively office. However, you will still hear what's happening around you if you're not playing music, and they're not the most comfortable headphones to wear for long periods. They also have a lightning connector and don't come with an adapter, so they may not be compatible with all your devices.
The Sennheiser AMBEO are wired-only earbuds, so you can't use them wirelessly for gaming.
The Sennheiser AMBEO are satisfactory for wired gaming. You're limited to Lightning-compatible devices. They sound decently well-balanced and have practically no latency when gaming on your iPhone or iPad. They also have a customizable app, but unfortunately, they default to using the binaural mics in most cases except calls; they aren't ideal for speech/chat when gaming.
The Sennheiser AMBEO are reasonable for phone calls. They're limited to Lightning-compatible devices. Their mic recording quality is decent, so you sound intelligible, and their controls are very good. However, they don't do the best job of handling background noise that can obscure your voice.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 22, 2024: This review has been corrected so that the Battery is now unscored. The verdicts have also been updated accordingly to align with their scores.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated May 15, 2018: Review published.
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The Sennheiser AMBEO are fairly average-performing in-ears with a unique 3D feature thanks to their binaural mics. They have a decent design and build quality, with ear hooks that make them stable enough for most activities. They're also noise cancelling headphones that block sufficient noise for commuting. Unfortunately, they have a lightning connector, which severely limits their use if you don't have a fairly recent iOS device. Overall, they're an okay choice for most use cases if you have an iPhone or iPad, but unless you fully utilize their 3D feature, their price-to-performance ratio isn't as good as some of the in-ears compared below.
See our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds.
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