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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX vs Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Side-by-Side Comparison

    Top
    Main Differences
    Design
      Style - BarStyle - SubwooferStyle - SatellitesDimensions - BarDimensions - SubwooferDimensions - SatellitesMountingBuild QualityIn The Box
    Sound
      Stereo Frequency ResponseStereo Frequency Response With Preliminary CalibrationStereo SoundstageStereo DynamicsStereo Total Harmonic DistortionCenterSurround 5.1Height (Atmos)Sound Enhancement Features
    Connectivity
      Inputs/Outputs - BarAudio Format Support: ARC/eARCAudio Format Support: HDMI InAudio Format Support: OpticalAudio Latency: ARCAudio Latency: HDMI InAudio Latency: OpticalVideo Passthrough To TVWireless Playback
    Additional Features
      InterfaceBar ControlsRemoteVoice Assistants Support
    Comments

Products

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX
Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Oct 24, 2025 06:15 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated May 10, 2024 04:31 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Picture
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Picture
Channels
5.1.4
Channels
5.1.2
  1. Recommended in 2 articles:
  2. Subwoofer
  3. All-In-One

Our Verdict

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX

Bose Smart Soundbar 900

The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX and the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 are both versatile standalone soundbars. Thanks to its sub, which is integrated into the bar, the Sennheiser reproduces a more extended low-bass. It also has more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and presets, though this may not be worth the value for some users. The Bose is also better built, with built-in voice assistant support. It also has a better soundstage.

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Variants

  • AMBEO Soundbar MAX (Black)
  • Smart Soundbar 900 (Black)
  • Smart Soundbar 900 (White)

Review

See Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Review
See Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Review
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2 

Check Price

Black
AMBEO Soundbar MAX
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Smart Soundbar 900
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Black
AMBEO Soundbar MAX
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
White
Smart Soundbar 900
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
AMBEO Soundbar MAX
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
AMBEO Soundbar MAX
SEE PRICE
B&H
 
Read more

Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

8.0
7.5

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.9
7.4

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

9.9
0.0

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
No

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
8.0

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Style photo - bar
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Style photo - sub
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
No

Enclosure 
 

Integrated
No Subwoofer
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Style photo - satellites
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Dimensions photo - bar
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

49.3" (125.2 cm)
41.1" (104.5 cm)

Height  

5.2" (13.3 cm)
2.2" (5.7 cm)

Depth  

6.8" (17.2 cm)
4.3" (11.0 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Dimensions photo - sub
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Dimensions photo - satellites
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Bar Mounting Holes
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Satellite Mounting Holes
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

7.5
8.5

Build quality photo  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Build quality photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX In The Box photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.9
7.4

Stereo Setup  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Stereo Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Channels 
 

5.1.4
5.1.2

Tested Preset 
 

Neutral
No Preset

Slope 
 

1.02
0.05

Standard Error 
 

4.39 dB
2.64 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

29.5 Hz
50.4 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.6 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

8.3
7.4

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Neutral
No Preset

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

6
0

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
0

Slope 
 

0.32
0.05

Standard Error 
 

2.88 dB
2.64 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

29.1 Hz
50.4 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.3 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
8.0

Crosstalk  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

1.84 dB
2.00 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.7
8.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

101.6 dB SPL
93.9 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

0.54 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

1.72 dB
1.96 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.5

THD  

See details

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.16

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.07
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.8
8.6

Center Setup  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Center Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.36
0.50

Std. Err. 
 

2.60 dB
2.57 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

98.9 dB SPL
95.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.15
0.50

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.73
2.37
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

6.4
6.4

Surround Setup  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Surround Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Side Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

1.56
0.18

Std. Err. 
 

3.99 dB
2.51 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

102.2 dB SPL
95.8 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.26
0.45

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.66
2.35

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

6.3
6.6

Height Setup  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Height Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

1.00
0.63

Std. Err. 
 

4.26 dB
3.20 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.1 dB SPL
90.4 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.41
0.47

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.60
1.14
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

5.9
4.5

Room Correction 
 

Yes
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
No

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

EQ 
 

Graphic + Presets
No

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI Out 
 

eARC
eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No
No

Full HDMI In 
 

3
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

Yes
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

9.9
8.1

Dolby Atmos 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 5.1
Up To 7.1
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

9.9
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Supported
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Supported
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 5.1
Not Supported
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
6.5

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

9.0

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

59 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

61 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

61 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

81 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

85 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

95 ms
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

7.5
0.0

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

72 ms

Optical 
 

71 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

88 ms

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

7.3

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

135 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

189 ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

8.5
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz
Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz
Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz
Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz
Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

30Hz
Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No
No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No
No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

10
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Interface photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Controls photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Remote photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Remote photo
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
Yes (Built-in)

Google Assistant 
 

No
Yes (Built-in)

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
AMBEO Soundbar MAX
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Smart Soundbar 900
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Black
AMBEO Soundbar MAX
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
White
Smart Soundbar 900
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
AMBEO Soundbar MAX
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
AMBEO Soundbar MAX
SEE PRICE
B&H
 
Back to Top

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX

Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX vs Bose Smart Soundbar 900: Main Discussion

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