Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX vs Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

Which Soundbar Is Better?

Products

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Oct 24, 2025 06:15 PM

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BestBuy.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Sep 18, 2025 02:00 PM

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B&H

Our Verdict

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX is better than the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3. While they're both premium standalone setups, the Sennheiser has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. It comes with more sound enhancement features, too. Also, the Sennheiser's integrated sub can reproduce more low-bass than the B&W's. Keep in mind that the Sennheiser is quite large and heavy, though, so it's not ideal for smaller spaces.

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Variants

  • AMBEO Soundbar MAX (Black)
  • Panorama 3 (Black)

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AMBEO Soundbar MAX
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Panorama 3
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AMBEO Soundbar MAX
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AMBEO Soundbar MAX
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Panorama 3
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AMBEO Soundbar MAX
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AMBEO Soundbar MAX
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Black
Panorama 3
Bowers & Wilkins
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 
 

0.0
0.0
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Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Style photo - bar Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Style photo - bar Sample

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Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Style photo - sub Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Style photo - sub Sample

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Sub Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Enclosure 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Style photo - satellites Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Style photo - satellites Sample

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Satellite Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Dimensions photo - bar Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Dimensions photo - bar Sample

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Width  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Height  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)
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Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Dimensions photo - sub Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Dimensions photo - sub Sample

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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 Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Dimensions photo - satellites Sample

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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 Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Bar Mounting Holes Sample

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Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Satellite Mounting Holes Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Satellite Mounting Holes Sample

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Mountable Bar 
 

Locked

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Locked

Mountable Satellites 
 

Locked

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

Locked

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build quality photo 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Build quality photo Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Build quality photo Sample

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In The Box 
 

In The Box photo  
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX In The Box photo  Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 In The Box photo  Sample

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HDMI Cable Length 
 

Lock m (Lock ft)

Digital Optical Cable Length 
 

N/A
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Back - Bar  

Back photo - bar  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Back photo - bar Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Back photo - bar Sample

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Bar Mounting 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Back - Subwoofer  

Back photo - sub  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Back photo - sub Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Back photo - sub Sample

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Enclosure 
 

Locked
Locked

Back - Satellites  

Back photo - satellites  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Back photo - satellites Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Back photo - satellites Sample

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Mounting 
 

Locked
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

N/A
N/A

Stereo Setup 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Stereo Setup Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Stereo Setup Sample

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Raw Frequency Response  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Raw Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Raw Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Frequency Response Small  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Frequency Response Small Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Frequency Response Small Sample

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Tested Preset 
 

Locked
Locked

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Channels 
 

Locked
Locked

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock kHz
Lock kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

N/A
N/A

Frequency Response Calibrated  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Frequency Response Calibrated Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Frequency Response Calibrated Sample

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Suggested Preset 
 

Locked
Locked

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

Lock
Lock

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
Lock

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock kHz
Lock kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Crosstalk  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Crosstalk Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Crosstalk Sample

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Crosstalk Error 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

N/A
N/A

Dynamic Range Compression  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Dynamic Range Compression Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Dynamic Range Compression Sample

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SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

N/A
N/A

THD  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX THD Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 THD Sample

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Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

Lock
Lock
Show Text 

Center 
 

N/A
N/A

Center Setup 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Center Setup Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Center Setup Sample

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Frequency Response  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Frequency Response Sample

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Localization 
 

Locked
Locked

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

Lock
Lock
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

N/A
N/A

Surround Setup 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Surround Setup Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Surround Setup Sample

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Frequency Response  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Localization 
 

Locked
Locked

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

Lock
Lock

7.1 Rears 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

N/A
N/A

Height Setup 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Height Setup Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Height Setup Sample

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H Frequency Response  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX H Frequency Response Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 H Frequency Response Sample

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Localization 
 

Locked
Locked

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

Lock
Lock
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

N/A
N/A

Room Correction 
 

Locked
Locked

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Locked
Locked

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Locked
Locked

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Bass Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Treble Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

EQ 
 

Locked
Locked

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Height Level Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Virtual Surround 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Physical Connections Bar Photo 1 Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1 Sample

SAMPLE

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Physical Connections Bar Photo 2 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Physical Connections Bar Photo 2 Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2 Sample

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Optical Audio In 
 

Locked
Locked

HDMI Out 
 

Locked
Locked

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

Locked

Full HDMI In 
 

Locked
Locked

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

Locked
Locked

RCA In 
 

Locked
Locked

USB for Files 
 

Locked
Locked

Ethernet 
 

Locked
Locked

Subwoofer Output 
 

Locked

HDMI ARC 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

N/A
N/A

Dolby Atmos 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby Digital 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS:X 
 

Locked
Locked

eARC 
 

Locked

DTS-HD MA 
 

Locked
Locked

PCM Channels 
 

Locked

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

N/A
N/A

Dolby Atmos 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby Digital 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS:X 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS-HD MA 
 

Locked
Locked

PCM Channels 
 

Locked

5.1 PCM 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

N/A
N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS 
 

Locked
Locked

PCM Channels 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Video  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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ARC 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Optical 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Full HDMI In 
 

Lock ms
N/A
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

N/A
N/A

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Locked

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Locked
Locked

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

Locked

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Locked

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

Locked

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Locked

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

Locked

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

Locked

ALLM Passthrough 
 

Locked

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Locked

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Locked
Locked

Chromecast built-in 
 

Locked
Locked

Apple AirPlay 
 

Locked
Locked

Spotify Connect 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Connectivity - Subwoofer 
 

Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1 Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1 Sample

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Physical controls subwoofer photo 1  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Physical controls subwoofer photo 1 Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical controls subwoofer photo 1 Sample

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Sub Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Connectivity - Satellites 
 

Physical inputs satellites photo 1  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Physical inputs satellites photo 1 Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical inputs satellites photo 1 Sample

SAMPLE

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Physical controls satellites photo 1  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Physical controls satellites photo 1 Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Physical controls satellites photo 1 Sample

SAMPLE

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Sat Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Interface photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Interface photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Display 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Controls photo Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Controls photo Sample

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Remote  

Remote photo 
 

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX Remote photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Remote photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Universal Remote 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Locked
Locked

Google Assistant 
 

Locked
Locked

Apple Siri 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone Mute 
 

Locked
Show Text 

App 
 

App image  

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX App image Sample

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 App image Sample

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App Name  

Locked

iOS  

Locked

Android  

Locked

Acts As A Remote 
 

Locked

Controls Soundbar's Settings 
 

Locked

Casts Device Files 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Other Features 
 

Power Saving 
 

Locked

HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control) 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
AMBEO Soundbar MAX
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Panorama 3
SEE PRICE
B&H
Black
AMBEO Soundbar MAX
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Panorama 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
AMBEO Soundbar MAX
SEE PRICE
B&H
Black
Panorama 3
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
AMBEO Soundbar MAX
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Panorama 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
AMBEO Soundbar MAX
Sennheiser
Black
Panorama 3
Bowers & Wilkins

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

Comments

  1. Comparison

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX vs Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3: Main Discussion

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