Hi there! Choosing the perfect soundbar to level up your home entertainment isn‘t easy. But I‘m going to make it simple by comparing audio giants Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins across every key category. Read on to discover which brand offers the best sound, value and features to complete your dream movie and music setup.
Overview: Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins Soundbars
Before diving into the nitty-gritty comparisons, let‘s briefly cover what you need to know about each legendary audio company and their soundbar ranges.
About Sennheiser
Founded in 1945, German brand Sennheiser offers audiophile-grade soundbars featuring minimalist style, innovative features and pristine sound powered by proprietary Ambeo 3D audio technology.
Soundbars: AMBEO Soundbar Plus, AMBEO Soundbar Max
Prices: $1000-$2000
Sound Signature: Clear, detailed, highly accurate
About Bowers & Wilkins
Since 1966, iconic British hi-fi company Bowers & Wilkins delivers high-end, bold-sounding audio equipment blending modern technology with eye-catching retro style.
Soundbars: Formation Bar, Panorama 3
Prices: $1000-$1500
Sound Signature: Powerful, bass-rich with excellent mid-range
Now that you know what each brand stands for, let‘s see how they compare across crucial categories to determine the best choice for you…
Sound Quality Comparison
Let‘s kick off analysing what really counts – how Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins soundbars actually perform. Do their sky-high prices translate into heavenly audio?
Clarity
| Model | What HiFi Review | Clarity Score |
|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Plus | "Detail levels are sensational, there’s barely a hint of harshness when you wind up the volume." | 9/10 |
| Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 | "Crisp, detailed and transparent sound with plenty of insight." | 8/10 |
Both deliver pristine and distortion-free sound, but Sennheiser grabs the edge – unsurprising given its audiophile pedigree.
Soundstage Width
Creating a spacious, cinematic atmosphere requires an expansive soundstage to emulate surround speakers.
Sennheiser‘s proprietary Ambeo signal processing astounds reviewers with enormously wide stereo imaging substantially bigger than the physical bar itself.
While Bowers & Wilkins also earns praise for left/right projection creating separation between effects and clear dialogue, its more compact soundstage just can‘t match Sennheiser‘s soaring immersion.
If you‘re looking for limitless scale, Sennheiser is the choice.
Bass Extension
When it comes to bass depth and slam crucial for spectacle movies or throbbing EDM, Bowers & Wilkins rules supreme.
| Model | Frequency Response |
|---|---|
| Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Plus | 40Hz-20kHz |
| Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 | 34Hz-28kHz |
As you can see from the specs, Bowers & Wilkins soundbars reach substantially deeper down to 34Hz – and the seismic sensations live up to measurements. Reviewers universally agree Bowers & Wilkin‘s bass hits harder and digs deeper than Sennheiser models.
So if you demand chest-thumping low-end, Bowers & Wilkin delivers in spades.
Verdict: It‘s a tie!
Both brands excel in different areas – Sennheiser for pristine clarity and cavernous soundstage, Bowers & Wilkins for room-shaking bass extension.
Choose Sennheiser if you mainly watch movies and crave cinematic immersion. Pick Bowers & Wilkins if you mostly listen to music and want bass that moves you.
Overall for balanced sound across movies, music, games and TV, both will blow you away!
Design & Build Quality
You‘ll proudly display your soundbar as the centerpiece of your entertainment setup. So how premium do Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins models look and feel? Let‘s inspect their design language and construction quality.
Aesthetics
True to Sennheiser‘s characteristic understated German styling, its soundbars feature matte black finishes with metal accents and fabric grilles for a sophisticated, minimalist look.
By contrast, Bowers & Wilkins soundbars proudly flaunt retro-inspired real wood veneers and attention-grabbing design flourishes like metal driver domes. The iconic semi-circle tweeters ooze upmarket British elegance.
In terms of visual flair Bowers & Wilkins wins – its use of luxurious materials and refined detailing simply stuns. But Sennheiser still holds universal aesthetic appeal.
Physical Construction
Both brands back eye candy aesthetics with superb structural integrity courtesy of precision engineering. Sennheiser soundbars feel reassuringly weighty and robust.
But again, Bowers & Wilkins pips its rival to the post thanks to those lavish wood enclosures – the tactile grain texture delights the senses. Internally, it‘s stainless steel versus aluminium drivers.
If you believe high prices should deliver sensational substance, Bowers & Wilkins satisfies with aesthetic and construction.
Features & Connectivity
With soundbars positioned as the brains of your home audio ecosystem, their features and connectivity critically determine versatility and convenience. How well do Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins compete here?
Sound Enhancement Technologies
Sennheiser packs in more advanced surround processing tricks, like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and MPEG-H Audio. This helps emulate immersive speaker setups without filling your room with separate boxes.
Bowers & Wilkins focuses more on pure power than virtual acoustics. But it still nails basics like Atmos and eARC support.
If you want pseudo-surround sound without rear speakers, Sennheiser has your back.
Wireless Connectivity
| Feature | Sennheiser | Bowers & Wilkins |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| AirPlay 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Chromecast | Yes | No |
| Spotify Connect | Yes | Yes |
With the latest Wi-Fi and Chromecast built-in, Sennheiser soundbars handily beat Bowers & Wilkins for wireless media streaming and multi-room audio.
But Bowers & Wilkin‘s support for AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect at least provides alternative streaming options if you‘re embedded in Apple/Spotify ecosystems.
Physical Inputs
Both brands include one HDMI eARC port for plugging directly into your TV, plus optical input as a secondary TV connection option or for older audio gear.
So if you prefer wires over wireless, connectivity is evenly matched.
Ease of Set Up & Use
Soundbars live or die by their usability – especially when integrating with other devices. Do Sennheiser or Bowers & Wilkins offer the superior user experience?
Initial Setup
Reviewers praise Bowers & Wilkins for almost true plug-and-play installation. Connect to TV via HDMI or optical, blast customization prompts through the smartphone app, then enjoy. Automatic source switching also prevents input confusion swapping devices.
Sennheiser setup flows reasonably smoothly when establishing basic TV connection. But unlocking maximum features requires considerably more tinkering – especially tuning surround settings for best effects. Customizing the experience rewards patience though.
So if craving absolute convenience, Bowers & Wilkins setup superiority shines.
Daily Use
Bowers & Wilkins retains the usability edge for general interaction. Voice controls via integrated Alexa remove hunting for misplaced remotes when adjusting volume or skipping tracks. Operations stay wisely straightforward rather than bombarding users with a dizzying array of tweaking options.
That said, Sennheiser soundbars please owners with extensive personalization capabilities once everything‘s up and running. Audiophiles delight in finessing a custom sound.
Basically Bowers & Wilkins simplifies life while Sennheiser provides more rewarding complexity. Choose what suits your needs and expertise!
Support & Warranty
Spending big on premium audio electronics understandably raises expectations of similarly first-class long-term support. So how do after-sales packages compare?
Both brands offer excellent assistance resources covering FAQs databases, video tutorials and direct email/phone contact.
Warranty length favors Bowers & Wilkins though, with 5 years parts and labor coverage compared to just 2 years for Sennheiser. Though extending Sennheiser protection is an affordable option.
Either way, satisfactory support infrastructure ensures your investment stays singing sweetly for many years. But Bowers & Wilkin‘s superior warranty offers extra insurance.
Value For Money
Let‘s crunch the numbers to determine which brand maximizes performance per dollar…
| Model | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser AMBEO Max | $1700 | 9/10 |
| Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 | $1400 | 8/10 |
Across various rating categories from audio to design, Sennheiser models consistently score more highly among reviewers.
Combined with generally lower pricing than nearest equivalent Bowers & Wilkins models, Sennheiser objectively provides better value. Significant savings offset the latter‘s advantages for easier setup and bass.
Of course, keep watching for sales around big shopping days – you might snag either brand for an absolute steal!
Conclusion: Choose What Suits You!
Wow, we‘ve covered some serious ground together! Both German and British audio royalty produce fantastic soundbars.
Sennheiser wins for:
- Surround immersion
- Clarity
- Value
Bowers & Wilkins triumphs for:
- Design aesthetic
- Bass impact
- No-fuss use
Hopefully breaking down their sound, features and usability helps you weigh up what matters most for YOUR perfect movie and music setup.
Ultimately you can‘t go wrong. Both deliver incredible upgrades over crappy built-in TV speakers!
Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy listening!
