STEREO GUIDE verdict
For around €600, you get a balanced sound package that is equally interesting for music and film fans – especially if you value a low-frequency foundation in a stereo setup.
Pros
- Clear, wide stereo sound
- Powerful, controlled bass thanks to the subwoofer
- Solid dynamics for music and film
- 2 HDMI ports
Cons
- No app control or native streaming integration
- Atmos effects without real height drivers
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Tonal balance / transparency8.6
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Bass / Dynamics9
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Spatial imaging8.4
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Usability / Connectivity8.5
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Price/Performance9.5
Soundbars are now not just simple TV speakers, but fully-fledged sound centers for living rooms and music setups. With the new Teufel Cinebar 22, the Berlin-based direct seller is launching a model that aims to offer a powerful, spatial sound image with Dolby Atmos capabilities for around 600 euros – and not only in the home cinema, but also in everyday stereo use with music. We have thoroughly tested the 5.1 set with the compact T 6 low-frequency colleague, focusing specifically on stereo playback and bass performance, and reveal how the combination performs in practice.
Design and workmanship – Understatement meets practical form
The Cinebar 22 is visually restrained: a cleanly crafted housing with a matte black or white finish and a discreet metal grille. The soundbar is just under one meter wide and blends in inconspicuously under flat screens. The external bass reflex subwoofer T 6 with its 6-inch woofer (16.5 cm cellulose membrane) is also kept compact. It can be positioned standing or lying down – practical if space under the sofa is limited.
The workmanship appears solid, but does not exceed the level of the price range. All elements fit cleanly, gap dimensions are uniform, and the simple design fits well into modern living room environments.
Various soundbar sets for different requirements
Teufel offers the Cinebar 22 in several, clearly graduated sets that address different room sizes and requirements. The entry-level model is the 5.1 set, in which the soundbar is supported by the wireless subwoofer T 6. This package costs 600 euros and also forms the basis of our review. According to the manufacturer, this combination is aimed at home cinema and gaming setups in rooms up to around thirty-five square meters.
For users with larger rooms or a more pronounced bass appetite, the Power Edition is also available. Here, the Cinebar 22 is combined with the significantly more potent ten-inch subwoofer T 10, which increases the price to seven hundred euros. If you also want a more pronounced surround backdrop, you can opt for the 7.1 set, which, in addition to the T 6 subwoofer, also includes two wireless Effect 2 rear speakers. This package is available for 900 euros.
The 7.1 Dolby Atmos set is also offered as a Power Edition. In this version, the 15.6 kilogram T 10 subwoofer replaces the flat T 6 and provides even more depth and dynamics in the bass foundation.
Features & Connectivity – Solid but focused
Teufel sets clear priorities when it comes to features: The Cinebar set comes with HDMI-eARC, Bluetooth, an optical and an analog input. There is no app control or direct integration of streaming services such as Spotify or Tidal – if you want to stream music wirelessly, you are dependent on Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC and SBC.
Technology under the hood – Balanced all-rounder
Dolby Atmos and DTS-Virtual:X are on board, even though the Cinebar 22 does not have dedicated upward-firing speakers. Instead, it works with laterally radiating broadband drivers and also uses surround sound technologies such as Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X and Dynamore to create a spacious, sometimes “three-dimensional” sound experience.
The system does not have dedicated upward-firing speakers, but instead relies on a elaborately constructed front with several specialized chassis. In total, three 1-inch tweeters with aluminum domes work for a clean, precise high-frequency resolution, complemented by three so-called racetrack mid-range drivers in 4 × 2 inch format.
Despite the flat design, these oval chassis allow a comparatively large diaphragm area and thus a confident fundamental tone foundation – a design principle that has proven itself in soundbars for years. In addition, the aforementioned laterally arranged 5-centimeter broadband speakers radiate sound components into the room, thus supporting the spatial imaging. A special feature is the coaxially constructed center channel, in which the tweeter and midrange work on one axis. This construction ensures a very stable location of voices and dialogues, regardless of the seating position, and directly contributes to speech intelligibility – a decisive factor in everyday TV and film use.
Plenty of power
The overall 175-watt 5.1 home cinema system is supported by the external T 6 subwoofer with 60 watts of power, which is responsible for the bass.
The remote control is functional and well labeled. A small LC display provides information about the selected inputs and volume – however, readability suffers a little from a side viewing angle.
Practice – Easy setup, clear limits
The setup is straightforward: connect the soundbar to the TV via HDMI-eARC with 4K pass-through, pair the subwoofer at the touch of a button – done. Operation via the remote control is intuitive, and sound modes such as “Music”, “Speech” or “Night” help to adapt the playback to the content.
There are minor drawbacks with missing smart features: An app or direct streaming connection would be a real added value for music fans, which other models in this class already offer. Dolby Atmos via Bluetooth is also not possible – here eARC remains the only way for real 3D sound.
Sound in stereo test – Wide stage, clear voices
In stereo music mode, the combination of soundbar and subwoofer cuts a fine figure. Voices are clear and distinct, instruments are cleanly separated, and the stereo base is surprisingly wide. Especially with rock, pop and electronic tracks, the system conveys a lot of space and joy of playing.
In the high-frequency range, the soundbar proves to be extremely lively. Electronic subtleties such as the precise hi-hat sequences in “Game of Love” by Daft Punk are clearly worked out and give the playback a pleasant freshness. Speech intelligibility, definition and resolution are also at a convincing level overall.
Slight limitations were only apparent in the voice reproduction, depending on the production and selected sound mode. With activated surround sound algorithms, voices can sometimes lose some tonal balance. If you do without Dynamore and other virtualizations with stereo material, you get the vocally most neutral reproduction. Although the stage then seems less wide and moves closer to the soundbar, voices remain more consistent and natural across different recordings and pitches.
Basses kick in powerfully without overemphasizing. The T 6 subwoofer complements the soundbar exactly where it can no longer cope on its own: with deep kick drums or synth-heavy bass runs, the subwoofer provides pressure and depth without appearing uncontrolled. For music lovers who value punchy low frequencies, this combination is a real win.
Especially with stereo scenes you notice: The Cinebar 22 plays homogeneously. Despite virtual surround sound, the sound stage remains natural and supports music listening instead of distorting it – a difference to many soundbars that rely heavily on effects instead of delivering clear stereo qualities.
Film sound with powerful sound effects in the bass
Of course, films also benefit from the powerful bass and the wider stage. The Atmos support is not as impressive as with systems with real height speakers, but virtual effects and the lateral broadband drivers provide a noticeable spaciousness. Explosions and ambient noises seem lively, but voices always remain understandable in the center of the action.
The interplay of soundbar and subwoofer is particularly convincing when it comes to cinema sound: The low-frequency range lays a solid foundation for effects, while the soundbar itself cleanly transports dialogues and details. Especially in this price range, the result is impressive in terms of dynamics and precision.
Subwoofer performance – Compact, powerful, inconspicuous
The T 6 subwoofer is ideal for rooms up to approx. 30–35 m². It can be positioned flexibly, reacts to room corners and furniture, and delivers surprisingly powerful low bass. Its flat design also allows inconspicuous integration into the living environment – under the sofa or sideboard.
In combination with the Cinebar 22, the result is a well-rounded sound image: The subwoofer lays a punchy, controlled bass foundation that credibly implements even more demanding pieces of music and film soundtracks. It optimally supports the soundbar without pushing itself into the foreground.
Conclusion and alternatives: Teufel Cinebar 22 as a 5.1 set
The Teufel Cinebar 22 with subwoofer is a surprisingly powerful all-rounder: in stereo music mode with a wide sound stage and clean separation of instruments, in home cinema with dynamic sound and punchy bass. It starts exactly where many soundbars in this price range make compromises, and offers significantly more in terms of sound than you would expect from its compact exterior. However, if you value amenities such as app control or even integration of streaming services more than an external subwoofer, the JBL Bar 300MK2 is an internet-connected alternative.
Technical data Teufel Cinebar 22
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: 600 Euro
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 100 x 7.8 x 14.7 cm (soundbar), 12.5 x 42 x 42 (subwoofer, without feet)
- Weight: 5.1 / 7.7 kg (soundbar / subwoofer)
- Special features: virtual surround and Dolby Atmos, HDMI input plus HDMI-eARC, wireless rear/sub channels can be coupled
- More at www.teufel.de
