Introduction
With the Teufel CINEBAR 22 Surround Power Edition, Teufel aims to deliver true home cinema without an AV receiver. As a modular system, the CINEBAR 22 is available in several configurations. The entry-level model includes the CINEBAR 22 with the T6 subwoofer and starts at €599,99 (RRP). More powerful versions with larger subwoofers and optional rear speakers are also available.
For this test, we took a closer look at the Surround Power Edition. It combines the soundbar with the powerful T10 wireless subwoofer and two wireless EFFEKT 2 rear speakers, thus functioning as a complete 7.1 system. Testing took place in a 25 m² home theater with a projector and typical sofa positioning in front of the screen.
Design and workmanship
The soundbar has a discreet design and blends seamlessly into almost any home theater setup, whether under a television or, as in our test, under a projector screen. Rubber feet on the bottom ensure stability, but wall mounting is also possible using the keyhole bracket on the back.
The front and sides of the 100 × 7,8 × 14,7 cm CINEBAR 22 are protected by a surrounding metal grille, which appears stable and gives the system a higher quality look than the purely plastic solutions of many competing models.
The front panel is interrupted only by the integrated LED display, which shows information about the input, volume, or sound mode. It remains easily readable in a darkened home theater and can be dimmed if needed.
On the top is a touch control panel for basic functions such as volume, playback, and source selection. The panel responds reliably to input, but in everyday use, most speakers are controlled via the included remote. While the remote is logically laid out and labeled, it feels less premium than the speaker system itself. It is not backlit.
Overall, workmanship and material quality are at a good level within the price range.
T10 Subwoofer
The T10 subwoofer, measuring 35,1 × 48,3 × 38 cm and weighing 15,6 kg, is the largest of the three. The enclosure is made of thick-walled MDF, available with either a black or white foil finish. Signal transmission is wireless, requiring only a power connection. The power cable is permanently attached and not detachable.
With the included screw feet, it can be operated either as a down-firing subwoofer (diaphragm radiates towards the floor) or as a front-firing subwoofer (diaphragm radiates into the room), allowing the bass radiation to be flexibly adapted to the room and placement location.
EFFECT 2 Satellites
The rear speakers are surprisingly compact (approx. 16 cm high) and can therefore be ideally mounted on stands (M6 thread) or on the wall using the integrated keyhole bracket. Here too, plastic and metal grilles predominate, but the build quality is beyond reproach.
Just like the T10, signal transmission here is also wireless via radio. Power is supplied via a detachable, two-prong power cable with a C7 connector.
Connections, equipment and furnishings
The connection to the source device is primarily via HDMI with eARC, allowing convenient control of volume and power on/off via the TV or projector remote. An additional HDMI input is also available, for example for game consoles or streaming boxes. This input supports 4K passthrough including HDR, Dolby Vision, and 3D signals.
Additional connections include an optical digital input, an analog RCA input, and an AUX input. Teufel has completely omitted Wi-Fi, Ethernet, AirPlay, Chromecast, and integrated streaming services. Only Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC support for wireless music streaming is included.
There is no companion app. All settings are configured directly via the soundbar's on-screen menu or the remote control. While this keeps operation pleasantly simple and free of software maintenance, it also means the lack of convenience features such as Wi-Fi streaming, which is now often standard in this price range.
Setup and pairing
Especially for a complete 7.1 system, setup is pleasantly simple. Since the subwoofer and satellites are connected wirelessly, there's no need to run speaker cables across the living room.
In the test setup, the soundbar was positioned centrally under the screen, the T10 subwoofer slightly offset to the side next to the lowboard. The two EFFEKT 2 satellite speakers were placed behind the seating position at ear level.
The initial pairing process is initiated via a dedicated pairing button on the T10 subwoofer or the satellites. Pairing takes only a few seconds, after which all components connect automatically upon power-up.
No noticeable delays occurred between the soundbar, subwoofer, and rear speakers during testing. Picture and sound remained perfectly synchronized at all times. Teufel specifies a range of 15 meters.
Technology and sound concept
The soundbar uses eight integrated drivers, each with different roles within the soundstage. At its center is a coaxially designed center channel, where the tweeter and midrange drivers are positioned on the same axis. This ensures that voices remain firmly centered in the image, regardless of the listening position, which is particularly advantageous for dialogue-heavy films and TV series.
On the left and right, additional midrange drivers and tweeters support the front channels. So-called racetrack drivers are used for the low and bass frequencies; their oval shape allows for a larger diaphragm area and greater volume despite the shallow cabinet height.
Side-firing broadband drivers deliberately radiate sound towards the sides of the room and utilize reflections from walls and ceiling to create a wider soundstage with a spatial impression.
Teufel's Dynamore Ultra technology is used to support this. This signal processing feature selectively expands the front and side channels to enhance surround effects even without a traditional speaker setup. The function can be activated as needed and particularly affects the perceived width of the soundstage.
At the same time, the system automatically activates virtual enhancements such as Dolby Atmos Virtualizer or DTS Virtual:X for appropriate content, thus simulating a three-dimensional sound space.
While Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are supported, the CINEBAR 22 does without upward-firing speakers. Height information is therefore generated exclusively virtually through signal processing and lateral sound reflections in the room, and not via a physical overhead channel as with dedicated Atmos systems.
The integrated sound menu allows for relatively extensive adjustments to the room and listening position. In addition to classic treble and bass controls, various sound profiles, Dynamic Range Compression (DRC) for reducing volume peaks, and an upmix mode are available, which distributes stereo sources to all speakers, thus creating a full surround sound field.
Additionally, the subwoofer and rear speakers can be individually calibrated. The levels of individual channels can be adjusted using a test tone, while the system converts distance measurements between the listening position and the speakers into corresponding time alignment corrections. This ensures that the sound image remains spatially coherent even with less-than-perfectly symmetrical speaker placement.
The T10 subwoofer handles the entire low-frequency range. Its 250 mm aluminum woofer operates in a bass-reflex enclosure with an integrated Class-D amplifier, providing the necessary low-frequency extension below the capabilities of the soundbar itself. Finally, the EFFEKT 2 satellite speakers complete the system as true rear channels with their own two-way design, featuring tweeters and midrange drivers.
sound quality
Home theater
The CINEBAR 22 Surround Power Edition is clearly most at home in a home cinema setting. After just a few minutes, it becomes apparent that the system is primarily designed for watching movies and TV series, and that's precisely where it shines.
Effects detach from the screen much more effectively than with traditional 2.1 or 3.1 soundbars and are distributed convincingly throughout the room. Passing objects, ambient noises, and atmospheric soundscapes are clearly extended to the rear, creating a convincing surround sound experience.
The two EFFEKT 2 satellite speakers make a crucial contribution here. Unlike purely virtual solutions, they actually produce audible sound behind the listening position. This provides significantly more immersion, especially during action scenes or gaming content, without the rear channels sounding artificially emphasized.
A major advantage remains the speech intelligibility. The center channel keeps dialogue consistently clear, even when music, effects, and bass are all playing at a high volume. Voices remain clearly localizable and don't get lost in the overall mix, even at high volumes.
The system's four sound modes allow it to be easily adapted to different usage scenarios. In addition to a neutral standard profile, there are modes including a speech mode, a music mode, and a night mode. The latter noticeably reduces dynamic peaks and bass frequencies, ensuring that dialogue remains intelligible even at low volumes. Treble and bass can also be adjusted manually.
The T10 subwoofer plays a central role in the sound. Especially during action scenes or bass-heavy film soundtracks, the system delivers a palpable home theater experience where low-frequency effects are not only audible but practically felt. The bass penetrates deep into the skin and, depending on the volume, even sets furniture, floors, and adjacent walls into slight vibrations.
Despite these enormous power reserves, the subwoofer operates with surprising control. The bass rarely sounds overloaded or undefined, but remains precisely structured and cleanly integrated into the overall sound.
In a home theater room or living room, this creates a cinematic soundstage that far surpasses typical soundbar systems. Those living in an apartment building should definitely be considerate of their neighbors and perhaps switch to night mode late at night. The available bass potential is more than sufficient!
music
As expected, the CINEBAR 22 is somewhat less specialized in music playback than in home cinema, but overall delivers a solid performance for a soundbar-based surround system.
In stereo mode, a wide soundstage is created that extends well beyond the entire width of the soundbar. Vocals are reproduced cleanly and remain clearly intelligible in the foreground, while instruments remain distinctly separated. The system particularly benefits from its powerful bass foundation with pop and rock music.
The T10 subwoofer provides a rich bass foundation that noticeably adds punch to the music. Depending on the genre, however, the low frequencies can be dominant, so slightly reducing the subwoofer level or switching to music mode may be advisable.
For pure stereo music, it is also recommended to use surround processing or Dynamore Ultra moderately or to deactivate it. This makes the playback sound more natural and less artificially expanded.
As expected, the system doesn't achieve audiophile-level detail or the precision of classic stereo speakers. However, as an all-around solution for movies, TV series, and occasional music playback, the CINEBAR 22 Surround Power Edition delivers a coherent and pleasantly powerful sound overall.
