When I first came across the Blaupunkt SBW600 Xceed Emperor, what stood out immediately wasn’t the specification sheet or the 12.1.4 configuration. It was the intent behind the product — a soundbar system that clearly wants to go beyond being an add-on to a TV and instead behave like a full home-theatre setup. Most Atmos soundbars today achieve height processing through virtual tricks or limited upward-firing units, but this one brings real rear satellites, upward-firing channels across the system, and an 8-inch subwoofer that hints at the kind of scale it aims for. I wanted to find out whether all of that translated into practical, everyday usefulness or if it was yet another ambitious spec-heavy package that only shines on paper. So I set it up in my living room, connected it over eARC and began using it the way I normally watch shows, movies, sports, and music. Here’s what I think about it.
Design
The first thing I understood about the SBW600 Xceed Emperor was that this wasn’t a soundbar you quietly slide under a TV and forget about. When I lifted the main bar out of the box, its length and weight immediately told me that it was designed to dominate the front stage of a living room. The metal finish felt sturdy in hand, and the brushed texture added a sense of purpose rather than decoration. Plus the glossy finish towards the back adds to the premium feel. It looked like equipment meant to move air, not just sit there as a companion to a slim TV.
Placing it under my TV was simple as the height is not that much. Even it will fit well with desk mounted setup. Also, the top speakers are neatly tucked within the mesh grille which makes the soundbar look more subtle. However, I would have loved to see some marking for the top speakers makes the ATMOS thing more pronounces. However, to fix that, the right side of the bar has the Dolby Atmos logo.
I noticed how side mounted speakers are placed, they aren’t tucked away or flattened like many soundbars. Instead, they sat confidently on the top panel, angled just enough to make it clear that the system expected to use the ceiling as part of the soundstage. The LED display in the centre acted like a small status guide, glowing softly when changing inputs, and for once, didn’t feel like it was trying too hard to be futuristic.
The subwoofer had the presence of a compact floor-standing speaker. When I placed it beside the TV table, its size made more sense — an 8-inch driver needs enclosure volume to push air, and this one certainly looked like it would. Around the back, the port design seemed built for high movement without distortion. If you keep it near a wall, it naturally reinforces the low end, something I noticed later during movie sessions. Also, it is a bottom firing setup and if you know you know that the bottom firing setups have more thump than the side firing ones and this one is no different.
The rear satellites were surprisingly solid. I’ve used many rear speakers with plastic shells that vibrate when pushed hard, but these had a metal body that gave them weight. The upward-firing drivers on the satellites were small but neatly integrated on the top surface. Once I placed them behind the sofa, they blended in, but their presence became obvious once the system came alive.
Additional accessories
The box comes loaded, and I say that quite literally. Pulling out the accessories felt like going through layers of a stage setup. There was the wireless subwoofer, the rear satellites, the dedicated remote, and a set of cables including HDMI eARC and Optical.
The HDMI cable was long enough to comfortably reach my TV without stretching or awkward bends. The power cables for the satellites were also reasonably long, though the placement of plug points around the room still mattered. The included optical cable felt like a nice touch, especially for people using older TVs.
What stood out was the support for wireless microphones. I didn’t expect a full home theatre package to encourage karaoke sessions, but the option to plug in up to two wireless mics immediately turned the system into a multipurpose setup. Families that host gatherings will likely appreciate this far more than they initially expect.
Connection and setup
Setting up a system of this size always seems intimidating, but once I started, it was simpler than I anticipated. The soundbar connected directly to the TV through HDMI eARC, and the moment I switched the TV audio output, the bar confirmed the input through the LED display. No pairing, no confusion — it just recognised the signal.
The subwoofer synced automatically. I plugged it in, waited a few seconds, and the light went steady to indicate connection. There were no pairing buttons involved, and throughout the testing period, it never lost sync.
The rear satellites also paired on their own. They needed individual power outlets, so positioning required a bit of planning. Once powered on, they established a low-latency connection with the bar using 5.8G wireless. I did not experience any delay or dropouts — even during action scenes with rapid direction changes, the rear channels kept pace.
Bluetooth pairing was equally quick. I connected my phone to play music, switched to Music EQ, and the system instantly adjusted. Using USB for direct playback worked too, though the interface is basic.
The remote was easy to understand right from the start. Dedicated buttons for bass, treble, volume, EQ, and input selection made everyday use effortless. I did wish there was some form of auto-calibration, considering the number of channels involved, but after a few minutes of manually adjusting the bass level and rear speaker volume, the system felt balanced in my room.
Overall, the setup process took about 20–25 minutes, largely because of the satellite placement. Once everything was powered, the system behaved predictably — no reconnecting, no random resets.
Sound quality
When I finally sat down and played Atmos content, the Xceed Emperor’s intentions became clear. This was not a system that wanted to gently enhance your TV speakers — it wanted to take over the entire room.
The first noticeable change was the width. The soundbar stretched audio left and right far beyond the edges of the TV, and dialogue immediately gained clarity. Voices felt anchored in the centre while still blending naturally with background elements.
The upward-firing drivers on the main bar and satellites added a vertical layer that I could feel right away. During scenes with rain, the reflections bounced off my ceiling cleanly, and I could sense height without the soundbar trying to overdo it. The ceiling in my room is flat, which worked in favour of the height channels.
The rear satellites made the experience more complete. Their forward-firing and upward-firing drivers created a cocoon-like field around the sofa. Sounds moved behind me, above me, and diagonally — something I rarely experience in single-bar Atmos systems. During action sequences, the satellites helped define directional movement, and in quieter scenes, they filled in the ambient layer without drawing attention.
The subwoofer delivered deep, room-shaking bass when required. It didn’t feel bloated or loose. Instead, the low end came through with weight and definition. Explosions had body, and music tracks with heavy bass lines carried depth without overwhelming vocals without sounding hollow.
Dialogue remained clear even when the system was pushed. The centre channel handled speech well, and switching to News EQ made voices more forward without thinning out the mids. Music mode was balanced, and Movie mode emphasised width and height, which stayed on for most of my time with it.
At high volumes, the system stayed steady. I didn’t hear cabinet vibrations or distortion from the bar or satellites, and the subwoofer maintained control even when pushed during intense scenes.
For everyday viewing — news, streaming shows, sports — the system felt almost too powerful at times. But once I switched to movies or gaming, the scale made sense. This is a system built for immersion, not for background audio.
Verdict
The Blaupunkt SBW600 Xceed Emperor (priced at Rs 69,990) is an immersive soundbar system designed for a true theatre feel at home. It requires a proper setup in a mid-to-large room, delivering surround sound that surpasses most single-bar Atmos systems. With a premium build, dedicated rear satellites, and a powerful subwoofer, it offers a great listening experience for movies, music, and games. It's the ideal choice for real rear channels and strong bass without the premium multi-speaker system price tag.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
