Verdict
Smaller and less expensive than the Sub Gen 3 , the Sonos Sub Mini is designed to work with the smaller speakers and soundbars . It improve the sound quality of any Sonos verbaliser it ’s couple with , delivering greater range of mountains and more bass , while avoiding becoming too boomy or overshadow . In many ways it ’s the perfect upgrade , but it ’s a lot more expensive than many of the speakers it would be mate with , which could make this a hard purchase to justify .
Pros
Cons
Introduction
Rumours abounded for year about a smaller Sonos subwoofer , but launching after launch nothing fresh was declare , and we were left with the original , expensive Sonos Sub . With the Sonos Sub Mini there ’s now an option for smaller rooms .
It ’s a smaller , less expensive ( but I would n’t say cheap ) subwoofer that integrate with much every speaker in the Sonos mountain chain , from soundbars to standalone histrion , delivering that extra low - frequency hit without ever becoming overpowering .
Design
The original Sonos Sub is something of a design image , and the Sub Mini is clear related although it has a style of its own . Available in black or clean , the subwoofer comes in a pocket-sized cylindric eubstance that ’s not much giving than a wastepaper basket .
In the middle , there ’s the conversant cutout that first appeared with original Sub . Inside are the two low - relative frequency speaker unit front each other , to cancel out case vibration ( more on that afterwards ) .
Although it ’s physically small ( 305 x 230 x 230 mm ) , the Sub Mini is a solid chunk of speaker , weighing a hefty 6.35 kilogram . It took a bit of brute military unit to lift it out of the box and stand it on the floor .
While the new cylindrical body look great , the Sub Mini does miss one trick : it ca n’t be laid horizontally and slid out of the elbow room , such as underneath a sofa . I do it that design feature of speech about the original as , while it was arguably the most attractive subwoofer , it was also design so it could be placed out of ken . With the Sub Mini , you ’ll have to live with that it will take up some base blank space .
There ’s an Ethernet port underneath , although for most setup you could go wireless , and just connect the solitary power spark advance .
Features
Setting the verbaliser up could n’t be easy . Plug it in , start the Sonos app and tap the pop - up telling you you ’ve got a Sub Mini to set up , and then follow the setup routine , which usesNFCto partner off the speaker to your Sonos system . If your phone does n’t have NFC there ’s an old - fashioned connect button on the side of the talker .
Once the speaker has been added and update , there ’s an extra footfall : pairing it with an existing wireless speaker . The Sonos Sub Mini will exercise with any S2 wireless loudspeaker , bar the portable ones , such as theSonos Roam .
It can work with a undivided speaker , such as the One SL or Sonos Ray , but it can also work with stereophonic pairs or with a soundbar , where you ’ve added rear speakers , such as with theBeam ( Gen 2 ) .
Although the Sub Mini has the same 25Hz low frequency as its big brother , Sonos recommends that it ’s used in smaller rooms and with smaller speaker unit . Soundbar - wise , that ’s the Beam ( Gen 2 ) , assuming a smaller room , and the Ray ; the original Sub is recommend for the Arc , although if you have the Arc in quite a modest room , the Sub Mini will work with it .
For the verbaliser , the One Shining Path and One ( undivided or stereo pair ) , andIkea Symfoniskspeakers are advocate ; the original Sub is the salutary option for the Five .
When twin with most of its loudspeaker , Sonos already knows the right crossover relative frequency to beak , so configures everything mechanically . If you ’re using theSonos Amp , there ’s a crossover mastery slider . This is set at 80Hz by default , but you’re able to aline this if you notice a opening in the audio .
With all speakers , the sub ’s level can be adjusted manually , boosting the speaker ’s wallop or dialling it back . Of course , you’re able to useTruePlayto mechanically calibrate your speaker and Sub Mini for your way .
Internally , there are two Class D amplifiers drive the two 6 - inch woofers . These face each other , present a force - cancelling event that give rise bass without distortion or case vibration . It work , too : I could have put a full glass of water on top of the subwoofer without fear of it being shake off .
Sound Quality
The trick with a subwoofer is getting the Libra the Scales and poise right , and that ’s what Sub Mini manages to do . I tested it with a brace of Sonos One SL and the Sonos Ray , and was impressed with the result with both .
In general , I found it ’s not what the Sonos Sub Mini add together ; it ’s what you neglect when it ’s not there . That is , the Sub Mini ties in so well with its paired speakers , that it ’s hard to sequestrate precisely what the subwoofer is doing .
That ’s how thing should be : a subwoofer should n’t be directive , and it should n’t be boomy , dominating a soundtrack .
Toggling the Sub Mini on and off , it was clear that it was adding that extra strike of low - frequency natural action , bringing warmth and a not bad range to practically every trail . Play a sea bass - cloggy track , such as OK Go ’s This Too Shall Pass , and a single speaker can falsify and sound coarse ; with the Sub Mini in the intermixture , the track has more impact and vocalize cleaner .
With a rails that ’s less bass - heavy , such as Simon and Garfunkel ’s The Sound of Silence , the Sub Mini ’s encroachment is less obvious , but it does bring out some extra warmth .
I originally had a pair ofOne SLspeakers paired with an original Sonos Sub . It ’s a intoxicating combining , but the original Sub can be quite boomy and dominating , to the point where I had to turn it down a little .
The Sonos Sub Mini is arguably a better pairing : it frees up the One SL loudspeaker system to focus on the mid - range while it take care of the bass part , delivering a richer and more grand soundscape , without the bass dominating . Simply put , it cause the other speakers sound substantially .
Moving to theSonos Ray , and the Sub Mini takes aside some of the luminance in music , creating a fuller legal chain of mountains . It vastly improves plastic film , too . watch the final battle in Avengers : Endgame and everything sound well . There ’s more impact to the punches and explosions .
Crucially , the Sub Mini does n’t dominate : it blends in and better , working with the verbalizer that it ’s paired with .
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Should you buy it?
If you ’re after deeper basso , this subwoofer improves the verbaliser that it ’s paired with .
It costs more than the absolute majority of speakers you ’d pair it with , which can make it a hard leverage to vindicate .
Final Thoughts
For smaller room and speaker system , the Sonos Sub Mini is a much best pairing than the original Sub . This new subwoofer ameliorate dynamic range , and makes the speakers its paired with sound better , all without eclipse with boomy bass voice .
It will act with the larger product , too , although the impact on a product such as theSonos Arcis less noticeable , and that ’s a soundbar that either does n’t need a subwoofer or , for larger rooms , should be paired with the Sonos Sub .
Price is the biggest issue with this utterer : sure , it makes the Sonos Ray sound substantially better , but the subwoofer ’s RRP is more than that soundbar on its own . I reckon that could be a strong sell in a circumstances of cases , and it may be that this works out as a speaker that ’s corrupt more for the Sonos Beam ( Gen 2 ) .
I think it turn brilliantly with a duad of One SL speakers , too : for certain , it ’s an expensive apparatus , but you get right stereo separation and bass bass as a result . If you ’ve draw the cash , the Sub Mini is a great add - on , but many may find it severe to warrant .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every subwoofer we refresh soundly over an extensive period of time of time . We utilize industry stock test to compare features right . We ’ll always tell you what we receive . We never , ever , accept money to review a product .
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FAQs
Yes , it adds improved low - frequency reply and allows the pair speakers to concentrate on the mid - range and high final stage .
Any S2 merchandise bar the battery - powered models .
