Sonos Sub Mini Evaluate: All About That Bass

Subwoofers appeared elusive to me for a few years—solely wealthy folks, automotive folks, or audiophiles actually handled them, and my household fell into none of these classes. After a lifetime of counting on actually horrible built-in audio system, my in-laws gifted us a sound system from Definitive Know-how, however even then I by no means foresaw myself organising audio system past a Bluetooth connection. Fortunately, the Sonos Sub Mini doesn’t require way more than that so as to add far more bass to an present Sonos soundbar, however wouldn’t it have sufficient energy to fill my lounge?

I nervously swapped my present soundbar and subwoofer for the Beam (Gen 2) and new Sub Mini, fearful that the area they saved would value the sound that crammed the room. A lot to my shock, the Mini produced a thumping bass and a transparent sound. For those who’re after a compact method so as to add extra bass to your Sonos system, that is simply the ticket.

Adjustable Bass

I like that the Sonos Mini Subwoofer is wi-fi. Except for plugging it into an influence supply, you join the Mini to your system via the Sonos app by including it to whichever system you want. In my case, I added it to the “lounge” system, simply pairing it with my Beam (Gen 2) with principally a single faucet. This makes it easy if you wish to change methods, permitting you to plug the Mini in elsewhere and add it to whichever different rooms you could have arrange. Most individuals could not have a subwoofer of their bed room, however it’s really easy to maneuver that I’ve considered pairing the Mini with my Sonos Ray many occasions.

Throughout your preliminary Sonos setup, you may join your chosen distant to your sound system. Nonetheless, in the event you’re keen on fine-tuning your listening expertise, the Sonos App is the best way to go. Except for setting bass and treble ranges, it’s also possible to alter sub and top audio, set quantity limits, and add encompass audio system to your setup.

It’s a bummer that Trueplay Tuning, which permits the audio system to tune themselves to your particular person room, hasn’t caught as much as the present iOS but, however that hangup spans all of Sonos and any non-iOS system in the intervening time. That being mentioned, the Mini nonetheless produces nice sound all through the room. There have been occasions I needed to examine if it was really raining outdoors as a result of the pitter-patters from my film dispersed so naturally.

However whereas a sub does lots for readability and element in different scenes, I’d be remiss to not acknowledge what the folks need: that bass. Whether or not you’re bumping Biggie or blaring Thundercat, bass could make all of the distinction in case your enjoyment. Each film rating and Midnights hear was completely punctuated with percussion. Each quiet dialog and screaming match had crisp, articulate highs and lows. And each single time a dragon landed on HBO, it virtually felt prefer it stepped proper into my lounge.

All Cylinders Firing

In my expertise, the easy physics of low-end (usually, a much bigger speaker plus extra mass means greater bass) subwoofers usually aren’t small. The one one I’ve ever had was a hefty field that always acted as further tabletop space for storing out of necessity. Quite the opposite, the Sonos Mini is small, cylindrical, and classy (very similar to its different Sonos brethren).

The wealthy, full sound takes up loads of air area in my one-bedroom, however the Mini will not be for each lounge. Very similar to the Sonos Ray, this subwoofer is ideal for residence residing rooms, smaller rooms, and starter sound methods total. It packs sufficient punch to intensify no matter you’re taking part in with out disrupting the neighbors or different housemates, and it received’t rattle your house or residence to the inspiration.

My solely grievance in regards to the design is that the cylindrical form might be troublesome to configure right into a room with Tetris-like furnishings. Each nook in my residence issues, and the roundness doesn’t precisely click on proper into place subsequent to my rectangular leisure heart. That being mentioned, it appears to be like like a delicate piece of decor, and with slightly little bit of maneuvering it suits in simply advantageous.

My different minor gripe with the Sub Mini is the associated fee. At slightly underneath $450, it’s a really costly addition to most sound methods, particularly when pairing it with different costly Sonos audio system just like the Arc ($900) or the Beam ($450). Nevertheless it’s on par with different wi-fi subs of its caliber, and Sonos is thought for larger pricing than rivals in change for its glorious ease of use (à la Apple) so sadly that’s simply the character of the beast right here.

All prices apart, I couldn’t imagine how effectively this tiny, top-notch speaker took over my lounge. It’s not an ideal substitute for bigger household rooms, however in the event you’re furnishing your residence or different smaller rooms and actually wish to amplify your listening expertise, the Sonos Sub Mini is a superb selection—no audio nerdiness crucial.