Sonos Sub Mini review: Perfect companion for Beam

From the bottom up, Sonos Sub Mini is designed to sit down alongside its Sonos Ray and Sonos Beam soundbars. The opening within the subwoofer is designed to reflect the Sonos Beam from a hen’s-eye view or the Sonos Ray when considered from the entrance. For these with the pricier all-in-one Dolby Atmos soundbar, Sonos Arc, the agency thinks it’s best to plump for the Sonos Sub 3.

Sub Mini is obtainable in two colors: white and black. Each of those are a matte end, which seems to be modern, fashionable, and most significantly of all, means it does not look immediately dusty just like the shiny case discovered on the Sonos Sub. The cylindrical design of the Sub Mini is a breath of recent air in comparison with the standard black and gray bins that ship with encompass sound methods. Actually, this is without doubt one of the solely subwoofers that do not thoughts having on show in our lounge.

Nonetheless, that may not be crucial. Standing at simply 30.5cm tall and 23cm throughout, the Sub Mini is sufficiently small that it may be simply tucked away. In our testing, we had been in a position to squirrel the wi-fi speaker beneath a nest of tables within the nook of the room and behind the couch. In contrast to the pricier Sonos Sub, which will be laid flat – so you may cover it beneath a settee or media unit with out impacting audio efficiency – the cylindrical form of the Sub Mini implies that’s not attainable.

Silver lining – we had been assured by one of many workforce at Sonos that it is completely effective to make use of the Sub Mini as a espresso desk.

Sub Mini will be positioned anyplace within the room because it connects with the remainder of your Sonos system utilizing Wi-Fi.

Sonos has added assist for each 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, so you will not discover any delay between the soundbar and the subwoofer. In our time with the Sonos Sub Mini, the subwoofer was at all times in good lock-step with the remainder of the audio system, whether or not we had been watching a film on the large display screen, streaming a playlist from Apple Music, listening to the radio, or an audiobook.

For individuals who choose a wired connection, there may be an ethernet port tucked away on the underside of the Sub Mini.

Discovering the right spot to your new Sonos subwoofer is more likely to be the longest a part of the set-up course of. As soon as the speaker is in place and plugged in, getting all the pieces up and operating along with your current Sonos system takes just a few seconds. Load up the Sonos app in your cellphone and a immediate so as to add your latest arrival ought to seem on-screen instantly.

If not, you will have to dive across the menu to seek out the Add New Speaker button.

You can securely switch your Wi-Fi community particulars by way of NFC by tapping your cellphone to the highest of the Sub Mini, which saves you the trouble of typing out the password (in case you can bear in mind it). The Sonos app will then ask which soundbar or speaker you’d wish to pair with the Sub Mini. We linked the subwoofer to our Sonos Beam, which is paired with a few Sonos One audio system for a 5.0 encompass sound setup. And voila! Identical to that, our house cinema system grew to become a 5.1 system.

Curiously, if you’ve paired the Sub Mini with a Sonos speaker, you will not see the subwoofer displayed individually in your system. Any modifications you make to the paired speaker, like adjusting the quantity, mute, or music choice, may also affect Sub Mini. Cleverly, in case you set Night time Mode in your soundbar – which retains dialogue clear, however reduces loud noises to keep away from waking up the remainder of the home – Sonos will mechanically cut back the rumble from the Sub Mini too. You can even manually alter bass inside the app.

However for many of us, as soon as the preliminary setup is full, you may overlook concerning the Sub Mini fully and simply benefit from the improved sound.

Software program updates – sure, you have to to replace the software program in your audio system – are all dealt with by way of the Sonos app. To make sure we had been getting the very best efficiency out of your system, we kickstarted the TruePlay setup after including the Sub Mini. This nifty characteristic makes use of the microphones in your cellphone to measure the acoustics of the room and tune your Sonos audio system accordingly. For a house cinema system, TruePlay additionally will get you to sit down in your most well-liked spot when watching telly and fine-tunes all the pieces for that location.

All of it works brilliantly and you may instantly inform the distinction in efficiency out of your Sonos package. Sadly, this characteristic remains to be solely obtainable on the iPhone app, which is disappointing.

Sub Mini arrives with a pair of six-inch force-cancelling woofers. Sonos positions these parts face-to-face contained in the Sub Mini so the opposing forces cancel out. That leads to a minimal quantity of buzz, rattle, and distortion from the Sub Mini.

To return to our earlier level concerning the Sub Mini doubling up as a modern espresso desk – you will not see ripples in your morning espresso à la Jurassic Park, because of this intelligent force-cancelling system.

Sonos is not the one firm utilizing this method, Apple depends on an identical setup for the audio system inside its newest laptop computer fashions.

Sub Mini can produce frequencies as little as 25Hz, which is greater than sufficient for a system with a soundbar at its coronary heart. Except for just a few show-stopping moments – just like the braaaams within the Inception trailer, the dread-inducing rumble in horror flick Relic, or the thunderous bassline within the Arctic Monkey’s Do I Wanna Know? – you are unlikely to listen to the presence of the Sub Mini.

Actually, there have been occasions after we positioned our hand contained in the speaker to test the woofers had been even woofing.

Sure, for the overwhelming majority of the time, the Sub Mini merely provides further depth to your current Sonos audio system. Every part sounds fuller and extra rounded – and in case you take away the Sub Mini from the setup, its absence is felt instantly. As soon as you’ve got heard your Sonos system with a devoted subwoofer, it is virtually inconceivable to return.

In our testing, we had been astonished how a lot the presence of the Sub Mini improved the sound from our Sonos Beam. This nifty soundbar isn’t any slouch by itself, however when it is unencumbered from the deep-end of the audio spectrum, it actually comes alive. Every part from the Beam sounds brighter and sharper.

When you’ve bought a smaller room – or tv – that would not be suited to the behemoth Sonos Arc, the Sub Mini is a straightforward strategy to significantly enhance the sound high quality out of your current setup. The genius of Sonos’ system is which you can slowly build-out your system over time. Identical to including a pair of rear audio system from Sonos or the IKEA Symfonisk assortment will enhance your film nights with encompass sound, the Sub Mini will add a cinematic rumble in the entire proper locations and improve the sound of each different speaker you already personal.

Sonos Sub Mini prices £429 – some £320 cheaper than the Sonos Sub (Gen 3). Sonos can be promoting bundles with the Sonos Ray and Sub Mini (£673 – a £35 saving in comparison with shopping for each of those audio system individually) and the Sonos Beam and Sub Mini (£838 – a £40 saving).

These bundles imply you may choose up a Sonos Ray soundbar and a Sub Mini and nonetheless have £76 in your pocket, in contrast with shopping for a Sonos Sub Gen 3. Cut price!

Sub Mini launched within the UK and Europe on October 6, so is obtainable now.

When you’re trying to full a house cinema setup, test the greatest Sonos offers to safe your remaining package on the lowest attainable value.

It is taken far too lengthy for Sonos to launch a extra reasonably priced subwoofer. Its Sonos Ray and Sonos Beam soundbars are completely gorgeous – and a few of our go-to suggestions for these trying to enhance their tv audio system. However pairing both of those soundbars with a £749 Sonos Sub 3 was utter insanity.

Fortunately, we lastly have the Sonos Sub Mini.

This very good subwoofer takes seconds to arrange and requires no upkeep. Like the remainder of Sonos’ lineup, in case you’re hoping to spend hours in settings menus tinkering with EQs to fine-tune your sound, this isn’t the speaker for you. Nonetheless, in order for you the intelligent Sonos algorithms to handle all the pieces for you, bringing a hugely-improved, well-rounded sound to your favorite album, TV present, or film – you will be hard-pushed to discover a higher possibility than the Sub Mini.

As you’d count on from Sonos, the Sub Mini seems to be higher than each different wi-fi subwoofer in its value class. It is a bit of a disgrace that it can’t be saved on its facet, like its pricier sibling, however this modern speaker seems to be ok that you will have no problem having it on show.

At £429, Sonos Sub Mini is a discount in comparison with the Sonos Sub 3. However in comparison with different options in the marketplace, it is nonetheless pretty expensive.

For individuals who solely have the Sonos Ray soundbar at house – an unbelievable deal at £279 – it is powerful to advocate spending £150 extra on a subwoofer than the soundbar it will likely be paired with. For these with the Sonos Beam (Gen 1) or Sonos Beam 2, it is a way more comfy match.

The Sub Mini’s capacity to effortlessly improve the sound out of your current audio system means it is a must-have for individuals who are already deeply invested within the Sonos ecosystem, particularly these with an current Sonos house cinema system. Nonetheless, for these trying to construct a sound system from scratch, there are extra reasonably priced choices than the Sub Mini …even when they are not as handsome.