Sonos fans have been waiting ages for a home theater subwoofer that’s cheaper than the $749 Sub, and now it’s here. After design leaks and a delayed launch, Sonos is officially introducing the Sub Mini today. It costs $429, which is honestly lower than I expected; I thought this thing wasn’t going to go for less than $499, but I’m glad I’m wrong. The Sub Mini is available for pre-order today and will be released on October 6. It comes in black or white, both with a matte finish.
How “mini” is the Sub Mini? He weighs 14 pounds, less than half the 36.3 pound Sub. It is 12 inches tall compared to the Sub’s 15.3 inches and the cylindrical design measures 9.1 inches in diameter. Those differences in size and weight mean that Sonos’ two subwoofers now have their own recommended usage scenarios.
Sonos says the Sub Mini is designed for use in small to medium-sized rooms; the regular Sub is still best equipped for larger spaces. The company envisions the Sub Mini pairing with the Beam of Ray for home theater audio. If you buy it for music, the Sub Mini goes well with a single or stereo Sonos One speaker or Symfonisk products from Ikea. “Sub Mini is also recommended for smaller bookshelf speakers powered by Amp,” Sonos says in the FAQ on the website.
Image: Sonos
But those looking for the very best audio experience should opt for the existing Sub. If you own the flagship Arc soundbar or one (or two) Sonos Fives, that’s the way to go. The same will likely be true for the company’s planned Five successor.
There’s nothing stopping you from using the Sub Mini with another Sonos product – even the ephemeral Playbase is supported – but the dividing line is clear. If you have a top-of-the-line Sonos speaker, the Sub is for you. If you’re trying to save money or your system is in a smaller space, the Sub Mini may be the more practical solution.
Both the Sub and Sub Mini have similar design features. The Sub Mini has dual force-cancelling 6-inch woofers that “produce surprisingly deep, dynamic low-end while minimizing hum, chatter or distortion, so you feel more immersed in every scene and song,” according to Sonos. The cutout in the center maximizes airflow to improve bass response.
Each of Sonos’ subwoofers can be as low as 25 Hz, but loudness is really what separates them. Product manager Scott Fink told me that the Sub can deliver an output that is three to four times louder than the Sub Mini. But there are other differences. You can record multiple Subs in a home theater setup for the ultimate bass experience, but that’s not possible with the Sub Mini. There is only one per soundbar.
Image: Sonos
As with the standard Sub, Sonos creates a special 5GHz wireless connection between the soundbar and subwoofer to prevent dropouts and other audio frustrations. You can adjust the bass level in the Sonos app, and as with the company’s other recent speakers, adding the Sub Mini to your system should just require a quick tap on your phone at the top of the product.
Just like any other home theater setup, adding a Sub to your Sonos system can really take it to the next level. This allows the subwoofer to handle the lows, while allowing your soundbar or speakers to focus much more on highs and mids instead of having to juggle the entire frequency range. Hopefully, the same will prove true with the Sub Mini – just on a smaller scale. Stay tuned, our full review coming soon.
With the home theater portfolio now complete, Sonos will soon turn its attention to other products. Last month, I detailed the company’s next flagship desk speaker, codenamed Optimo 2, which will be out in the coming months.
