We have tested the Sonos Sub subwoofer!

We have tested the Sonos Sub subwoofer!

In our previous test, we wrote about the Sonos One speaker, today we report on our experience with the other member of the Sonos brand, the Sonos Sub subwoofer. The Sonos Sub weighs 16 kg, so it’s quite heavy. The innovative design allows it to be placed vertically or horizontally.

It has very few connectivity options, just a power supply and an Ethernet input. The Sub can be wirelessly paired with any Sonos speaker, Sonos Amp or Connect: Amp, making it easy to integrate into a music or home theater system. You can easily connect to your existing Sonos system by pressing the button on the front. We can connect the Sonos Sub to a pair of Sonos Play or Sonos One: the 3 stereo speakers delivered stunning output.

The price is a bit higher compared to average subwoofers, but that’s understandable since it’s wireless and made specifically for the Sonos system. It’s undeniable that it has excellent basses, from the fine basses to the more serious, thunderous deep basses, and the Sonos APP allows you to easily adjust bass levels. The high price is akin to its excellent performance.

Design

Available in glossy black or white finish, the Sonos Sub’s shape is intriguing and pleasing the eyes with its elegance, enhanced by a small acoustic and reflex opening in the middle of the housing. There is a Sonos logo on the front and a status light and a button on the left helping to connect it to the wireless network.

The Sub uses two Class D amplifiers, the frequency transmission is 25 Hz, and the maximum crossover frequency is 110 Hz. The two force-balanced speakers are located opposite each other, so we can have a deeper and clearer, more detailed sound.

Make sure the Sub is not too close to the wall, as the acoustic opening needs air space for effective performance. The speaker can also be placed horizontally on the floor. The four legs of the Sub minimize vibration. The bottom of the speaker has a hidden power connector and an Ethernet cable.

Setting up the speaker with an existing Sonos system is as easy as usual with Sonos products. One of the company’s greatest values ​​is the high-quality APP, which essentially simplifies setting up any speaker – all you need is a Wi-Fi password and the APP does the rest.

The APP initially calibrates the Sub settings, measures the room acoustics, and adjusts accordingly. You can change the Sub settings within the application. In addition to turning the Sub on and off, you can adjust its volume relative to the other speakers in the room, adjust the phase to 0 or 180 degrees, or adjust the crossover frequency. The default setting for the switching frequency is 80Hz. But it can also be set between 50Hz and 110Hz, and depending on the settings and the size of the room, changing this parameter can make a huge difference in the overall sound.

The settings and active equalisation ensure a lossless and dynamic sound thanks to the latest DSP (Digital Signal Processing) circuit.

It’s worth noting that the Sub only works with other Sonos speakers, which isn’t a big surprise, but at this price it is not expected that it can’t be used with a Sonos amplifier, for example. The Amp has a subwoofer connection that would be perfect for combining Sub and Non-Sonos speakers, nevertheless, it won’t work. (You can use Sub with the amplifier if you use Sonos Architectural by Sonance speakers, but that’s the only way.) Sub is a wireless speaker with no physical connections and doesn’t work with other wireless non-Sonos speakers that are physically connected to the Sonos amplifier. At this price, this is too much of a constraint.

The sound of Sonos Sub

The Sub works with almost any Sonos speaker configuration, but we tested it with the Sonos One speaker. The room was approx. 15 square meters, with acoustic sound-absorbing panels as well as diffusers on each wall and ceiling. For perfect sound, we recommended placing Giga bass traps in the corners for our client. Bass traps should be placed on top of each other all the way to the ceiling to handle deep ranges even more effectively. A 4 cm thick, densely woven acoustic rug was placed on the floor of the room, which significantly improved the sound. We also helped our client to place the speakers. It is important what type of speaker we place and where in order to obtain the ideal sounding.

At the default volume level of the Sub, there is a noticeable increase in the basses. While watching a movie, we also heard shockingly intense basses at default settings. We were watching part of Star Wars VIII and had some very deep depths.

Even the lowest ranges of the bass notes sound beautifully, cleanly, and with enough strength and dynamics. We also experienced the dynamic, clear sound, a wide stage image and brutal deeps while listening to music. We’ve tried the subwoofer in several music genres and it performed excellently in each case. While listening to the orchestral pieces and songs, we were able to distinguish each instrument separately, and the fine details were not missing either.

Verdict

If you want to expand your existing Sonos system with intense bass depth, this model will not disappoint you. Being a fairly expensive subwoofer, this compact speaker is truly incredible. Unfortunately, it only works with other Sonos devices, which is a serious compromise in this price range. However, if we vote confidence in the Sonos brand and compile our sound system with items of the same brand, we will certainly be satisfied. It weighs quite a bit, but for a subwoofer, that’s not surprising. Sometimes we found it too loud, something the neighbours might not be happy about.

G.H.

Written by Róbert Polgár