Sonos Sub Mini vs Sonos Sub: Which is Right for You?

(Pocket-lint) – Sonos announced a more affordable subwoofer in September 2022, the Sub Mini. The device sits alongside the original Sonos Sub, which was first introduced in 2012. It has received a few generational updates, although its design has remained the same for 10 years.

Now in its third generation, here’s how the Sonos Sub compares to the Sonos Sub Mini to help you figure out which one is right for your setup and which one you should buy.

Price between Sonos Sub Mini and Sonos Sub (3rd generation).

• Sub Mini: £439/$429/€499
• Subscription: £749/$749/€849

Let’s start with the price, because there’s a pretty big difference between the Sonos Sub Mini and the Sonos Sub (3rd gen). The Sonos Sub Mini will cost £429 in the UK, $429 in the US and €499 in Europe when it arrives on October 6th.

The Sonos Sub is now almost twice as expensive. It costs £749 in the UK, $749 in the US and €849 in Europe.

Sonos Sub Mini vs Sub design

• Sub Mini: Cylindrical, 230 x 305 mm (12 x 9.1 in), weighs 6.35 kg (14 lbs)
• Sub: Square, 389 x 402 x 158 mm (15.3 x 15.8 x 6.2 in), weighs 16 kg (36.3 lbs)

The Sonos Sub Mini and the original Sonos Sub share similarities, but differ broadly in terms of their design. The Sub Mini is cylindrical in shape with a flat top and an elongated, pill-shaped center cutout designed to efficiently move air to maximize bass.

The Sub Mini measures 230 x 305 mm (12 x 9.1 inches) and weighs 6.35 kg (14 lbs). It also has a matte finish and comes in black and white color options.

The Sonos Sub is square, has a matte finish, and is much larger and heavier than the Sub Mini. The Sub has a flat top but also flat sides so it can be positioned horizontally or vertically. Like the Sub Mini, the Sub has a center cutout and also comes in black and white color options.

The Sub measures 389 x 402 x 158 mm (15.3 x 15.8 x 6.2 inches) and weighs 16 kg (36.3 lbs), significantly heavier than its Mini sibling.

Sonos Sub Mini vs. Sub hardware

• Sub Mini: Class D amplifier, two 6″ woofers, up to 25 Hz
• Sub: Class D amplifier, pair of specially designed drivers, 25 Hz

Both the Sonos Sub Mini and Sonos Sub have a pairing button on the back, as well as an Ethernet port and power connector. However, the Sub Mini has NFC on top to make pairing with your Sonos system even easier.

Inside, the Sonos Sub Mini features Class-D amplifiers and two 6-inch woofers that face inward for a force-cancelling effect. There’s a sealed enclosure to neutralize distortion and enhance bass response, and the Sub Mini offers frequency response down to 25Hz.

The Sonos Sub also features Class-D amps and a pair of specially designed drivers that also face each other to achieve the force-cancelling effect, eliminating rattle and buzz. It also offers frequency response down to 25 Hz but is more powerful than the Sub Mini at the higher frequencies.

The Sonos Sub Mini supports 5GHz Wi-Fi, while the Sub supports 2.4GHz or 5GHz.

Sonos Sub Mini vs Sub Features

• Sub Mini: Trueplay tuning, EQ adjustment, auto volume
• Sub: Trueplay tuning, EQ adjustment, auto volume, pair up to three subs together

The Sonos Sub Mini and Sonos Sub have similar features. They can both be paired with a Sonos speaker or soundbar to enhance bass, and both have Trueplay tuning on board to automatically adjust bass to the room it’s in during setup.

Both Sonos Subs also automatically adjust the volume to match the paired speaker or soundbar, but you can also adjust the EQ settings in the Sonos app if you want to adjust the bass.

The Sonos Sub Mini and Sub (3rd Generation) differ in that the Sub Mini cannot be paired with another Sub Mini or the Sub. However, the sub can be paired with two other subs for even more bass.

Conclusion

The Sonos Sub Mini has many of the same features as the Sonos Sub (3rd generation) but is much smaller and lighter while also being significantly cheaper.

The Sub Mini isn’t as powerful as the Sonos Sub and can’t be paired with another Sub Mini, but for those with small or medium-sized rooms, the Sub Mini is probably more than adequate.

If you have a larger room or one of Sonos’ larger speakers like the Sonos Arc or Sonos Five, it’s the larger Sub you need for the power and extra features, and this model comes in handy if you want to move your Sub under too your sofa.

Otherwise, the Sub Mini has a much softer design than the Sub and many of the same features at a fraction of the price.

Writing from Britta O’Boyle.