The Sonos Sub Mini offers a smaller and less expensive take on bass when comparing it to the larger Sub. Made for a small or medium room, the subwoofer can be paired with other Sonos speakers to enhance a wireless home theater setup. It’s available in either black or white and is small enough the blend into the room.

Key Features
  • Dual woofers face inward for a force-canceling effect
  • Trueplay feature can fine tune the sound for your room
  • Can connect wirelessly via Wi-Fi or hardwired Ethernet
  • Quick and easy setup via the Sonos app
Specifications
  • Dimensions: 12 inches high x 9.1 inches diameter
  • Brand: Sonos
  • Amplifers: Two, Class-D
  • Colors: Black or White
  • Woofers: Two, 6-inch
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi or Ethernet
Pros
  • Small enough to not stand out in a smaller room
  • Adds great bass to TV show and movies
  • Can face in any direction
Cons
  • Still expensive compared to other subwoofers
  • Trueplay is only available on iPhone or iPad
Buy This Product
Sonos Sub Mini

Sonos has always been known for its lineup of wireless whole-home audio and home theater speakers. Even though the company’s products are some of the best on the market, that quality comes at a high price. Many times, that expense has turned away potential customers.

But the company has been trying to change that. In 2022, Sonos introduced two new entry-level home theater products. The first was the compact Ray soundbar. Later in the year saw the introduction of the Sonos Sub Mini—a subwoofer made to pair with a Sonos system, and provide an extra kick of bass for a small- or medium-sized room.

Let's take a closer look at the Sub Mini and see if it's a worthy addition to your home theater setup.

Bass in a Smaller Package

Anyone looking to expand their home theater always had the option to add Sonos' first subwoofer—the Sub—to their setup. That model takes up a substantial amount of space and sports a large $749 price tag.

sonos sub mini next to a Nintendo Switch

Both of those issues make the Sub unsuitable for many looking to create a Sonos-powered home theater. But as the name suggests, the Sub Mini is a smaller version of its sibling. It’s available in black or white to better blend into any home, and looks like a small trash can with a large cut-out in the center.

The Sub Mini weighs in at 14 pounds and is 12 inches high with a circular diameter of 9.1 inches. That’s substantially smaller than the Sub (which is 29 pounds and almost 16 inches high and wide.)

Along with the smaller size, the Sub Mini retails for $429. While that’s still expensive compared to other subwoofers, it lowers the bar for anyone looking to add those deep notes to their Sonos gear.

Getting Started With the Sub Mini

Since you’ll need another Sonos product to pair the Sub Mini with, setup is simple to say the least.

Along with the subwoofer itself, the only other thing included in the box is a power cord on the bottom of the subwoofer. Adjacent to that is an Ethernet port to hard-wire the Sub Mini to your router. It can also connect to a wireless network in your home.

sonos sub mini underside

For maximum flexibility, there’s no need to worry about facing the Sub Mini a certain way. It can face any direction; just don’t place it on its side and make sure that one side is free from obstruction.

Since the subwoofer can be used in a completely wireless configuration, you don’t even need to place it near other home audio equipment. That is part of what makes the overall Sonos experience hard to beat.

Once the Sub Mini is placed, it's time to head to the Sonos app on your iOS or Android device to finish the process. With just a few taps, you’ll select the room to add the subwoofer to... and that’s it!

With the app, you can also access the Sub Mini’s limited settings. Along with being able to turn the audio for the subwoofer on or off, you can also increase or decrease the sound. If you don’t hear enough bass, it’s also possible to flip the phase of the audio to 0 degrees or 180 degrees. Finally, you can also factory reset the Sub Mini itself.

Taking Bass to a New Level With the Sub Mini

I’ve been using the Sub Mini for around a month in a small bedroom home theater setup.

Along with a 50-inch TV mounted on the wall with an Apple TV 4K, I paired the subwoofer to my existing Sonos system. That comprises a first-generation Sonos Beam soundbar by the TV and two Sonos Play:1 speakers behind the lounge chair that act as surround speakers.

sonos sub mini main

I placed the Sub Mini near the front of the setup, on the floor near the entertainment center and TV.

In the time using the Sub Mini, I listened to music and watched a wide variety of both TV shows and movies, turning the subwoofer on and off to hear the difference.

Overall, the Sub Mini does a spectacular job doing exactly what it advertises, bringing a big dose of low-frequency audio to whatever you’re watching. I was definitely impressed by how the Sub Mini brought new life to regular, everyday TV content. When watching a football game, the roar of the crowd truly took on new life.

When watching other TV shows like She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the bass helped create a more immersive soundstage, especially in action scenes.

The bass response in movies was almost as good. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the opening battle enveloped the room thanks to the Sub Mini.

sonos sub mini interior
Image Credit: Sonos

In my use, there was no rattling or other issues sometimes found in other subwoofers. The dual 6-inch woofers face inward for a force-canceling effect. Sonos also says that the sealed cabinet neutralizes distortion and enhances bass response.

To get the most out of the Sub Mini, and all of your Sonos speakers, make sure to use the Trueplay feature only available on an iPhone or iPad. The three-minute process requires you to walk around the room to measure how sound reflects off walls and other surfaces.

With that information, Trueplay will fine-tune all the speakers for the best possible sound. The first time I used Trueplay I was skeptical, but it does make a difference. I made sure to run the process again after adding the Sub Mini.

Sonos for Less With the Sub Mini

When taking an overall look at the Sonos Sub Mini, it's hard to find any real negatives. It brings top-notch bass to a smaller and less expensive package compared to its larger Sub sibling.

Even though the $429 retail price is still high, the Sub Mini does a great making job enhancing a Sonos system in a small or mid-size room. Enjoy that bass.