by James Fletcher
As its name suggests, the new subwoofer has been graced with a much smaller form factor, measuring at a gracefully compact 305mm in height with a new cylindrical profile featuring a 230mm diameter. And as with the Ray, Sub Mini comes in either a matte white or matte black finish with a strikingly clean profile, and the promise of a great wireless performance.
Doing away with the traditional cube dynamics of its award-winning predecessor, the Sub Mini’s new form allows it blend more naturally into the decor of smaller rooms, a benefit for the committed gamer with a fetish for contemporary design, or the cinephile who’d rather have their equipment not compete with their 4K screen.
However, the Sub Mini hasn’t done away with its Sonos Sub design heritage completely, incorporating the original Sub’s signature centre tunnel, which has proven effective in utilising air flow to maximise the way low frequencies travel throughout their allocated space. And for those who prefer the clean white colourway, the contrasting black interior of the tunnel delivers a striking bonus element to what’s already an attractive realisation of minimalist design.
But Sonos hasn’t simply built a pretty accessory to enable form over function. Instead, the Sub Mini promises to deliver a performance that far exceeds its scaled back casing. And judging from the recent announcement, you could argue that the unit’s visual appeal is a mere extension of its technological innovations, with its completely sealed architecture purpose-built to deliver clean, expansive, and adaptive bass response.
“We’ve entered a more thoughtful era of streaming that prioritises quality over quantity, with creators and platforms investing in immersive entertainment experiences that put premium sound at the forefront,” explains Maxime Bouvat-Merlin, SVP for Hardware and Operations at Sonos. “Sub Mini is a welcome addition to the Sonos family, rounding out our home theatre product line-up so listeners can experience cinema quality sound that makes them feel like the main character – or player – in their favourite content.”
Inside, the Sub Mini boasts a pair of uniquely engineered 6” woofers, set face-to-face in order to generate a force-cancelling effect, essentially neutralising distortions, rattle or collateral buzz while allowing the unit’s full-toned low frequencies to generate a depth and clarity experienced from much larger subwoofers. Complimenting the twin woofers and further capitalising on the unit’s unique acoustic architecture are a set of Class-D digital amplifiers designed to enhance the acoustics depending on the media passing through it.
This digital optimisation is supported with Sonos’s trademarked Trueplay, which intuitively optimises the Sub Mini’s (and additional networked speakers) output to complement its environment. The unit also utilises 5 GHz connection to sync high quality sound with an enhanced audio transmission speed to your Sonos Ray soundbar, TV or compatible surrounds, while an 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi connection will give you fairly decent customisation of the EQ via the Sonos app. And for those unfamiliar with networking Sonos speakers to one another, the Sub Mini requires minimal effort in syncing and linking to viable soundbar or set of surrounds.
Sonos’s reputation as an innovator of mid-to-high level audio has been firmly cemented in the consumer market over the past few years, and the Sub Mini promises to be a welcome addition to an already impressive range.
Sonos Sub Mini will retail for AU$699 and will be available to buy from October 6, 2022