What Do People Who Have It Think of the Sonos Sub?

The Sonos Sub is an essential component in enhancing the listening experience for audiophiles and those invested in high-quality home theater setups. However, opinions vary among users on its necessity and overall impact on a home audio system. Some find it a significant addition that brings a more dynamic and powerful bass, while others believe it to be an optional enhancement that boosts but does not completely transform the music experience.

Enhanced Bass Experience

The Sonos Sub is designed to deliver a powerful and sustained bass that can dramatically improve the quality of your audio experience. Songs like the Beatles' 'Here Comes the Sun' and Michael Jackson's 'Man in the Mirror' feature bass lines that become overwhelmingly impacting when played through a Sonos system with the Sub. The bass is much more vibrant and forceful, making for a richer and more immersive listening experience.

Negative Points and Considerations

Despite its benefits, not everyone finds the Sonos Sub as necessity. Some comment that it may not be worth the investment of around $700, given that many Sonos products, such as the Five and the Move, already provide adequate bass on their own. Users often mention that they can manage without the Sub for most of their music enjoyment.

Furthermore, some users report that the Sonos Beam and Surrounds (SLs) have sufficient bass that they don't feel the need for additional bass management from the Sub. For example, in testing different configurations, they found that turning off the Sub often resulted in a more balanced bass distribution, allowing the Sonos Beam to provide more of the sub-bass section naturally.

Adding to this, the Sub seems to offload some of the bass duties to the Beam and Surrounds when it's switched on, which can result in slightly more treble clarity from these other speakers. This interaction between the Sonos Sub and Beam/SLs further highlights the complex interplay between different audio components in a high-fidelity audio setup.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the Sonos Sub serves as a tasteful addition to your home theater setup. However, it's not an essential component. If you already have a Beam and Surrounds, you might find that these components are versatile enough to provide the bass you need. The Sub enhances the bass, but the Beam and Surrounds alone can offer a very good performance, particularly for a wide variety of genres including Jazz, Pop, and Classical music.

Many users recommend purchasing the Sonos Sub as a last option. The ability to return it if it doesn't meet expectations is a wise recommendation. The key takeaway is to assess your own needs and the characteristics of your existing audio setup before making the investment in a Sonos Sub. Whether you're looking for a home theater system that can handle a variety of music genres or simply want to enhance the bass in your listening experience, the Sonos Sub offerings can be a valuable choice.