Sonos Sub 4 review: Thumping
You don't need to add the Sub 4 to your Sonos home theatre system, but it adds a really nice bass boost for your movie's explosions, without drowning out the dialogue.
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Pros
- Easy setup
- No distortion at all
- Solid bass performance
Cons
- Trueplay reduces bass level too much
- Previous generation costs the same
If you’re looking to set up a soundbar or home theatre system, you don’t need a subwoofer. You can get excellent sound without one.
But adding one (or more!) into the mix really helps fill your entertainment with a much bigger sound stage.
Announced alongside the new Sonos Arc Ultra, the Sub 4 offers a few minor tweaks over the Sub 3. It’s not enough to warrant an upgrade, but if you are looking to expand your Sonos system with an extra bass unit, then this is a great place to start.
What is the Sonos Sub 4 offering?
The Sub 4 looks extremely similar to the Sub 3. Measuring in at 389 × 402 × 158 mm, it’s the exact same dimensions as the previous generations, though there are a bunch of improvements inside.
The biggest visual difference between the Sub 4 and previous generations is that Sonos has opted for a matte finish this time rather than a glossy one.
It certainly collected fewer fingerprints than my original Sub, though it’s not really something you touch all that often, so it’s probably not a big selling point.
@bttr_reviews I’m giving my home theatre a big boost today as i unbox the @Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4 for review. Very excited for this! #unboxing #unboxingvideo #sonos #sonosarcultra #speakers #soundbars #technology #reviews #techtok
♬ original sound - bttr_reviews
All Sonos Subwoofers since the first generation are designed with a hole in the middle, with Dual 5-inch x 8-inch elliptical woofers pointed inward to create the bass notes. This architecture creates a force-cancelling effect that helps eliminate distortion during playback.
Two Class-D digital amplifiers are tuned to the unique design, which helps to enhance the bass performance. The frequency response starts at 25 Hz.
The Sub 4 connects to your home theatre setup over Wi-Fi, so the only cable you need is the power cable. There’s no complicated setup either – a single setup button helps you add the speaker to your network. You can hardwire the sub via ethernet if you wish, but it’s not necessary.
What does the Sonos Sub 4 do well?
Like with the Arc Ultra, setup of the Sub 4 is simple. It found the speaker quickly and effortlessly, and I was up and running in no time.
I’m also a big fan of being able to connect two subs to the surround sound system for a deeper low-end performance.
When it comes to the quality of bass the Sub 4 produces, I can’t fault it. There’s no real distortion, even at loud volumes. The Sonos’ design helps keep things stable, while adding the bass into the surround sound setup.
Despite being a wireless connection, there was never an instance the audio dropped, giving a complete sound alongside the Arc Ultra.
What could the Sonos Sub 4 improve?
By default, after tuning the system with TruePlay, I found the sub’s output to be a little on the weak side. While I’m no fan of distortion, I do like to feel my explosions while watching movies and TV shows.
Sonos offers a level of customisation over the Sub’s output, ±15, and I needed to push it up to at least 5 before I could really feel the bass while watching TV.
I would prefer not having to do that at all if I’m honest. The sub was set up near the Arc Ultra, which was about 5 metres from my seat in the lounge room, so having it tune should have boosted the bass by default. Especially given I didn’t actually remove my first Gen sub from the system…
I did find that the entire audio system was well-balanced after tuning it with TruePlay, though that was definitely at the expense of the Sub’s output. And when you’re watching a big blockbuster movie, you want to be able to experience the vibrations a good quality sub brings to the table.
The other thing that doesn’t quite make sense to me is that the Sub 4 costs the same as the Sub 3. If you look at the RRP on the Sonos site, both subs are $1,299.
When I see that a previous gen costs the same as the current gen, it makes me feel like the improvements made aren’t really worth it. I’m not sure if that’s technically true here, but it also means that if you see a Sub 3 discounted substantially, you might as well go for that over the newer model.
Verdict
At $1,299, the Sub 4 is a pricey addition to a Sonos home theatre system. As such, it’s not for everyone.
The Arc Ultra, on its own, does a fantastic job creating a strong range of sounds, from deep bass to high frequencies. Soundtracks do sound much fuller with the sub, but not terrible without it.
If you already own a Sonos Sub, there’s absolutely no need to upgrade here. Similarly, if you see a discounted Sub 3, go for it, as the difference between third and fourth gen is minimal.
But having said all that, I still enjoyed pumping up the bass while watching Rings of Power over the past few weeks. If your budget allows for it, this won’t disappoint.
