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Sonos is a leading American audio technology company that is best known for pioneering wireless multi-room audio systems, which make it easy for listeners to stream music and other content throughout their homes. The company continues to innovate, creating wireless speakers, home theatre systems, headphones, architectural components, and integrated home audio solutions that revolutionise how people listen and connect to sound.

High-fidelity audio — or HiFi, for short — is audio that’s reproduced from the original recording with as high a degree of exactness as possible. Short of staging a live show or concert in your living room, a HiFi audio setup should deliver the best sonic quality you can experience at home.

But the term ‘HiFi’ is subjective. It depends as much on personal taste as it does on technical factors. Some might consider the quality of a standard CD to be HiFi, as it hovers near the crispest sound the human ear can perceive. Others thirst for even purer levels of playback, unwilling to forgo the subtle pleasure of picking out a single voice from a choir, or hearing a finger gently settle on a guitar string.

In this guide, we’ll define HiFi audio in more depth, focusing on everything from sound waves to the components involved in a typical home setup. Just as important, we’ll help you define what HiFi means 

. Because what’s the point of HiFi audio if your ears don’t enjoy it?

HiFi audio is audio that reproduces the sound of an original recording with minimal levels of distortion and a full, accurate range of audible frequencies. If the human ear is unable to discern any difference between an in-person performance and an audio reproduction of that performance, the latter would generally qualify as HiFi audio.

You might assume that the evolution of audio technology in the last century has been one long, uninterrupted march toward HiFi perfection — but you’d be wrong.

Port placed on top of books lying on a bookshelf

The term ‘HiFi’ was introduced in the 1950s to describe newer at-home audio systems that often involved multiple components. Such setups achieved levels of sonic accuracy that far surpassed the phonographs and AM radio frequencies of yore.

The development of stereophonic equipment, which brings a greater sense of width and spaciousness to recorded sounds, marked an especially important breakthrough in HiFi audio. Another milestone came in the 1980s with the explosion of CDs, a new digital format that reduced noise without compromising much in terms of quality.

 in the 2000s with the advent of streaming, which compresses audio files so that they take up less storage space. This compression often comes at the expense of fidelity. Newer streaming formats have shown better results, but before we get too far ahead of ourselves in talking specs, let’s establish what we’re actually 

 when we listen to HiFi audio in the first place.

If you were to say that HiFi audio is audio that ‘sounds good’, well, you’d technically be right. But what elements of a recording contribute to its sounding good?

There are a lot of nooks and crannies we could dive into, but here are five major factors to pay attention to when evaluating the fidelity of a digital audio recording:



The greater the number of bits in a digital audio recording, the greater the dynamic range. This means less ‘white noise’ during quiet moments, and less distortion of sounds during loud moments.




Sound is a vibration that propagates across space. The illusion of this space can be created by stereo equipment that makes the sound from a set of speakers feel more encompassing, and less like it’s coming from a single direction.




The space between sounds in a recording matters, too. HiFi audio should have good separation between instruments and vocalists, so that you can clearly hear the unique characteristics (including the physical space) of each.




The balance of bass, treble, and mid-range in a mix is essential. Too much bass can make a track sound muddy and underwater, too much treble can make it sound tinny and harsh. Most audiophiles prefer a more neutral or natural tonality, with a delicate balance of tonal emphasis.




How does it sound to you? This is arguably more important than anything else, and may lead you to a definition of HiFi that differs from the rest.

Now that we’ve reviewed the basic elements of HiFi audio, let’s discuss how two important measurements — sample rate and bit depth — can help you achieve higher fidelity in digital audio formats.

Most people these days listen to audio on digital formats, such as streaming services. These formats can be incorporated into a HiFi audio system with help from a digital-to-analogue converter, or DAC.

Beyond converting digital audio into an analogue waveform, a DAC’s job is essentially to fine-tune the tonality and overall sound quality of the digital audio source recording.

It does this by taking tiny snapshots, or samples, of the original soundwave and stitching these snapshots together into an analogue waveform. This follows the same principle as a film camera, which takes tiny snapshots of a live image and stitches them together to make a film.

 describes the number of snapshots taken of the original soundwave. The higher the sample rate, the closer the reproduction resembles the original. A CD’s sample rate of 44.1 kHz is standard for recorded music, and means that 44,100 samples are taken per second.

 snapshots are taken of a soundwave, then 

 each of those snapshots can capture. Greater bit depths mean a wider dynamic range; in other words, a wider difference between the loudest sound you can play back without distortion and the quietest sound you can record before losing resolution.

CDs have a bit depth of 16 bits per sample, which can record over 65,500 amplitude values. This figure isn’t random. The standard sampling frequency of CDs was chosen because it was thought that 16 bits covers the full range of quiet-to-loud sounds that humans can hear. A 

 by Joshua Reiss at Queen Mary University of London challenged this notion, suggesting that some people can detect the difference between CDs and high-resolution audio tracks that can achieve up to 24 or 32 bits per sample.

HiFi audio combines a high sample rate with a high bit depth, resulting in a ‘lossless’ and accurate reproduction of the original recording. Whether you can actually 

 may help determine which audio quality meets your personal standards.

Port and Amp placed next to each other on an angle

If you’re interested in building a HiFi audio setup of your own, there are a few ways to go about it depending on your budget and desire for customisation.

Many audiophiles prefer to build modular systems that combine a number of different pieces (CD player or turntable, pre-amplifier, DAC, power amplifier, speakers, subwoofer, etc.) from different manufacturers. Alternatively, you could opt for an integrated system that combines several of these components into a single unit.

First, you’ll need a CD player, turntable, or streaming platform that delivers your audio. Be aware that certain streaming platforms (like Spotify) don’t have a HiFi audio option, though others (like Apple Music and Tidal) do offer lossless, hi-res audio at certain subscription tiers.

As noted above, a DAC converts digital audio into analogue. Many HiFi products, such as 

, have a DAC built-in. This DAC ensures that any streamed audio is converted and reproduced to sound as clear as possible.

An amplifier enhances and increases the audio signal that comes out of your DAC. It boosts the signal enough to power speakers without distorting its quality.

Speakers are what sound comes out of. Most HiFi systems have at least two loudspeakers and are intended to be listened to in stereo.

Some individual speakers allow for a stereo experience by configuring multiple loudspeakers within the same enclosure; 

, for example, houses three high-excursion woofers (low and mid-range frequencies) with three tweeters (high frequencies). And you can pair two Sonos Five speakers for an even more expansive experience.

The unique acoustics of the room matters, too. It’s amazing what you can achieve just by adding a few sound-absorbing curtains or bookshelves. And if you’re using a Sonos system, 

 analyses every contour of your space to optimise the speaker’s EQ.

You can always add more to a HiFi system (and many people spend their whole lives doing just that). But these essential components should be enough to get you started.

Some people don’t know what they’re missing until they’ve heard a HiFi system in action. If you’re used to listening through a tiny laptop speaker or even high-quality Bluetooth headphones, you may be amazed by the depth and detail of the sound you’ll hear on a true HiFi system.

Films are created for big screens and loud speakers. No musician or composer envisions their masterpiece playing through a trebly cassette player. HiFi audio lets you hear these works the way they were intended to be heard.

HiFi audio can enhance the emotional experience of hearing a piece of music. In some cases, it’s even like hearing it for the first time.

Not any old headphones, speakers, or streaming service is capable of producing a HiFi audio experience. You will need to invest in some equipment. And skimping on just one component — speakers, an amp, etc. — can ruin the effect of the stuff you do invest in. With that said, HiFi is becoming more and more accessible, and Sonos even offers 

 at different price points to get you started.

Not commonly available on streaming services.

The most popular streaming service, Spotify, still doesn’t offer hi-res audio tracks. Others do, but their hi-res libraries may be limited. This situation is improving, but it explains why so many audiophiles haven’t thrown away their vinyl and CDs.

We’ll get to this in the next section, but since most HiFi audio formats are uncompressed, they tend to take up a lot of space on a hard drive. If you’re serious about streaming HiFi audio, you may want to think about upgrading your disk space.

Amp placed next to a turntable on a console

Not every file format is capable of reproducing HiFi audio. MP3s, for example, can only achieve anywhere from 96 to 320 kilobits per second (kbps) — a steep drop-off from standard CDs. Here are some formats that can do the job:

WAV is an uncompressed format that uses the same coding format as CDs. Because it’s uncompressed, file sizes can be quite large.

WAV was originally developed by Microsoft, and Apple’s answer was the uncompressed AIFF format. Compressed, lossy variants of AIFF also exist. These take up less space at the expense of quality.

FLAC is another lossless format that is widely compatible with different systems. Some audiophiles consider it something of a gold standard for combining lossless compression with smaller file sizes than competing formats.

Another proprietary format from Apple, ALAC has similar sound quality to FLAC but may be less compatible with non-Apple ecosystems.

This proprietary format is used primarily for Tidal tracks. Though technically lossy, it may achieve sound quality indistinguishable from other HiFi file types with significantly smaller file sizes.

Whether HiFi is worth it to you depends on your answers to a few questions.

Can you actually detect the difference between an uncompressed file format and an MP3? Not everyone can, and it’s not something to feel bad about. Many adults suffer from minor hearing loss that hinders their ability to detect compression.

Do you care? Even some people who can hear the difference between compressed and uncompressed files don’t really mind the former. Others can hardly listen to MP3s after experiencing true lossless quality, deriding the experience as something akin to having mud in your ears.

Do you have the budget to upgrade? HiFi sound doesn’t come free, and you can certainly pour hundreds or thousands of pounds into different components without achieving a sound you think is worthy of your ears. But there are more affordable ways to achieve a perfectly respectable HiFi sound, and it need not break the bank.

Sonos is a great pathway to a HiFi lifestyle. Our 

 features two Sonos Five speakers that provide a premium multi-room sound experience with detailed left and right channel separation. It may well be all you’ll ever need.

Pair of white Sonos Fives and a walnut turntable placed on a console

What Is HiFi Audio? A Beginner’s Guide

It's not just you. TV sound quality really is getting worse. That's because as TVs have become thinner and smaller, so have their built-in speakers. But you don't have to turn on closed captions and endure muffled dialogue. One of the easiest ways to improve TV audio quality is with a soundbar.

But what exactly is a soundbar, and are they worth the investment? In this post, we'll explain how they work and provide you with all the information you need to choose the right one for your home.

A soundbar is a slim, horizontal speaker designed to improve the sound quality of your TV and typically placed on furniture in front of your TV or mounted on the wall. These speakers are ideal for those looking to elevate their viewing experience without the complexity and clutter of traditional 

 work by consolidating multiple audio components into a single speaker. These built-in components include 

 (which handle high frequency sounds, like a whistle), mid-range 

 (which deliver deep, resonating bass). When combined, these components create a wider and more immersive soundstage for a more realistic listening experience. Some soundbars also feature advanced audio technology like 

, which can offer a more theatre-like experience.

White Sonos Beam positioned under a television

 differ significantly in terms of design and functionality. The most notable difference is that soundbars are simply easier to use and take up less space. You can typically connect a soundbar to your TV via an HDMI or optical audio cable, whereas traditional speakers require a separate receiver with more extensive wiring and setup.

Soundbars are particularly appealing for those living in smaller apartments or for those who don’t have enough space for a bulky speaker system. In addition, most soundbars offer WiFi connectivity, which allows you to wirelessly connect your soundbar with other speakers. This is especially appealing if you’re looking to add rear speakers for 

 and don’t want to worry about running wires across the room or drilling into the walls and ceiling.

Soundbars excel in scenarios where your TV’s built-in speakers fall short. When you’re watching a film, a soundbar can greatly 

 and create a more dynamic soundstage. In the same way, streaming music through your soundbar will make your favourite songs sound clearer, crisper, and more detailed.

Plus, some soundbars incorporate theatre-quality features like 

 and Dolby Atmos, which create a three-dimensional sound environment. This is what allows you to hear a plane like it’s flying overhead in an intense action film or feel like instruments are coming from different parts of the room while listening to music. These features are especially appealing for audiophiles and film enthusiasts who want to feel immersed in their content like it’s unfolding right in their living room.

A person's hand working the touch controls on a white Sonos Beam

A couple watching TV with a black Sonos Arc and pair of Era 100s

When it comes to choosing the right soundbar for your home, there are several factors to consider:

While any soundbar should vastly improve the audio quality of your TV, not all soundbars are created equal. Different makes and models will range in power and capabilities.

Most soundbars feature two to four internal speakers (also called drivers), which do a great job at covering what’s known as your ‘frontstage’ — your left, right, and centre channels of audio. This allows you to hear the action film across the screen similar to how it would sound in real life. But more premium soundbars, like 

, add height to your viewing experience. With 14 custom-designed drivers—including upward-firing speakers—and advanced technologies like Sound Motion™, Arc Ultra fills every inch of the room with spacious, multi-dimensional sound. So you’re not only hearing sound from in front of you, but also from the sides, behind, and even above.

Both the size of your TV and the size of your room are important to consider when choosing a soundbar. If you’re placing your soundbar in a large room, you’ll want to choose a speaker that’s powerful enough to fill the space with sound effectively. However, a large soundbar may overwhelm your space if you live in a small apartment.

Larger soundbars are best for TVs over 55 inches, whereas a smaller soundbar is best paired with a smaller TV. Here’s a breakdown of which Sonos soundbars work best for different size TVs:

Ultimately any size soundbar should work for any size room and TV, but you’ll want to make sure it makes sense for your current setup.

Different soundbars come with different connection options, with the most common being optical, HDMI ARC (which stands for ‘audio return channel’), and 

. For newer TVs, HDMI eARC is ideal because it receives all the audio signals and simply passes the video signals to your TV — meaning your speaker can focus on the sound while your TV handles the visuals.

You can determine if your TV is compatible with HDMI eARC by locating the port on the back of the TV (it’s typically next to the headphone input). If you have an older TV, it may require an adapter for compatibility, although these adapters are generally provided in the box when you purchase your soundbar.

As previously mentioned, some soundbars offer more advanced features like spatial audio and Dolby Atmos, which can deliver a virtual surround sound experience without the need for rear speakers. (You can learn more about virtual surround sound in our 

). This technology expands beyond the traditional stereo soundstage and adds depth and directionality, creating a three-dimensional effect. The listening experience can feel so lifelike you might find yourself checking over your shoulder when you hear footsteps approaching from behind.

If you're looking for a hands-free experience or want your speaker to connect effortlessly with the rest of your smart home devices, many soundbars are compatible with popular voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Additionally Bluetooth connectivity will let you pair a device to stream music through your soundbar when the TV is off.

Not only is it important to invest in a soundbar with a reputation for durability, but choosing a soundbar that offers ongoing software updates also means that your speaker will only get better over time. Sonos incorporates sophisticated processing technology in its products to send regular software updates that can provide new features and improve the sound quality of your speaker, so you can continue to enjoy your soundbar for years to come.

Black Sonos Ray positioned under a television

A soundbar is undoubtedly worth the investment if you're looking to upgrade your home entertainment experience. They offer superior audio quality, particularly in scenarios where TV speakers fall short. Whether you're an avid film watcher, a music enthusiast, or simply want to enjoy more immersive sound while watching TV, a soundbar can help bring all your favourite entertainment to life.

If you have any questions or need help selecting a 

A white Sonos Arc Ultra mounted under a television

What Is a Soundbar? How To Choose One

Imagine being fully immersed in a film, feeling every explosion and whisper as if you were actually there in the scene. Or listening to your favourite artist's music and hearing every instrument as if you were in the recording studio. This level of immersion is made possible by Dolby Atmos, a revolutionary audio technology that takes listening experiences to new heights. Literally.

Keep reading to learn more about what Dolby Atmos is, how it differs from traditional surround sound, its applications in home theatre and music, and how you can bring this incredible sound experience into your own home with Sonos.

Dolby Atmos is an innovative spatial audio technology that allows engineers and artists to precisely place individual sounds in three-dimensional space to more accurately reflect how you experience sound in real life.

Introduced by Dolby Laboratories in 2012, Dolby Atmos marked a groundbreaking shift from traditional channel-based audio formats—such as 

—to an object-based audio format that incorporates overhead speakers for a sense of height.

Although Dolby Atmos originated in the theatre with the release of Pixar’s 

, it quickly made its way into homes and 

, redefining the way audiences experience entertainment, including films, music, and games.

Dolby Atmos vs. traditional surround sound

Dolby Atmos goes beyond traditional surround sound systems by adding a third dimension of sound: height. Instead of just having speakers around the room at ear level, Dolby Atmos introduces overhead speakers or upward-firing speakers that create a true three-dimensional soundscape.

 limits audio to a certain number of channels, usually five or seven, which you may see represented by a number like 

. Because every sound has to combine into a limited number of channels, compromises often have to be made in the audio mix. For example, a choice to emphasise the music in a scene could come at the expense of dialogue clarity.

Dolby Atmos frees sounds from these limited number of channels, allowing creators to treat each instrument, sound effect, or word of dialogue individually. Creators can precisely place and move up to 128 of these ‘audio objects’ within three-dimensional space for a more realistic and immersive sound experience. Helicopters will sound like they're flying above you, raindrops will sound like they’re falling from the sky, and overall you’ll experience so much more depth and dimension.

Animation of a 7.1.4 surround sound setup with Arc, Sub, and two Era 300 speakers

Dolby Atmos has become increasingly popular for home theatre experiences. By incorporating 

 or speakers with upward-firing drivers along with traditional surround sound setups, you can make your living room sound as good as an actual theatre. Imagine watching your favourite films with lifelike audio that envelops you from all directions.

To set up a Dolby Atmos home theatre system, you’ll need some specific equipment. Most importantly, you’ll need an AV receiver or 

. This soundbar features upward-firing speakers that can distribute height content around the room. The optimal setup would also include left and right rear surround speakers with height channels as well as a 

Just as virtual reality has revolutionised visual experiences, virtualised Dolby Atmos has transformed the soundscape for home theatre audio. Leveraging sophisticated audio processing algorithms, a soundbar like 

, can give the impression of overhead sound via simulated 

 without the need for actual ceiling or upward-firing speakers.

In addition to your sound system, you'll also need a streaming service and device, such as a TV, that supports Dolby Atmos content.

Dolby Atmos isn't just for fims. It also enhances your music listening. With Dolby Atmos Music, artists and producers can create immersive tracks that allow you to hear each instrument, vocal and sound effect with astonishing clarity and depth. It's like having a front-row seat at a live concert or being in the recording studio with your favourite musicians.

The number of artists and bands releasing music in Dolby Atmos increases each year, as the technology becomes more widely accessible. Learn more about how music is mixed in spatial audio in this post.

For a truly immersive music experience, you'll need a speaker or soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos Music, such as 

. You'll also need a subscription to a streaming service that offers Dolby Atmos Music tracks, such as Amazon Music or Apple Music.

White Sonos Beam placed under a television

A woman sitting in a chair while listening to music on a white Era 300

Bringing Dolby Atmos into your home is easier than you might think. First, you’ll need a Dolby Atmos-compatible speaker or soundbar, such as 

. In addition to the processing power required to decode Dolby Atmos content, the speaker you choose should also have an upward-firing driver to create the third dimension of height or the ability to render a virtualised 

If you’re only interested in Dolby Atmos Music, a standalone speaker like 

 can deliver that experience. To experience Dolby Atmos for films, shows, and games in addition to music, you’d want a soundbar that can connect to your TV via an 

 (A traditional optical connection does not offer the bandwidth required to transmit a format as sophisticated as Dolby Atmos).

Lastly, you’ll need Dolby Atmos-encoded content, which is typically available from popular media streaming platforms.

To fully enjoy the wonders of Dolby Atmos, you'll need access to content specifically mixed in this format. Fortunately, streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video offer a growing library of films and TV shows with Dolby Atmos support. Additionally, music platforms such as Amazon Music and Apple Music provide a selection of songs in Dolby Atmos Music for an immersive musical experience.

You might be wondering if investing in a Dolby Atmos setup is worth it. The answer depends on your love for high-quality audio and immersive entertainment experiences. If you're passionate about films, gaming, or music and crave an unparalleled level of immersion, then Dolby Atmos is undoubtedly worth considering. The ability to hear sounds from all directions creates a sense of realism that traditional surround sound systems can't match. Plus, as more and more content is being mixed in spatial audio, a Dolby Atmos setup prepares you for the future of listening.

Sonos offers several options for experiencing Dolby Atmos at home.

Sonos Arc Ultra: The Ultimate Dolby Atmos Soundbar

 is a premium smart soundbar that delivers an immersive Dolby Atmos experience. With fourteen high-performance 

, including two upward-firing drivers, Arc Ultra creates a true three-dimensional soundscape that fills your room with breathtaking audio.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2): Powerful Soundbar for Virtualised Dolby Atmos

 is an excellent choice. Despite its compact size, this smart soundbar still packs a punch with its exceptional sound quality and support for virtualised Dolby Atmos.

Sonos Era 300: Breakthrough Dolby Atmos Speaker

 incorporates an upward-firing driver and is designed to deliver high-fidelity audio with precise placement and directionality. When you connect a pair of these speakers to Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4 as part of a surround sound setup, you get the optimal 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos experience.

, Sonos provides seamless compatibility and exceptional sound quality across its entire system of products.

Upgrade your audio setup today and unlock a whole new world of immersive entertainment with Sonos and Dolby Atmos

Note: Dolby, Dolby Atmos, and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

Family watching television with a black Sonos Arc Ultra

What Is Dolby Atmos? And How to Bring It Into Your Home

With Sub and Sub Mini, Sonos makes it easy to add pulse-pounding bass to your music, gaming, or home theatre setup. But what exactly is bass? What does a subwoofer do? And do you really even need one? Continue reading to find out.

Imagine the moments when you’ve been truly overwhelmed by sound—the rumble of an explosion in an action film, the beat dropping on your favourite song, or the subtle details of a faint whisper—and you can guarantee that bass played a part in that experience. Bass itself adds depth and power to your sound, while a dedicated bass speaker (also known as a subwoofer) helps deliver a richer, more balanced listening experience.

Adding the right subwoofer to your sound system can make music feel more detailed, films more immersive, and games more thrilling. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll guide you through the basics of bass, answer some of your most commonly asked questions, and help you find the subwoofer that’s best for your Sonos system.

Let’s start from the beginning. What is bass?

Bass is the low end of the sonic spectrum, stretching from the lower limits of human hearing at 20Hz up to around 100Hz. It’s the rumble you can feel in your chest when listening to music or watching films, like the deep rhythmic pulse of a reggae bassline or the hulking drone of a massive spaceship overhead.

Bass, and the low-frequency soundwaves that produce it, carry an immense amount of power. That’s why it moves you so viscerally, and why it can be heard from further away (or through walls and other surfaces) where higher frequencies get dulled and muffled.

But bass has always presented an age-old challenge to sound designers and engineers alike: Most people can’t accurately experience bass the way it was captured and recorded in the studio because it requires an equally powerful speaker to reproduce it. The solution? A subwoofer.

A subwoofer is a separate, dedicated bass speaker (or ‘woofer’) designed to focus solely on reproducing powerful bass sounds. By splitting the audio signals and sending the lowest frequencies to a subwoofer, you can experience deeper and more powerful bass, leaving your paired speakers to focus on mid and high frequencies, delivering a wider range of sound with 

. Both are designed specifically to handle bass frequencies, and also form the ‘.1’ in a 3.1 or 5.1 sound system. You can learn more about how to build a surround sound setup in our 

Person listening to Five paired with Sub 4 in a room with large windows

A standard two-channel speaker comfortably delivers the full range of sound down to 50Hz, but begins to lose power and clarity beyond this point. By offloading the lowest frequencies to a subwoofer, you can experience richer and bolder bass than you would with just a standalone speaker.

But adding a subwoofer doesn’t just help produce lower lows, it also allows you to experience higher highs. It lessens the load on the rest of your system so your speakers can focus on the frequencies above 50Hz—like the sound of a whistle or hiss of a snake—creating improved detail and less distortion in the mid and high-pitched frequencies. This means that a subwoofer doesn’t just benefit those who love high-intensity action films or bass-heavy electronic music, but instead balances and improves your overall listening experience.

Aren’t subwoofers big and boxy? Where should I place it?

Both Sub and Sub Mini are designed to deliver bold bass without standing out or taking up space. You can neatly tuck Sub under your couch or TV stand, while Sub Mini is designed to sound great no matter where you place it. They also connect wirelessly to your Sonos system, meaning that you can place them anywhere within reach of a power socket rather than having to worry about audio or Ethernet cables.

White Sub 4 and Era 300 on top of a credenza

Won’t a subwoofer shake the walls and floor?

While subwoofers are known for emitting so much power that they can shake pictures hanging on the wall, Sub and Sub Mini were specifically designed to minimise the vibrations associated with traditional subwoofers. The holes (aka ‘tunnels’) on both Sub and Sub Mini aren’t just for aesthetics, they house dual-facing woofers that help eliminate any unwanted rattling and shaking. So you can experience rich, bold bass without disturbing your neighbours.

Whichever setup you choose, you can customise the sound to your exact liking using the Sonos app. Precise 

 and volume controls allow you to set the level of bass to match your listening preferences and acoustic environment, making sure that your subwoofer works in perfect harmony with the rest of your system.

Person reading next to a bookcase with Sub Mini on the ground

If you live in a smaller space, like a flat, then we would recommend Sub Mini and pairing it with a compact 

. But if you have more space to play with and are looking for a more premium sound experience, then adding Sub to a powerful soundbar, like 

, is going to take your sound experience to new heights. You can even add a second Sub—yes, two Subs—to feel bass unlike ever before. (But this is a beginner’s guide, after all. More on that later.)

What Is HiFi Audio? A Beginner’s Guide

What Is a Soundbar? How To Choose One

What Is Dolby Atmos? And How to Bring It Into Your Home

The Beginner's Guide to Subwoofers & Bass for Home Audio

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