Contributor II

Answered

Best sub for Beam Gen 2, 600 SQ FT apartment

40 replies
898 views

I live in a 2nd floor wood frame apartment. I’ve a Beam 2 and 2x Sono ONE Gen2. I like to replace the two ONE’s with a SUB. Can anybody recommend one? Doesn’t have to be brand new.

This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

Stanley_4Answer

Grand Maestro

For news neither will really make a difference, surround audio will be minimal at best, same for the frequencies the sub responds to.

Movies, I'd want the surrounds first, then the sub but both if at all possible as they offer different enhancements to the Beam's sound that compliment each other.

Music, probably the sub first but I also really like the surround ambient mode for sitting and listening or full mode for parties or even just moving around the room or apartment, nice volume boost without pushing the drivers in the Beam.

Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

You want to remove the Surround speakers instead of just adding a Sub to the system?

The apartment size doesn't matter, just the room where the Sub will,be installed. How big is it, is it an open floorplan or enclosed room, ceiling height matters too,

S

slam5Author

Contributor II

It is my living room 400 sq feet. Itis a rectangular.

Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

For a very small room like that the mini Sub should do quite well.

Before you get rid of the surrounds maybe try switching them off and on and comparing how good surround media sounds without them active? I sure wouldn't give up my surrounds, f forced to choose I'd lean to having surrounds over having a sub, both is of course better.

S

slam5Author

Contributor II

I’m only watching TV. I have a 65 in Sony and most watch news, a bit of movies. A bit of jazzy music. Which will you choose? Tia

Stanley_4Answer

Grand Maestro

For news neither will really make a difference, surround audio will be minimal at best, same for the frequencies the sub responds to.

Movies, I'd want the surrounds first, then the sub but both if at all possible as they offer different enhancements to the Beam's sound that compliment each other.

Music, probably the sub first but I also really like the surround ambient mode for sitting and listening or full mode for parties or even just moving around the room or apartment, nice volume boost without pushing the drivers in the Beam.

S

slam5Author

Contributor II

so, the sub will be good, in your experience. I’m in Canada and found a sub gen 3 for $ 600 CAD ( $434 USD) Plan to sell my 2 x Sonos ONE and replace it with the SUB.

AjTrek1

Just my two cents. Speaking from experience prior to this year's update to allow setting speech enhancement levels for ARC, Beam 2 and Arc Ultra; I would have recommended a Sub over surrounds. Prior to the speech enhancement update to set speech levels; Sonos soundbars IMO didn’t do a great job on their own to amplify the mid-range for speech. The sub would take over the low-end duties allowing the soundbar to better attenuate the mids and highs.

Given your viewing/listening profile (shared) I’d say the sub is the right option. Although, I have to agree with @Stanley_4 that having both (sub and surrounds) is better.

However, I recommend you consider the Sub-Mini given its price point versus a Sub Gen3 and your room size. That option may allow you to keep the Sonos Ones.

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.

Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

I have a full Sub in a 100 sq ft room, 10x10 and it is far more than is needed, have to dial the level back a good bit to keep it from booming me out of the room.

The full Sub will work in your room but you are going to have the volume even lower than I do for balanced sound.

You could get a Sonos refurbished mini Sub for around $350 US, that comes with a warranty and is far newer than the gen 3 full sub.

https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/sub-mini-b-stock

R

Robeddie

Avid Contributor I

Just my two cents. Speaking from experience prior to this year's update to allow setting speech enhancement levels for ARC, Beam 2 and Arc Ultra; I would have recommended a Sub over surrounds. Prior to the speech enhancement update to set speech levels; Sonos soundbars IMO didn’t do a great job on their own to amplify the mid-range for speech. The sub would take over the low-end duties allowing the soundbar to better attenuate the mids and highs.

Given your viewing/listening profile (shared) I’d say the sub is the right option. Although, I have to agree with @Stanley_4 that having both (sub and surrounds) is better.

However, I recommend you consider the Sub-Mini given its price point versus a Sub Gen3 and your room size. That option may allow you to keep the Sonos Ones.

Totally agree with this vs. getting surrounds. Granted this is a subjective thing, but to my ears, the QUALITY of the sound comes first … much more than the occasional ‘being able to hear the gunfire from behind you’ effect of surrounds. I also strongly agree than in this small room the Sub-Mini is best. (Frankly, I think the tighter sound of the Sub-Mini is better than the big sub regardless so I’d recommend that over the big sub almost every time anyway)

R

Robeddie

Avid Contributor I

I have a full Sub in a 100 sq ft room, 10x10 and it is far more than is needed, have to dial the level back a good bit to keep it from booming me out of the room.

The full Sub will work in your room but you are going to have the volume even lower than I do for balanced sound.

You could get a Sonos refurbished mini Sub for around $350 US, that comes with a warranty and is far newer than the gen 3 full sub.

https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/sub-mini-b-stock

For that room, the Sub-Mini would have been a better bet, imo. And like I’d said above, I think the ‘tighter’ sound of the Sub-Mini is better than the somewhat ‘sloppier’ sound of the big sub anyway.

Show more replies

Sign up

Login to the community