Bose Bass Module 500 Black

Why it's worth it

The Bose Bass Module 500 is a 10-inch cube that connects wirelessly to Bose Smart and Ultra soundbars. If you already own one of those bars and want more low end without rearranging the room, this is the straightforward answer.

The shape is the selling point. It's a 10-inch cube built from premium materials, small enough to sit beside a cabinet or behind a chair without looking like audio equipment. Most subs are a compromise you hide. This one you can leave out.

Pairing with a Bose soundbar takes about a minute. It connects wirelessly to the Smart and Ultra bars, so there's no cable run and no menu diving. You plug it in, the bar finds it, and you're done. For anyone who bought a Bose bar precisely because they didn't want to think about audio setup, that consistency is worth something.

From our review of 8 wireless subwoofers

What we like

• +The shape is the selling point
• +Pairing with a Bose soundbar takes about a minute
• +For a cube this size, the output is more than you'd guess
• +Owner feedback on this one splits more than the Sonos subs

What to know

• –It only works with Bose soundbars
• –A 10-inch cube can only move so much air
• –The reliability picture is the real caution here