In many of the best soundbars and music systems, subwoofers are connected by wires. More recently, however, subwoofers have become Wi-Fi enabled, connecting wirelessly to dedicated TV speakers or grouped with speakers in their own ecosystem, as in the Sonos Sub Mini.

Instead of Wi-Fi, the PreSonus Eris Sub 8BT subwoofer uses Bluetooth technology to get as close to a universal audio add-on as possible. Smaller and less expensive than many, the Sub 8BT adds bass and midrange to a wide variety of music, movies, and games, with plenty of adjustment and customization options.

The best part is that rather than only working with a small group of soundbars or speaker sets, the Ellis Sub 8BT's Bluetooth allows you to connect anything from a smartphone, tablet, or computer and not support Bluetooth It can also be wired to form part of a traditional stereo speaker setup. It can also be wired in to form part of a conventional stereo speaker setup that does not support Bluetooth; see our review below to see what the PreSonus Eris Sub 8BT subwoofer can do.

The PreSonus Eris Sub 8BT is available directly from the PreSonus website. It is priced at $199 and is also available at Amazon and Walmart for the same price. In the UK, it is available on Amazon for £169, half the price of the $430 Sonos Sub Mini or the $400 Sony SA-SW3.

The enclosure of the Sub 8BT is made of MDF fiberboard. It is only available in black and comes with sturdy rubber feet to isolate it from the floor; at 12.8" x 11.6" x 9.8" and weighing 16.3 pounds, it is compact and light enough to move around the room until I could decide on placement.

The Eris Sub 8BT, like the company's Eris Sub 8, has a single 8-inch woofer. It has a ported design, with an open slot on the front and an LED below it that glows green when connected.

Powered by a 100W class-AB amplifier, the PreSonus Eris Sub 8BT sounds clean, according to PreSonus tests, handling frequencies from 30Hz to 200Hz and adding deep bass. Lacking the Sub Mini's ability to reach frequencies as low as 25 Hz because it can rattle windows, few will be able to hear or feel the difference.

There are several ways to personalize the output: gain controls from 30 dB to +6 dB, a high-pass (80 Hz) filter, and a 180-degree phase switch. The most impactful control was the variable low-pass filter, adjustable from 50Hz to 130Hz, which was useful for integrating the sub-8BT's output with other speaker systems or rooms.

While other wireless subwoofers connect via Wi-Fi or proprietary technology, the Sub 8BT uses Bluetooth 5.0 and can retain two profiles, eliminating the need to manually re-pair devices. There is also the flexibility of a wired option with a choice of a balanced TRS phono plug and a pair of unbalanced RCA inputs. Outputs are also provided to drive other speakers.

The PreSonus Sub 8BT comes with a 5-foot power cable that connects directly to the subwoofer; the Bluetooth range covers about 48 feet and worked well in corners and near walls as well as under desks.

Setup is not as easy as a wireless subwoofer partnered with the best soundbar, which is preconfigured to automatically connect. I used three different methods. First, I paired the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 via Bluetooth and connected the Edifier powered speakers to the Sub 8BT; after pressing the pair button on the Sub 8BT for a few seconds, the LED changed from white to flashing blue and green, indicating it was ready to pair. It immediately appeared on the phone's Bluetooth interface, and the connection was made in less than a minute.

We then used a hybrid approach, connecting the Mac Mini entertainment computer and the Samsung 43" Smart Display to the Monoprice soundbar via optical audio link and to the Sub 8BT via Bluetooth. The hybrid approach was used. This approach required streaming to the two speakers using Apple's Audio Midi Setup app.

Another approach was for older, pre-Bluetooth hardware in the basement party room, such as the Sherwood RX-4503 audio receiver and Acoustic Research speakers. Sub 8BT, also with RCA cables, retrofitting a Sennheiser BT T100 Bluetooth transmitter to the receiver worked well.

After three weeks of daily use and trying different locations and settings, the Sub 8BT lacked a tuning and control app. In contrast, the Sonos Sub Mini has powerful Trueplay tuning that easily integrates the room and speaker system.

Overall, the Eris Sub 8BT added extra punch, power, and richness, no matter which connection method was used. It was especially noticeable in making up for what was lacking in the Edifier speakers. With the low-pass filter set at an aggressive 130 Hz, the sub provided excellent bass and midrange extension that enlivened the Grateful Dead's "Box of Rain," remastered in 2001. The result was a well-balanced, full-range audio experience that effectively compensated for the midrange and low-frequency tones that the main speakers missed without obscuring the guitar tracks or muddying the vocals. The drum and bass tracks combined to create a texture that could be heard and felt, further enhancing the soulful experience of the song.

On Drake's "Back to Back," the sub-speaker's full-throated bass highlighted the drum and bass guitar tracks without becoming boomy or rumbling. Still, his unique voice came through loud and clear, and on Trombone Shorty's "Something Beautiful," the added bass punch mixed well with the drum tone. On the other hand, the gain had to be turned down so that the low frequencies did not overwhelm the rest of the track.

With a Mac Mini, Samsung Smart Screen, and Monoprice soundbar, the Eris Sub 8BT turned my office into a home theater, bringing out the best in movies and online video. For example, in the opening scene of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," the audio was more powerful, from the sounds of the jungle to the click of Indiana Jones' revolver to the crack of his whip. In the escape scene, the subwoofer excelled with the realistic bass of the giant rock ball chasing Indiana Jones and the eerie thud of Indiana Jones' guide as he fell to the ground dead.

Next, in "Europa Report," the subwoofer added energy and urgency to the roaring solar flare scene and increased the aural intensity of the rocket explosion sequence. I did notice a slight echo in the dialogue, however, which was easily fixed by turning down the gain and low-pass filter a bit. It was easily fixed by turning down the gain and low-pass filter a bit; PreSonus missed a great opportunity to add a phone app to control the subwoofer's Bluetooth capabilities without getting up and running.

Overall, the wireless capabilities of the Sub 8BT were impressive with my conventional audio receiver and Acoustic Research passive speakers. The effect was subtle but exciting in the treble-heavy prelude to Arnold Schoenberg's oratorio Greleader. In addition to making the kettle drums more prominent, the Sub 8BT's contribution made the piece richer and more tension-filled.

Without a doubt, the most surprising aspect of the Sub 8BT is its ability to work with a variety of audio equipment and fill in the missing tones to enhance the experience. In fact, it worked equally well with my Edifer powered speakers as well as the Monoprice soundbar and Acoustic Research passive speakers.

Able to expand your audio world without cables, the PreSonus Eris Sub 8BT subwoofer is the perfect complement to the audio in your cell phone, conventional stereo, computer, or soundbar. Not only can it compensate for missing tones and add punch to music, movies, etc., but it can be connected via traditional analog cable or Bluetooth, opening up a variety of wiring (and de-wiring) possibilities.

The most appealing aspect of the surprisingly small Sub 8BT is its $199 price tag. Finally, the Sub 8BT is one of the most flexible options I've come across at this price, but I fully expect others to follow suit. For now, the PreSonus Sub 8BT is the best Bluetooth subwoofer at this price.