The Sonos Roam 2 could also be a little bit dear, nevertheless it integrates with the Sonos ecosystem and gives a superb audio high quality.
Execs
- Sturdy construct
- Smooth design
- Devoted Bluetooth button
- Nice audio high quality
- Full-featured
| Purchase From | Checklist Value | Sale Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
$179 | $179 | See It |
Sonos is on a little bit of a roll. The corporate not too long ago unveiled its first headphones, the Sonos Ace headphones — headphones that I beloved once I reviewed them. However there are different new merchandise from Sonos too, together with a follow-up to its most moveable speaker. The Sonos Roam 2 might not signify an enormous improve, nevertheless it does deliver new options to an already-loved speaker.
The Sonos Roam 2 gives a number of design tweaks and a few new options whereas remaining on the identical worth as earlier than. Let’s get this out of the way in which proper now — you probably have a first-generation Sonos Roam, you most likely don’t have to improve to the second-gen mannequin. However, if you happen to’re newly in search of a moveable Bluetooth speaker, the Sonos Roam 2 makes a critical case for itself because the go-to choice for individuals who prioritize audio high quality.
At $179, the Sonos Roam 2 is certainly dearer than different moveable audio system. Is it value shopping for as a premium choice?
A smooth and trendy design
For essentially the most half, the Sonos Roam 2 retains the identical design as earlier than, with a number of minor tweaks. The brand shade has been modified to match the remainder of the speaker, permitting it to mix in, and there’s a devoted Bluetooth button.
The truth that the speaker is so much like the earlier technology isn’t a foul factor. The speaker clearly has Sonos’ design sensibilities, and appears proper at residence subsequent to different Sonos audio system and soundbars. It’s clearly constructed from premium supplies too — a mixture of metallic and a matte rubberized plastic.
Talking of construct high quality, the speaker is constructed for portability, and it nonetheless has the identical waterproof construct. That’s a great factor — with IP67 water resistance, it’ll simply survive splashes and rain, and must be superb submerged in as much as a meter of water for as much as half-hour. To be clear, you received’t wish to drop the speaker in water deliberately, nonetheless if it unintentionally takes a shower, it ought to survive completely superb.
On the left facet of the Sonos Roam 2 speaker, 4 buttons could be discovered. There are two buttons for quantity management, a play/pause button, and a microphone button. On the underside of the speaker are a number of further controls: an influence button and, new for this model, a devoted Bluetooth button. There’s additionally a USB-C port right here, however that port stays solely for charging and may’t be used for wired audio playback.
Like different Sonos audio system, the Sonos Roam 2 is on the market in black and white. Nonetheless, it additionally is available in a number of different enjoyable colours, together with crimson, blue, and inexperienced. I like that Sonos has branched out a little bit in colours for its moveable speaker. It is smart that you just wouldn’t essentially need a inexperienced soundbar, however a inexperienced moveable speaker seems to be good.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, wrapped into one
For essentially the most half, the characteristic set stays the identical on the second-generation speaker. Nonetheless, the way in which you’ll use the speaker is a little bit simpler. That’s as a result of the brand new speaker has a built-in Bluetooth button, which implies you’ll be able to merely flip the speaker on and join it to your gadget by means of Bluetooth with out having to undergo the setup course of within the Sonos app first. The addition of the Bluetooth button could also be a small change, nevertheless it undoubtedly helps make the speaker simpler to make use of day-to-day.
In fact, you’ll be able to nonetheless add the speaker to the Sonos app if you wish to, and if you happen to’re a Sonos consumer with different Sonos audio system, you’ll seemingly wish to do this. The Sonos Roam 2 isn’t only a Bluetooth speaker; it may possibly additionally join by means of Wi-Fi, which signifies that while you’re not utilizing it exterior of the house, it may possibly technically be used as a part of your bigger multi-room speaker system. Sonos even sells a wi-fi charger that can be utilized with the Roam to maintain it always powered. Nonetheless, the speaker can technically be used with any Qi wi-fi charger as nicely. Sonos’ personal wi-fi charger helps 10W charging speeds, whereas most Qi wi-fi chargers max out at 7.5W. I didn’t have the Sonos wi-fi charging to check with.
The Sonos Roam 2 has a microphone constructed into it and helps Sonos’ TruePlay know-how, which implies it may possibly always tune your Sonos speaker. I actually just like the TruePlay tech, nonetheless I’ve discovered it principally helpful for audio system which are mounted in a spot moderately than these which are moved round lots.
As anticipated, as a result of the speaker works by means of Wi-Fi, it additionally helps AirPlay, so it may be built-in into your Apple speaker ecosystem when it’s related to Wi-Fi. The speaker can be used with Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Management. As anticipated, there’s no Google Assistant help, sadly. Lastly, the Sonos app has an EQ constructed into it — nonetheless, it’s a really primary EQ that solely gives a primary slider for bass and treble. This isn’t essentially an enormous deal for the speaker, which sounds fairly good. Nonetheless, I did discover it to be a problem once I reviewed the Sonos Ace headphones.
The battery life on the Sonos Roam 2 is 10 hours of steady listening, which is absolutely solely superb. Different moveable audio system provide a for much longer battery life, so if you happen to’re in search of a speaker that may play music all day with out working out of juice, the Sonos Roam 2 most likely isn’t for you. In fact, most individuals will solely have to pay attention for a number of hours at a time, and if you happen to plan on preserving your speaker on a wi-fi charger or plugged in everytime you’re not utilizing it, you should not have any points with the battery.
Nice audio high quality total
The audio high quality on the Sonos Roam 2 is just about the identical as the unique Sonos Roam, which isn’t essentially a foul factor. The unique Sonos Roam sounded nice, and the Sonos Roam 2 does, too.
Regardless of being a smaller speaker, the Roam 2 is able to producing first rate bass response. Positive, you received’t get the identical bass that you just’ll discover from a speaker just like the Sonos Period 300, nevertheless it’s actually not sub-par.
Like many client audio system, the Sonos Roam 2 has a slight minimize within the mid-range and a small increase within the highs. This isn’t a foul factor — it helps make the speaker sound nice for all kinds of music. I used to be notably impressed with the high-end response supplied by this speaker. Typically, smaller moveable audio system restrict each the bass and the highs, however there’s first rate readability and element within the high-end for a speaker on this class. Positive, audiophiles may need a little bit greater than this speaker can provide, however so far as moveable audio system go, the Sonos Roam 2 sounds wonderful.
Conclusions
In a vacuum, the Sonos Roam 2 could be a little bit of a troublesome promote. It seems to be good and sounds nice, nevertheless it’s additionally comparatively costly at $180. There are different moveable audio system, just like the Anker Soundcore Movement 300, that additionally sound nice and price a complete lot lower than the Roam 2.
However the Sonos Roam 2 doesn’t exist in a vacuum. As an alternative, it’s constructed to cater to present Sonos customers who need a moveable speaker they will combine into the ecosystem. For these customers, the Sonos Roam 2 is a wonderful speaker. It really works nicely with Sonos’ app, helps tech like AirPlay 2, and when it’s not exterior the house, it may be built-in right into a wider multi-room speaker system.
The competitors
As talked about, the Sonos Roam 2 is constructed for a selected sort of consumer — somebody who already makes use of Sonos merchandise and desires a transportable speaker that can be utilized with the remainder of their system. For these individuals, there’s actually no competitors. That mentioned, if you have already got the unique Sonos Roam, you don’t want to purchase the Sonos Roam 2.
Nonetheless, if you’re merely in search of a transportable speaker to make use of on the go, it could be value contemplating one thing just like the Anker Soundcore Movement 300, which prices solely round $80. It’s not as premium as Sonos’ providing, nevertheless it does sound fairly good and has an extended 13-hour battery life.
Ought to I purchase the Sonos Roam 2?
Sure. In case you’re in search of a transportable Sonos speaker, it’s the way in which to go.
