Sonos Roam 2, the all-terrain speaker

Sonos has renewed its smallest and most affordable speaker, the Sonos Roam, maintain what was working well and fix small bugs that could be found in the previous version.

When Sonos launched its Roam speaker, it was difficult to fit it into the portable speaker category because although due to its size, Bluetooth connectivity and sound it had to fit into this category, it had other features that did not fit there, such as WiFi connectivity, possibility of installing a virtual assistant like Alexa or compatibility with AirPlay 2 and Multiroom. The same thing happens with the new version of this small speaker that we are analyzing today, the Roam 2, which, maintaining the same functionalities, plays exactly what we liked least about the previous version.

Design and features

The few changes we’ll find in this speaker will carry over to the exterior, but don’t expect them to be very striking. one of them is the logo, which is now the same color as the speaker. The model we tested is orange, and it is also available in black, white, blue and green. On previous models, the logo was a soft color. Otherwise… they are identical. The shape of the triangular prism with the rounded profiles is retained, and the truth is that why change it if it is comfortable to wear and allows it to be placed both vertically and horizontally, the choice is yours.

At the top we find the physical controls for the speaker, for volume and playback, as well as the button to disconnect the microphone. On the back the power and Bluetooth buttons, separately. This is the other new thing that seems somewhat irrelevant, but it is, more so than you might imagine. Not only is it more convenient to have them separately, but it also allows you to use the speaker without having to use the Sonos app to set it up first. Bluetooth operation is like any portable speaker: plug and play. You can do the setup later if you want, and you should because otherwise you’ll miss a lot. But we’ll talk about that later.

In addition to these buttons, we have the USB-C connector that we can use to recharge the device, with the cable included in the box or with any other compatible cable. And if you want to forget about cables, You can charge it with any Qi charging base that you have at home, or purchase the specific Sonos charging base. Being able to use the same base that you use for your smartphone is a great advantage, it’s the best way to always have your battery powered speaker ready to use. Since using it, I have never used the cable. Its 10-hour battery life (depending on the volume at which you use it) allows you to use it for long days and place it back on the base to have it ready the next day.

Two small, barely noticeable LEDs They tell you that the speaker is on (top, white) with Bluetooth active (top, blue) or that it is charging (bottom, orange). The other LED you’ll find is next to the button that turns the microphone on and off, you won’t find any RGB lights or anything similar on this speaker. Fireworks are not for Sonos, and I personally celebrate that. The construction is very sturdy and the IP67 certification ensures that you can use it outdoors without worrying about water or dust damaging it.

If you’re not familiar with the Sonos ecosystem, it’s hard to explain why this speaker really costs what it does. A $199 portable speaker may seem excessive compared to what speakers of similar size and sound quality cost. But we cannot ignore all the more that this Sonos Roam 2 offers us. To take advantage of these “premium” features we must. use the Sonos app and connect it to our home WiFi network. Thanks to this we can add this Roam 2 to our Sonos network, we can use multiroom to listen to the same thing in all rooms, or we can group it with other Sonos Roam to form a stereo group and improve the quality sound more than considerably.

To improve sound quality, the Sonos Roam 2 has automatic Trueplay, a system with which the speaker microphones are used to “listen” to the sound and adapt it to the room and location in which you have placed it to provide the best possible sound quality. . And let’s not forget the ability to install a virtual assistant, whether Amazon Alexa or Sonoswhich is only available in English. Being able to use Assistant gives you the ability to control the speaker using your voice, without having to use the iPhone or manual controls, which is extremely convenient at home. Being in your room and listening to your favorite music or podcast without getting up from your chair or bed is really comfortable, and it’s strange that such a small speaker is capable of this. And of course, if you have Alexa-enabled home automation, you can also control it with your voice, as well as any other Amazon Assistant actions, like telling you jokes or stories.

Sound quality

In an enclosure, size matters a lot. The Sonos Roam 2 more than delivers on its promises given its size, surprising both in volume and sound quality, but don’t expect imposing sound that will allow you to create outdoor parties. It is a perfect speaker for a small room, to take into the garden and listen to music while reading or sunbathing, or to take anywhere like to the beach or on a trip to the countryside. The sound is quite balanced, with good bass given that it doesn’t have a dedicated subwoofer. The sound is best enjoyed at volumes around 50-70%, from there the bass is significantly reduced, probably to avoid sound distortion.

Editor’s opinion

When we talk about portable speakers, we usually think of a small speaker with a Bluetooth connection and limited sound quality. The Sonos Roam 2 would fall into this category if we forgot everything else, which wouldn’t be fair at all. Its price is not cheap if we compare it to other similar speakers in terms of size and sound quality, but of course it offers us things that others do not. If you are looking for a speaker to use at home, connect to your Sonos network, be able to use it with Alexa and take it anywhere without thinking twice, you don’t have a better option than this one . Its price is $199 on Amazon () although there are frequent offers with which you can save $20-30.

Against

• Its limited by its size