Sonos' Cheapest Smart Speaker Is Also The One I Use The Most. Here's Why

3 days ago

In summation to a brace of trusty headphones for backstage listening erstwhile you're retired successful public, you request a portable speaker to support nan euphony bumping erstwhile you're extracurricular grilling, swimming, aliases walking. A speaker to person wrong for jamming retired while you're cleaning, cooking, aliases hosting friends is simply a bonus, and 1 that's stylish capable to spell from your outdoor hike to your indoor meal statement is simply a rarity.

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Although smart location speakers and portable Bluetooth speakers are a dime a twelve -- and I've tested plentifulness to cognize -- fewer are a blend of both. The Sonos Roam 2 is nan 1 I scope for, moreover a twelvemonth aft its release.

Here's why it's still my favorite.

It's a cleanable blend of style and functionality

The Roam 2 has an IP67 rating, meaning it tin withstand tumbles successful nan dusty outdoors and little drops successful water. Like each Sonos products, it sports a sleek, nondescript design, an outlier successful nan oversea of rugged speakers pinch angular edges, large colour combinations, and flashy branding.

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Sonos' Move 2 speaker is besides water-protected, but it's not built for accidental submersion successful h2o and is harder to transportation connected nan go. Plenty of Bluetooth speakers, for illustration Sony's Ult Field 3, JBL's Charge 6, and Bose's SoundLink Max, are waterproof, but thing thumps nan elemental yet easy recognizable Sonos creation that's modern and elegant capable to show astir nan home. Not to mention, nan Move 2 is cheaper than them all.

Sonos' toned-down creation elements and waterproof standing make nan Roam 2 stylish capable to beryllium connected your countertops while you navigator meal and durable capable to task outdoors pinch you.

Why don't much speakers person AirPlay?

Building connected nan Roam 2's functionality, it supports 2 ways to link to your iPhone wirelessly. You tin usage Bluetooth while retired and astir and Apple AirPlay complete Wi-Fi for at-home listening.

AirPlay uses your location Wi-Fi web to transportation accusation from your iPhone to nan Roam 2 alternatively than Bluetooth, which uses a nonstop wireless connection. Streaming euphony via Wi-Fi to nan Roam 2 intends only nan euphony plays from nan speaker, and not each different sound your telephone makes. Notifications, a TikTok video, and haptic sounds are constricted to nan phone, keeping nan sound retired of nan speaker.

Also: This Marshall Bluetooth speaker I tested sounds amended than audio systems doubly nan price

AirPlay is typically reserved for location speakers that require a powerfulness source, tethering them to nan outlets successful your location -- and they're typically much than $200. It's difficult to travel crossed a portable AirPlay-enabled speaker that's little than $200, which is why nan Roam 2 wins successful my eyes.

Versatile smart speakers for nan win

The Sonos Roam 2 has each nan smart speaker fixings: sound control, AirPlay, Alexa compatibility, in-app euphony streaming work diversity, and automatic tuning. Plus, you don't request to support it plugged into nan wall. But if you already reside successful nan Sonos ecosystem, location are 2 much features to discover.

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If you person different Sonos speakers aliases soundbars, you tin group nan Roam 2's audio pinch them. I for illustration to usage this characteristic erstwhile doing chores astir nan house, truthful I ever person euphony playing nary matter what room I'm in.

You tin besides switch audio from nan Roam 2 to your nearest Sonos speaker, which is useful if you're moving rooms but different group successful your location want to perceive to thing else. Then, erstwhile you're done listening inside, you tin easy transportation nan Roam 2 pinch 1 manus to nan patio for outdoor listening.

What Sonos could amended successful nan adjacent generation

The Sonos Roam 2 is simply a applicable portable speaker, peculiarly for dedicated Sonos fans who want a Sonos merchandise that isn't fixed to nan indoors. The speaker could beryllium louder, but that could make it little portable.

For its mini size, nan Roam 2 has a mini artillery to travel it. This speaker only delivers astir 10 hours of playtime, which is comparatively short and not an betterment from its predecessor. Hopefully, nan adjacent procreation could person 1 to 2 much hours of juice.

If nan Roam 2's short artillery isn't a deal-breaker, it's a awesome action for Sonos fans and those extracurricular nan ecosystem, particularly if you're searching for a portable speaker to support astir nan location and return outside.