Sonos Roam Review: Sonos Quality On the Go

Sonos sent us a review unit to allow one of our writers test it. For more information, please read on.

Sonos' Roam release is very interesting. The brand's first foray in the mobile Bluetooth market was the Sonos Move. Sonos was primarily known for multi-room, in-home speakers that can be connected via Wi-Fi or the Sonos App. Because the Roam comes in the same shape and size as the Ultimate Ears or JBL Flip speakers, it is the first truly portable speaker.

It is odd because Sonos historically opposed Bluetooth speakers due to lossy compression. Roam has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity as well as decent water resistance and a Sonos-tuned audio. This device should offer the best of both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. Here's what I thought of it after I bought one.

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Design: Modern and elegant

Sonos speakers can be made to look great in a variety of different homes by using a unique design. The Roam's design language is characterized by rounded corners and rubberized enclosures. The Roam does not follow the same rectangular or circular approach as many portable Bluetooth speakers. It is rectangular in shape and measures approximately 6.5 inches.

The Shadow Black and Lunar White versions are available. You will find the controls on one side of the unit. The power button, LED indicator and charging port are located on the other. The entire unit's front is covered by the rigid Sonos grill. The Sonos grill looks great, it fits well into the Sonos range, and is different from louder-colored rivals like JBL or UE.

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Portableability, durability, and build quality: Compact enough to carry, but strong enough to withstand everyday use

Even with all the Sonos's design talent, durability and portability of their products remains a concern. The brand's R&D has been largely focused on Wi-Fi speakers and bookshelves, which is a significant portion of their R&D budget. The Roam was rugged and impressive when I first got it in my hands.

I am confident that the speaker can be carried in a backpack thanks to its thick rubber bumpers, condensed and compacted makeup. This speaker is impressive because it has an IP67 water and dust resistance rating that can withstand even severe precipitation.

It is also very small, which I love. The length of this thing is less than 7 inches, with a rounded triangle measuring only 2 inches on each side. It is noticeably smaller than similar JBL and UE products. The product is also very well weighed. Sonos managed to fit all components in the Roam while keeping the entire product below 1 pound.

It still feels sturdy and substantial because the weight of that chassis is evenly distributed. This is due to the Sonos grill and rubber, as well as the plastic letters that are engraved on the logo. All of it feels luxurious in your hand, without feeling too bulky. This is a difficult balance for speakers manufacturers to attain.

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Once you've jumped through all the Sonos hoops, connectivity and setup are solid.

It is difficult for me to give a rating for this category on the Roam. Sonos is stubborn when it comes to connectivity. Previously, you had to pair your app with Wi-Fi to be able use the speakers. The Roam is no exception to this, except for the Bluetooth function.

Although pairing it as a Bluetooth speaker with a smartphone and computer is easier than using Sonos' setup guide, this still misses what a speaker such as this can do. This is a good option for those who want to take it with them while they're on the move. However, if there's access to Wi-Fi, this route will be better.

The Roam setup was not easy for me. Although I did receive a prerelease unit, some of the issues could have been attributed to software/firmware glitches. However, I felt a bit disappointed in a company that had years of experience with apps and should have this onboarding process locked down.

First, download the Sonos app and then switch on your speaker by pressing the button at the back. It will then guide you through how to admit your Roam on your Wi-Fi network. This was actually the first time I had to restart it halfway through. I could not get tap to pair to work properly with my iPhone.

It worked well once it was setup, although it's not as good as Bluetooth speakers. You can use the Sonos App to enable various music services and then cue audio using that app. Your experience with the Sonos app should be quite smooth if you make it a sort of 'command centre'.

Sound quality: Excellent, yet lacking in openness

Overall, I like Sonos' sound quality and EQ. Stereo pairs of Sonos One and Sonos Five, its flagship whole-home speaker line, are some of my favourite systems. Although it's not flat audio, there is a lot of balance between the bass and mids as well as the treble.

This EQ format is carried beautifully by the Roam, which also includes signal processing. The Roam features a tuned and focused woofer as well as a nuanced tweeter. Both are powered by class-D amplifiers. Similar to Sonos' individual-amp design, this is also used on many of its products. This is a nice sound to be able to hear, as it can provide a full and balanced sound for music that you are listening to on your patio or office bookcase.

The sound quality is a little poor due to the limitations of smaller speakers more than this small speaker. It sounds strangely directed because it is only one woofer inside a tiny enclosure. You will hear a different sound if it is 20 feet from you than if you are right in front of it. JBL and UE made major progress in this area with their 360-degree soundstages and punchy audio. These other brands, however, often offer this same fullness, but with a more balanced, tight EQ. This can lead to heavy and sometimes flabby basses.

The TruePlay tuning for the Roam is another option. It adapts your EQ based upon what your on-board microphones perceive about the environment. It didn't make a significant difference to my testing, but you can still try it. If you are looking for a heavy-bass-oriented, loud speaker with a lot of bass, the Roam may not be for you. This could be the speaker for you if you are looking for a great, portable and high-quality sounding speaker.

Battery life: At best, passable

The battery lasts for 10 hours at a reasonable volume with a single charge. I don't think this is bad. I used the speaker at maximum volume, keeping the volume around 75 percent during my testing. These levels allowed me to play back for 12-13 hours. Although Sonos is offering a reasonable estimate based on real world usage, I find it hard to believe that the speaker's estimate of 12 or 13 hours per charge would be comparable to other speakers charging between 12 and 15 hours.

It takes a lot of time to charge, particularly if you have a Sonos higher-wattage brick and an included USB-C cable. The full charge will take about one hour. The Qi wireless charging feature is another great option. Simply place your speaker on your wireless charging pad to charge it up.

My lower-wattage chargers were a bit slow to charge the Roam. It was noticeable. A magnetic wireless charging base is available from Sonos that looks great on a desk and would be a good 'homebase' for the speaker. However, I did not purchase that package to review so can't speak for its effectiveness.

Software and Additional Features: Everything you need to know about the Sonos ecosystem

The best way to maximize your Roam's value is to use the Sonos app. The (albeit limited) 2-band EQ was a great way to improve the sound.

The high-end of the sound spectrum can get a bit lost in the echo of the speaker. This is especially true when you are listening to heavy pop music. The interface of the Sonos app is very intuitive once your music apps such as Spotify and Apple are imported.

The real deal is the way this speaker works with other Sonos products. As with any other speaker, the Roam will show up in your Wi-Fi network alongside your rest of the Sonos devices. You can fold the Roam into your whole-home audio system making it ideal for parties.

The Roam's battery-powered design makes it unique in that you can turn it into a floating speaker, which allows you to take it with you when you need to use the shower, or to your backyard for a party. The Roam is just as good as any Bluetooth speaker that you have used.

Prices: You will need to be prepared for the Sonos Premium

This is not the right portable speaker for you if your goal is to save money. You'll still pay less than the competitors, even at the high end (like JBL). Roam retails for $169 at the moment, which is significantly less than many competitors.

You are buying a brand. You might like the sound quality of Sonos's system and want to use the Sonos app for control. In this instance, the price is likely to be acceptable and not surprising. This speaker, however is on the high end.

Sonos Roam vs. Bose SoundLink Mini II

In this review I have mentioned JBL, Ultimate Ears quite a bit. But the SoundLink Mini II by Bose is a more appropriate comparison. Both the Roam as well as the SoundLink have Wi-Fi connectivity and both use apps. Both can be used with AirPlay 2 and have their own sound quality and EQ. They even cost $10 less than each other. The choice is really down to which one sounds better to you.

Specifications

• Roam Product Name
• Sonos Product Brand
• UPC: 840136801467
• Prices from $169.00
• Publication Date: March 20, 2121
• Weighing 0.95 lbs.
• Product dimensions 6.6x2.4x2.4in
• Color Lunar White, Shadow Black
• Battery life 10 hours
• Wired or wireless Wireless
• Mobile Range: 30M
• 1-year warranty
• Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.0
• Audio Codecs SBC, AAC

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