STEREO GUIDE test verdict
The Sonos Roam 2 brings some small improvements.
You can now listen to music via Bluetooth straight out of the box.
And there are new, fashionable colors in addition to the previous black and white range.
At its core, however, it remains the same: an extremely compact mobile wireless speaker with WLAN and Bluetooth that can be seamlessly integrated into the Sonos multiroom system.
Its sound quality never ceases to amaze, especially in the bass.
Pros
- very compact, but amazing bass
- Comparatively deep, contoured bass
- Voice assistants possible with their own microphone
- Can even be paired with a Gen. 1 Roam in stereo
Cons
- Multiroom functionality is reflected in the price
- Limited dynamic capabilities
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Tonal balance / transparency7.3
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Bass / Dynamics6.6
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Ease-of-use / Connectivity9.5
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Price/Performance8.0
The Sonos Roam 2 now succeeds the first mobile speaker from the popular US brand in handbag format. What makes the Roam special is that the 430 gram wireless box not only understands WLAN, as is usual with Sonos, but also Bluetooth. The lightweight speaker thus follows the concept of the larger of the two mobile speakers, the Move 2. Its predecessor was launched in 2019 and received a hardware update some time ago.
Now it was the Sonos Roam’s turn for a model update. The Roam also inherited the really smart concept of automatic calibration every time you move from one place to another from its predecessor. This means that the small Sonos can adapt perfectly to the acoustics of its surroundings. A positive side effect: whereas previously an Apple iPhone or iPad was required for calibration, as its microphone was needed to carry out the Trueplay calibration, which involved some gymnastics, Android users can now also enjoy this useful technology. The Roam 2 uses its integrated microphones, which are also required for voice control.
Sonos did not touch these basic values of its successful mobile concept in the 2nd generation. This includes the IP67 protection against water and dust. The look of the Roam 2 is also similar to its predecessor, with the exception of small details. While the logo on the plastic grille of the baffle was previously always white, it clearly stood out on the black version of the wireless speaker, which is available in two colors. Now, in addition to black and white, the pastel shades of olive, sunset and wave are also available. Another innovation is hidden at the back: the Americans have given the Roam 2 two separate buttons for switching on and activating Bluetooth pairing. And the wireless speaker can now be paired with a Bluetooth cell phone straight out of the box. This eliminates the comparatively cumbersome basic setup of the speaker via WLAN, which even requires Sonos newcomers to set up an account with the manufacturer.
No lifetime extension for the new generation
At up to 10 hours, the battery life of the Sonos Roam 2 is on a par with its predecessor. This means that the new version of the small Sonos still lags slightly behind competitors such as the Sony ULT Field 1 or the best-selling JBL Flip 6, which, under optimal conditions, can achieve up to around 12 hours of operating time between two charges via the USB-C socket In standby mode, which is necessary for user-friendly integration into a Sonos network, the Roam 2’s battery lasts up to 10 days.
The Sonos Roam 2 has one thing in common with the JBL Flip 6 mentioned in the previous paragraph: it uses a 2-way system with a dome tweeter and an oval mid-bass driver. Thanks to its shape, it makes optimum use of the space in the narrow baffle of the triangular housing, which is reminiscent of a packet of Toblerone chocolate. After all, you need as much cone area as possible for the bass in order to be able to move more air. However, in addition to its active “Racetrack” driver, the Flip 6 also has two passive cones for the bass on the sides of its round housing. Sonos did without this trick simply because the triangular cross-section, with an edge length of only 6 centimeters, is not at all suitable for this. Despite this omission, the first Roam astounded with rich bass that you wouldn’t expect from the little speaker.
A connection to the past
Obviously, Sonos therefore saw no reason to change the acoustic concept. After all, there is no indication in the documentation of any improvements aimed at the sound. On the contrary: Sonos indicates that you can pair your old Roam with the new one via the Sonos App to form a stereo pair. This pairing requires an identical sound tuning, because otherwise no correct, stable stereo reproduction can be achieved.
Touch buttons
In terms of operation, the keypad on the left-hand side of the wireless speaker, which can be operated upright or lying down with its small rubber feet, remains unchanged as part of the model update. This also means that the problem remains that the controls, which are only slightly raised from the rubber-like surface, are very difficult to see, especially in low light. Sonos is very keen to point out one of the buttons: it is the one for switching off the microphone, with which the voice assistants Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Control usually permanently listen in to what is being said nearby.
As before, Sonos Voice Control also works in Bluetooth mode on the move, as voice recognition takes place on board the small speaker. This is also a good feeling in terms of privacy. Alexa requires a corresponding account and sends the voice commands to Amazon in order to understand them. That’s why Alexa also needs Wi-Fi access.
App date for a better user experience
The Sonos app underwent a major update in April. As a result, you can now customize the start screen and have a new user interface that should make operating procedures easier. Setup is easy if you already have a Sonos user account. However, it still takes a while because the Roam 2 first downloads the latest software after you have entered your network password. If you want to use Sonos’ own voice assistant, you first have to install the necessary data on the speaker and make the usual link to your Amazon account with Alexa.
Even more than a year after reviewing the Sonos Era 100, where I tried out the voice control at the time, there is still no German version of the voice assistant. As back then, there is only a choice of English or French. Those who speak one of these two languages will be well served. In the review, the Roam 2 always reliably understood the wake word “Hey Sonos”, even at high playback volumes, and obeyed promptly without me having to learn any predefined commands beforehand. That’s really practical.
While writing this review, I was listening to music through the tiny Sonos box and didn’t need to reach for my phone every time I wanted to skip to the next track or change the volume. Once, in the heat of the moment, I accidentally spoke to it in German: “Hey Sonos, skip to the next track.” This wish was granted without complaint. Sometimes a cool blues voice speaks up to provide feedback in English. For example, you can save yourself the wake word for two commands.
Sound test: This is how the Sonos Roam 2 sounds
And that brings us to the sound check. The Sonos Roam 2 impresses time and time again with its powerful bass, which is surprisingly deep considering its compact size and remains very precise and differentiated. It even develops a very good punch, not to say kick. The difference to its predecessor: with the 2nd generation, we were already prepared for the richness of sound that awaited us. And that’s remarkable every time, especially when you consider that Sonos doesn’t use passive radiators for the bass. This method is popular because, like the bass reflex principle on which it is based, it promises greater efficiency in the production of low tones. However, precision also suffers as a result.
The principle-based advantage of the closed speaker cabinet is also noticeable if you don’t listen too loudly and push the Racetrack driver to the limit. The control logic in the DSP chip prevents damage and significant distortion by limiting the bass. However, from around 80 percent of the maximum volume, the sound becomes somewhat strained. The bass then noticeably loses substance, the boom then becomes more of a “thump”.
Size doesn’t matter
If you take the dimensions of the device and not the price as a yardstick, the Sonos Roam 2, like its predecessor, delivers an extremely impressive performance, which is easily sufficient for small to medium-sized rooms at room volume in apartment buildings. The Trueplay calibration works unobtrusively in the background and ensures that the small speaker gives its best in every position.
If the Roam is accidentally placed on the wrong side, the power that the 2-way system pumps into the small, triangular cabinet quickly becomes apparent and the speaker begins to move across the tabletop in time with the music. As far as the bass is concerned, the lying position brings tiny advantages, while the clarity in the vocal range benefits from upright operation. The sound then seems slightly airier and detaches itself better from the speaker. Then the dwarf doesn’t seem like such a small wireless speaker. That is always impressive. However, the full sound potential can only be exploited with WLAN. With Bluetooth, the sound seemed more washed out, strained and harsher than with a Marshall Emberton 2, for example.
But despite all the excitement about the sound cloud that seems to come out of nowhere, it’s important to remember: Compared to the Sonos One, which offers more sound volume at a similar price, the Roam can hardly keep up. Its strength lies in its mobility and its ability to be operated without a power socket.
The Qobuz playlist from STEREO GUIDE for your own listening test
Sonos Roam 2: Conclusion and alternatives.
Compared to ordinary Bluetooth speakers in the up to 200 euro class, the Roam 2 can’t make an exclamation mark in terms of sound. It is not only competing with luxury products such as the slightly cheaper Marshall Emberton 2, against which it holds its own. You can also get really big mobile wireless speakers like the Tronsmart Bang Max for the same budget. It is almost half a meter wide, weighs 6 kilos, has a battery for up to 24 hours of operation and a power supply unit, which Sonos charges an extra 40 euros for. The Bang Max pumps out really fat party bass with a much larger housing volume. But it and the others are just ordinary Bluetooth speakers that cannot be integrated into a multi-room network like the Roam 2. And some people would deliberately like it to be a little smaller and more discreet …
All in all, the mobile Sonos for indoors and outdoors offers versatility thanks to its integration into the Sonos universe and cooperation with voice assistants, which makes it attractive to fans of the brand. It may not be a sound miracle, but for its size it certainly delivers a very respectable performance.
Technical spevifications Sonos Roam
- Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: 200 Euro
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 62 x 16.8 x 6 cm
- Weight: 0.43 kg
- Special features: 2-way, stereo pairing, Bluetooth, WLAN, up to 10 hours of battery operation, 10 days on standby, Sonos S2 app compatible, TruePlay room calibration
- More at www.sonos.com
