Sonos Roam portable smart speaker is a new option from the renowned American audio product manufacturer. It was about time that the company, well known for its home entertainment audio offerings, forayed into the compact segment. Roam is a lightweight product as compared to the Move smart speaker from Sonos. It fills the dual purpose of a portable speaker and a smart speaker. The device is the most affordable option from the brand to date. In this review, we take a look at Sonos Roam portable smart speaker, what features it packs, how it performs, and if it is worth buying.
Sonos Roam Portable Smart Speaker Review – Design and Appearance
The Sonos Roam portable smart speaker looks elegant. It is in the shape of a triangular prism but with its longer edges curved. You can position it either vertically or horizontally. Its honeycomb mesh front has an embossed Sonos logo in white. An LED beside it denotes if the speaker is connected, muted, or if there is an error. There are four buttons on one side, a play/pause, volume increase, volume decrease, and microphone mute, along with the microphone and an LED indicator for it. Unlike Sonos Move, they are not touch-sensitive. The power button and a USB Type-C port for charging are located on the rear curved edge. Another LED for charging status is provided towards the bottom.
Sonos Roam smart speaker weighs 0.95lbs (0.43kg) and is made for portability. It is compact and lightweight (measuring 6.61 x 2.44 x 2.36 inches (168 x 62 x 60 mm)), making it easy to carry by hand or in a backpack. It comes in Shadow Black and Lunar White options and has a matte finish. Overall, the appearance of the Sonos Roam portable smart speaker is aesthetically pleasing.
Sonos Roam Portable Smart Speaker Review – Features
When it comes to features, Sonos Roam portable smart speaker packs a ton of them. It has integrated Bluetooth (5.0) and Wi-Fi (2.4G and 5G) connectivity, allowing you to pair devices through your home’s wireless network as well as directly. The same also enables multiroom connectivity for listening to the audio on different Sonos speakers in your home. You can stream content from a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer. It automatically pairs with your smartphone after the first time. Alternatively, there is the option to tune in to one of the stations from Sonos Radio. You will need to use the Sonos app for the same.
Users of virtual assistants can use Sonos Roam to access either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant and issue voice commands. You will need to connect the portable smart speaker to a Wi-Fi network for the same. Sonos Roam is one of the few portable smart speakers to support Apple Airplay 2, allowing you to use it with iPhone, iPad, or Mac devices. It only works through Wi-Fi and not Bluetooth. Sonos Roam portable smart speaker also features the Trueplay tuning technology. It automatically adjusts the sound according to your surrounding environment. The device uses its microphone for the same.
Sonos markets its Roam as a waterproof product, and rightly so. The portable smart speaker boasts of an IP67 waterproof rating. Its internals are completely protected against dust, and it has been tested to withstand temporary immersion in water up to a depth of one meter for under thirty minutes. You won’t have to worry about the smart speaker being damaged if it accidentally falls in a swimming pool or an icebox during a party or a river while camping. The Sonos Roam Portable Smart Speaker can be used just about anywhere without any worries, thanks to its IP67 waterproof rating. Its construction is sturdy and drop-resistant, minimizing the chances of physical damage in case of accidental drops.
You can charge Sonos Roam through the USB Type-C port using the included cable. The company recommends a 7.5W or higher adaptor and offers a 10W model for twenty bucks. The portable smart speaker also supports wireless charging via a Qi-certified charger. Sonos also separately sells a triangular wireless charger for the Roam portable smart speaker. It comes with integrated magnets for easy attachment.
Sonos Roam Portable Smart Speaker Review – Performance
The audio performance of the Sonos Roam portable smart speaker is pretty good, but you expect nothing less from a brand with a solid reputation. It produces enough volume to fill up a medium room. Its sound quality is well-balanced with decent mediums and highs. Listeners will find the audio to be clear and natural-sounding, unlike the mechanical audio that some cheap products produce. The bass is surprisingly good as well for the portable smart speaker. You may find it a bit prominent indoors and might want to reduce it through the app. While it is not up to the same level as the Move and the One variants from the brand, it does really well considering its size. Its performance won’t blow the minds of audiophiles, but it will appeal to them nevertheless.
However, the audio quality deteriorates at high volumes, which is expected of any small speaker and even medium ones. We recommend a maximum volume of around 70-80%, although it will also vary from one track to another. For metal and rock music, you might want to stick to the lower end of that range. You will have to download the Sonos app on your smartphone to set up the device and adjust the settings and equalizer of the Roam smart speaker.
Sonos Sound Swap is a neat feature that users with multiple Sonos speakers will find handy. It allows them to transfer the audio being played onto another nearby speaker in their Sonos ecosystem. All they have to do is hold the play/pause button on the Roam smart speaker. If you are in your backyard, listening to your favorite song, podcast, or station, you can transfer the audio to another Sonos speaker inside your house when you go indoors. The device can also automatically switch from a Bluetooth connection to a Wi-Fi network for facilitating the same.
Sonos Roam portable smart speaker can run for up to ten hours on a single charge. High volumes will reduce the effective runtime although not by much. It comes with an 18Wh battery. You can combine a pair of Sonos Roam portable smart speakers for stereo sound. It will be quite expensive, costing $340. However, unlike the Sonos One speakers that can be used as rear speakers in a Sonos surround sound system, Roam doesn’t support the same.
Sonos Roam Portable Smart Speaker Review – Pros & Cons
Before summarizing this review, let’s consider the pros and cons of the Sonos Roam portable smart speaker.
Pros
- Good sound quality
- Portable
- Waterproof and shatter-resistant
- Supports Alexa and Google Assistant
- Feature-packed
Cons
- Expensive
Sonos Roam Portable Smart Speaker – Is It Worth Buying at its Price?
Sonos Roam portable smart speaker costs $169, which is quite hefty when compared to other speakers of similar size. However, for that price, you get a great sounding device with a plethora of features. It has the best audio quality out of all the options available up to its price range, in our honest opinion. If you want better sound, then upgrade to the Sonos One for a few more bucks. But it is heavier and not an ideal portable option.
There are speakers available in this segment with louder volume and punchier bass, like the JBL Link Portable and UE Boom, but they are much bigger in size. Also, they are not smart speakers, unlike Sonos’ Roam that is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. As an added bonus, it is one of the few smart speakers with Apple AirPlay 2 support for wireless streaming.
The Sonos Roam portable smart speaker is good and feature-packed but should you buy it? If you want good audio quality, find the features useful, and are willing to pay the asking price, then the Sonos Roam portable smart speaker is the best option. Users for whom portability is not a requirement can upgrade to the Sonos One for a little more.
Sonos Roam: https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/roam.html
