A rugged little speaker that brings the whole Sonos ecosystem to the beach, the trail, and the backyard.
8.2
KADS SCORE
Quick Take
The Sonos Roam 2 is the portable speaker to buy if you already live in the Sonos ecosystem, and a very good one even if you do not. It sounds bigger than its 0.95 pound frame suggests, it survives full submersion, and it pairs over Bluetooth straight out of the box with no app wrestling. The 10 hour battery and the lack of Google Assistant are the knocks. At $179, and often $134 on sale, it is the most versatile small speaker in its class.
Loves
- IP67 waterproof and dustproof, survives the pool and the beach
- WiFi plus Bluetooth 5.2 with dead simple Bluetooth setup
- Automatic Trueplay tunes sound to any room or space
- Weighs under a pound and slips into a jacket pocket
- Doubles as a satellite for a full Sonos home system
Not For
- 10 hour battery trails rivals with 20 plus hour claims
- Bass is limited by the tiny enclosure
- No Google Assistant, only Alexa and Sonos Voice
- Sonos app history makes some buyers nervous
The Details
Full Review
Quality
The Roam 2 is a 6.6 inch tube weighing 0.95 pounds, wrapped in a grippy single color grille with color matched Sonos branding. It feels dense and solid, the IP67 sealing inspires confidence, and the separate Bluetooth and power buttons fix the original Roam’s fussiest flaw. Five colors from black to sunset keep it fun. This is a premium little object that begs to be tossed in a bag.
Value
At $179 list, the Roam 2 sits above the JBL Flip 6 and below most premium portables, and it is regularly discounted to $134 on sonos.com. The JBL plays longer per charge and costs less, but it cannot join a Sonos multiroom system or tune itself with Trueplay. If you own any Sonos gear, the Roam 2 is worth the premium. If you do not, the Flip 6 is the better pure value.
You’ll Love It If
Sonos system owners, frequent travelers, and anyone who wants one small speaker for home, beach, and shower should buy the Roam 2.
Skip It If
Battery life maximalists and Google Assistant households should look at JBL or Ultimate Ears alternatives instead.
FINAL VERDICT
The Roam 2 is a superb travel sized speaker with real waterproofing, smart tuning, and the full weight of the Sonos ecosystem behind it. Battery life and the missing Google Assistant keep it from perfection. Buy it on sale and you will not regret it.
8.2 / 10
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