Sonos Roam 2

The $179 Sonos Roam 2 is difficult to distinguish from the original. It has the same drivers and wireless streaming options in a waterproof build, adding just a dedicated Bluetooth button, an updated charging cable, and various battery improvements. The speaker sounds relatively good for its size, and the revitalized Sonos app works fine, though Amazon Alexa support is limited and Sonos no longer works with Google Assistant. The Roam 2 is still the most compact, outdoor-ready model in the Sonos lineup, though the larger and pricier Sonos Move 2 ($449) offers far superior stereo sound. The Roam 2 is worth considering if you're already a Sonos user and want a bag-friendly speaker to carry on the go, but for everyone else, we recommend the Editors' Choice-winning Anker Soundcore Motion 300, which offers high-res Bluetooth streaming and a speakerphone for just $79.99.

Design and Specs: Mostly More of the Same

At roughly 2.4 by 6.6 by 2.4 inches (HWD) and 0.95 pounds, the Roam 2 is available in Black, Olive, Sunset, Wave, or White. In a nice design touch, the logo matches the color of the speaker (the original sports a white logo regardless of the color). It's both smaller and lighter than the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 (2.2 by 7.9 by 3.9 inches, 1.7 pounds).

(Credit: Tim Gideon)

The Roam 2's oblong, triangular enclosure houses forward-facing drivers behind a perforated grille. A single racetrack-style midrange driver is to the left of the front panel, while a single tweeter is on the right. The speaker delivers mono audio. There are no changes here compared with the original. You won't hear much of the effect given its compact size, but the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 technically produces stereo sound.

A status LED sits to the left of the Sonos logo on the front, while the side panel includes the main playback controls. The bottom has four rubber feet that prevent the speaker from scooting around, though Sonos clearly intends for you to also use the Roam 2 in an upright position. You'll see some less-than-attractive text on the right panel, including the product name and serial number. When you stand the speaker up, these details aren't visible.

The speaker orientation has implications apart from the aesthetics. Placing the speaker upright, for instance, positions the tweeter at the bottom and the woofer at the top. Ideally, this should be the other way around so that the tweeters more closely align with your ears. When resting horizontally, both drivers project sound slightly upward, so they deliver cleaner, more detailed audio.

As for connectivity, the Roam 2 is compatible with the somewhat outdated Bluetooth 5.0 standard and uses only the AAC and SBC codecs. For comparison, the Soundcore Motion 300 offers the high-res-capable LDAC codec for Android devices, in addition to AAC. The Sonos speaker doesn't support Google Fast Pair or multipoint pairing, but it does include dual-band Wi-Fi and AirPlay 2. There are some restrictions on the former, however. When I asked about using the Roam 2 on multiple Wi-Fi networks, a Sonos representative explained: “When away from home, Roam 2 can be connected to another Wi-Fi network using the Sonos app on a device connected to the same network, but will operate on its own system and cannot be added or grouped to the existing system. When you bring Roam 2 back home, it will automatically reconnect to your home system.” 

The control panel on the left has a play/pause button that also handles track navigation (press twice to skip forward a track or three times to navigate backward). Discrete plus and minus volume buttons are on either side. A nearby mic button enables you to use the Sonos Voice Control function, which you can set up in the app. Alternatively, you can enable Alexa for hands-free voice control. There's no speakerphone, like on the Soundcore Motion 300.

(Credit: Tim Gideon)

On the back, the speaker has an uncovered USB-C charging port, a power button, and the aforementioned Bluetooth button for initiating a connection (the previous model combined the latter two functions). The box includes a generously long USB-C-to-USB-C charging cable—one side has a straight connector, and the other terminates in a right-angle plug.

Sonos estimates that the Roam 2 can last roughly 10 hours per charge, the same as for the original. But a Sonos representative says the company has made several improvements through software to maximize battery life since long-term battery health was an issue with the original. The rep also cited the updated USB-C charging cable as part of that effort. One advantage the Roam 2 has over most other portable speakers is support for wireless charging; simply place the right-side panel down on top of a Qi wireless charger to replenish the battery.

An IP67 rating means the Roam 2 is dustproof and can survive underwater at depths of up to a meter for 30 minutes. You shouldn't worry about getting it wet or washing dirt off under a faucet. The Soundcore Motion 300 doesn't have any official protection against dust but is just as waterproof.

App Experience: The Biggest Change

Sonos overhauled its mobile app (available for Android and iOS) earlier in 2024, but the general reaction was quite negative. The company has since addressed the redesign and issued an update with some fixes. It claims it will fix additional issues soon, too.

You can use the Roam 2 without the app, though just as a regular Bluetooth speaker. The app interface looks different than that of most Bluetooth speakers, but that's by design. Conceptually, the app is more about managing an entire Sonos system rather than just the Roam 2.

A persistent music playback tile at the bottom of the screen includes a volume slider, a playback button, and album art for the current track. Tap the settings icon and then Roam 2 (the default name for the room you place the Roam 2 in) to adjust various settings, as well as rename the room. Select the Roam 2 again to see its battery life, as well as access the mic and Wi-Fi controls.

(Credit: Sonos/PCMag)

Back on the room screen, you get tiles for Trueplay (which uses the mics to measure your surroundings and adjust the audio accordingly) and EQ. In the latter section, you can adjust bass and treble faders as well as toggle a Loudness setting. I would prefer a greater level of control here, but a simple EQ is better than no EQ at all.

Further down, the Add a Voice Assistant section lets you enable Sonos Voice Control or Amazon Alexa. Google Assistant remains out of the picture here—now a long-running shortcoming of Sonos products. I was able to set up Alexa and use it hands-free, but not in the way I hoped. Getting a weather report is seamless, though you can't use Alexa to control music and radio playback. For that, you must choose the Sonos Voice Control option. It's easy to set up and readily understands requests to play specific Sonos radio stations. The limited Alexa integration prevents the Roam 2 from reaching full-on smart speaker status.

Rounding out the app is the option to set up a stereo pair with another Roam 2, set a volume limit, and configure the automatic Bluetooth connection behavior. Additionally, a battery-saving function allows the speaker to power down more quickly when it's not in use, and the Wi-Fi Power Save option extends battery life when connected to Wi-Fi. You can also turn off the status LED and the onboard controls if you wish. 

Sound Quality: No Different Than the Original

I didn't notice a dramatic difference in the audio with Trueplay engaged, but that's not surprising since my testing environment is relatively controlled from an acoustic standpoint. You are likely to notice more of a change in an outdoor setting. I can attest that the EQ works well enough, though pushing the bass at high volumes can cause the digital signal processing (DSP) to step in and limit the dynamics. For my evaluations below, I turned Trueplay off and set the EQ to neutral. As mentioned, Sonos hasn't changed the drivers or their tuning compared with the original, so there aren't any surprises here.

On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the Roam 2 delivers decent low-frequency response at moderate volumes. But at top volumes, the DSP kicks in and really thins out the lows. It’s better than the alternative (distortion), though deep bass tracks lose a bit of their thump.

(Credit: Tim Gideon)

As expected, the speaker can't reproduce the sub-bass at the 34-second mark of Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty.” The highest of the sub-bass notes from this progression sometimes dance into the speaker’s range but don't sound full-bodied. Few portable Bluetooth speakers can reach as low as this track goes, and those that do are much larger. The various vocals come across clearly with no interference from the lows.

The drums on Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with far less deep bass, seem to slip into the background a bit—they don’t receive much bass presence like they would on a larger speaker. Callahan’s vocals get the bulk of any bass response, while the rest of the mix has a crisp delivery that lends some air to the acoustic strums and higher-register percussive hits. 

On orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the Roam 2 subtly pushes the lower-register instrumentation forward. The spotlight remains on the bright, higher-register brass, strings, and vocals, however.

Verdict: A Fine Portable Speaker, But Not Much of a Sequel

The Roam 2 isn't a notable update to the original, with fairly minor changes to power management and the control layout. Given the three-year gap since the first model, we expected at least some improvements to the drivers and outdated Bluetooth version. Still, the Roam 2 remains the most portable option for extending your Sonos system outdoors. If you want a Sonos speaker with enough power for a backyard party, we recommend the larger, more powerful, much pricier Move 2. But if you're just searching for a compact, waterproof speaker for Bluetooth streaming and don't have an existing Sonos setup, the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 costs a lot less than either and offers superior Bluetooth connectivity, earning it our Editors' Choice award.