CNET
Sonos Roam: Best mini wireless speaker ever?
The Sonos Roam is small, lightweight and fairly affordable at $169 (for a Sonos speaker anyway). Sonos calls it the best ultraportable wireless speaker ever made. So, is it? David Carnoy has the full review. 0:00 – Intro 0:16 – Appearance 0:53 – Durability 1:11 – App compatibility 1:36 – Bluetooth features 1:57 – Charging…
noomy 663
April 6, 2021 at 2:13 pm
This looks extremely mobile as if I could roll it up like a piece of paper. Could be a good choice for any people of any age as long as its price stays within the major assumptions.
noka5730
April 6, 2021 at 2:31 pm
I doubt it sounds better than the anker soundcore motion +
korling99
April 6, 2021 at 3:19 pm
Can you stereo pair these in bluetooth mode?
Auto Absolute
April 6, 2021 at 5:39 pm
Yes
The Loner Coder
April 6, 2021 at 3:24 pm
lol since when its $169 affordable for a mini speaker? Ill stick with my soundcore flare mini. It cost me only $33 and has cool lights. Sounds crisp and good bass. Now that’s what I call an affordable mini speaker. I use mines for gaming and music.
Bagha Shams
April 6, 2021 at 3:26 pm
I just realized that SONOS is the same read upside down. It’s a perfect word to be written in a vertical orientation
StillSoVicious
April 6, 2021 at 9:07 pm
This fact blew my mind back in the day when I got into the ecosystem with the Playbar!! No matter if you have it laying down, standing up, or mounted on the wall it always reads “Sonos”
Niko Poulos
April 6, 2021 at 10:36 pm
Sonos is an ambigram and a palindrome – super cool.
Jhay C
April 6, 2021 at 3:37 pm
I’ll still go with Bose when in comes to sound and portability and a decent look too
Nobody
April 6, 2021 at 3:44 pm
Bose
Øystein
April 6, 2021 at 10:05 pm
…. is also overpriced like Sonos and Apple products😝
Amit Kumar
April 6, 2021 at 4:06 pm
How does it fare when compared to Homepod Mini ??
9latinum Studioz
April 6, 2021 at 4:12 pm
Better than Bose Micro (own) or
Megaboom 3 (own)?
🤘 HyperBoomz owner
Jon Morales
April 6, 2021 at 4:13 pm
This over an HomePod mini or HomePod any day.
Øystein
April 6, 2021 at 10:03 pm
Or just buy something that’s not overpriced like Sonos and Apple products🤷♂️
Jon Morales
April 6, 2021 at 10:36 pm
@Øystein All relative. Cheap Bluetooth speakers from Amazon don’t pair with your whole homes audio or work on WiFi with voice control and allow you to tap into a whole ecosystem of speakers.
Fred
April 6, 2021 at 4:54 pm
Meh
JSyaprudin
April 6, 2021 at 5:11 pm
Thank you for mentioning metric people.
Fredrik G
April 6, 2021 at 5:23 pm
Can I use this as a “permanent” speaker on the wireless pad – and occasionally move it around? Or do I have to turn it on and off everytime I use it?
BP
April 6, 2021 at 5:24 pm
Hey, David. Thanks for the review! How would you compare it to the Bose Soundlink Mini?
gallagher123123
April 6, 2021 at 6:15 pm
Would love to know this as well, as I am considering replacing my Soundlink Mini II with the Roam. Pre-ordered back in March, and I am looking forward to receiving the speaker.
David Carnoy
April 6, 2021 at 8:38 pm
@gallagher123123 I haven’t used the Mini or Mini II in a while but from what I can remember I’d say the Roam will sound a little better with slightly better clarity and bass definition. Roam’s design is better for portability. All these mini speakers do have their limitations, however.
Øystein
April 6, 2021 at 9:53 pm
Both are overpriced😅
Wayne Casson
April 6, 2021 at 5:29 pm
have sonos arc and it is great going to get the roam when available
Auto Absolute
April 6, 2021 at 5:35 pm
Shame you can’t use them as rear surround speakers ☹️
Michael Shea
April 6, 2021 at 5:50 pm
I’ve decided to never buy Sonos again. Stranding my old gear via software ended any desire to go there again.
G Y
April 6, 2021 at 10:16 pm
I will buy one again maybe one day… but it’s still hard to swallow. 🙄
Felix Five
April 6, 2021 at 7:38 pm
Not really hype just Sonos PR BS. I use my old Bose sound link 2 which still sounds amazing for a 4 year old ultra portable.
Stephen Farrell
April 6, 2021 at 7:44 pm
Looks like the old HP Roar!
Øystein
April 6, 2021 at 9:50 pm
Don’t people have working ears anymore?
What a waste of money buying this is.
Well.. Actually it’s a waste of money buying Sonos products im general (and various soundbars etc) compared to just getting a GOOD system that still barely takes up any space and is wife approved…
KrissowskiM
April 7, 2021 at 1:13 am
If you need to wife approve anything than your opinion is irrelevant…
Øystein
April 7, 2021 at 6:22 am
@KrissowskiM Uhm.. Dude.. I can promise you that most wifes would like better design that looks more like a furniture than some cheap plastic Sonos..😅 Just take her to a real stereo shop and see..👍
Fabio Soto
April 6, 2021 at 10:11 pm
Wow! Very well articulated description of the Sonos Roam. Can’t wait for your S2/S1 rant. In protest I’ll never buy another Sonos product ever! They ruined (4) Play:5 that were just fine. FU Sonos. 😂
Kev50027
April 6, 2021 at 11:18 pm
Don’t but this! Sonos is very anti consumer and deactivates expensive older speakers for no reason. Every other speaker that is 2 years old works except my Sonos.
Paul Ho
April 6, 2021 at 11:40 pm
2021: it has BlUeToOtH!
Shawn Savage
April 7, 2021 at 5:21 am
I was like…….. that’s a feature you have to mention 😑
Paul Ho
April 7, 2021 at 6:08 am
@Shawn Savage it’s actually a big deal for sonos though since they’re originally WiFi speakers, adding Bluetooth actually allows it to be portable away from home/internet access, hence Roam. It’s still bizarre though
Editor XV
April 7, 2021 at 12:21 am
Can I use an headphones microphone for calibration? Also what about cheaper calibration microphones? So any microphones will work?Do you ever had issues with comfort on the right earpad on bose qc35ii ? I always feel pressure on the right part of my ear and I can’t wear then longer than half an hour please help , I tried to loosen them but still not fully comfortable , bose qc35ii are my first bose headphones BTW I had the akg n700nc and I switched to bose because of comfort and anc , personally what is your opinion on bose qc35ii? Personally I love them much more than my akg n700nc , never regret getting them , amazing speaker BTW
skyak
April 7, 2021 at 1:24 am
I would not expect to pay that much for such a small speaker, but I would like to hear it to see if it can change my mind.
Shawn Savage
April 7, 2021 at 5:18 am
You’re paying for it to be that small
Jordie84
April 7, 2021 at 8:01 am
One of the best sellers for this type of speaker is the Bose Soundlink Mini 2. That cost about the same as this too.
Eshaan
April 7, 2021 at 2:06 am
The beoplay A1 from bang and ollufsen is a better deal than this…..its a lot smaller and better sounding and it has a real life batttery life of about 15 hrs at 50 percent volume….its the best speaker i have ever listened to.
David Carnoy
April 7, 2021 at 12:11 pm
A1 is also excellent for its size. I agree. Also works well as a speakerphone. But I’m not sure it sounds any better and it does cost $250.
Eshaan
April 7, 2021 at 12:33 pm
@David Carnoy ooh like 20 to 80 percent volume almost every speaker sounds good but it is remaining 80 to 100 or 0 to 20 that i felt A1 sounds better with minimum distortion and not overly changing the sound profile
Anthony Koutstaal
April 7, 2021 at 2:36 am
Will Sonos ever support Chromecast? They support Air Play 2 so why not support Chromecast? When Android has over 80% of the market globally to me it would make sense.
אור פאר
April 7, 2021 at 2:37 am
how is this compared to the marshell emberton?
Ryan Roat
April 7, 2021 at 2:59 am
Can the Roam share its incoming Bluetooth (from a turntable, perhaps. or my buddy’s phone) to the rest my Sonos system?
47crazed
April 7, 2021 at 3:07 am
Nothing Can beat Soundcore Motion 🥱. yall are sleeping on Anker.
David Carnoy
April 7, 2021 at 12:09 pm
Some truth to that. Mentioned that in my text review. Soundcore Motion+ can match or even exceed the sound of the Roam and costs less at around $100 (but it is bigger and is Bluetooth only).
Eric Ling
April 7, 2021 at 5:53 am
Bluetooth /wifi speaker that wirelessly charges. Now that’s a game changer.
Forever A Ride
April 7, 2021 at 11:31 am
Sure it’s the best ultra portable. Leave best portable title to the original bose soundlink mini. Epic sound. Just can’t get it wet.
svendsen1111
April 7, 2021 at 11:48 am
05:00 – “Can” or “Can’t” ?? 🙂
David Carnoy
April 7, 2021 at 12:03 pm
Can’t.
philippe chevereau
April 7, 2021 at 12:33 pm
The number of drawback of Sonos made me sell all the one I had and try different et brands
Kalpak Shah
April 7, 2021 at 2:00 pm
vs marshall stockwell 2.?
darren gilman
April 7, 2021 at 2:29 pm
I had a s8. Battery life was blah. Was looking at the A52 & A72 phones. But I did upgrade to a s21. Battery life is OK. I likes the android 9 better than 11.
David Street
April 7, 2021 at 8:26 pm
will it do USB audio from a PC if you connect the USB port?