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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…

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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
2:22 – Sound quality pt.1
2:49 – Specs
4:11 – Sound quality pt.2
5:10 – JBL Link Comparison
5:41 – Best ultraportable speaker?
6:13 – Conclusion

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57 Comments

  1. 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.

  2. noka5730

    April 6, 2021 at 2:31 pm

    I doubt it sounds better than the anker soundcore motion +

  3. 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

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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

  7. 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😝

  8. Amit Kumar

    April 6, 2021 at 4:06 pm

    How does it fare when compared to Homepod Mini ??

  9. 9latinum Studioz

    April 6, 2021 at 4:12 pm

    Better than Bose Micro (own) or
    Megaboom 3 (own)?

    🤘 HyperBoomz owner

  10. 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.

  11. Fred

    April 6, 2021 at 4:54 pm

    Meh

  12. JSyaprudin

    April 6, 2021 at 5:11 pm

    Thank you for mentioning metric people.

  13. 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?

  14. 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😅

  15. Wayne Casson

    April 6, 2021 at 5:29 pm

    have sonos arc and it is great going to get the roam when available

  16. Auto Absolute

    April 6, 2021 at 5:35 pm

    Shame you can’t use them as rear surround speakers ☹️

  17. 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. 🙄

  18. 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.

  19. Stephen Farrell

    April 6, 2021 at 7:44 pm

    Looks like the old HP Roar!

  20. 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..👍

  21. 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. 😂

  22. 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.

  23. 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

  24. 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

  25. 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.

  26. 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

  27. 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.

  28. אור פאר

    April 7, 2021 at 2:37 am

    how is this compared to the marshell emberton?

  29. 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?

  30. 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).

  31. Eric Ling

    April 7, 2021 at 5:53 am

    Bluetooth /wifi speaker that wirelessly charges. Now that’s a game changer.

  32. 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.

  33. 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.

  34. 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

  35. Kalpak Shah

    April 7, 2021 at 2:00 pm

    vs marshall stockwell 2.?

  36. 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.

  37. David Street

    April 7, 2021 at 8:26 pm

    will it do USB audio from a PC if you connect the USB port?

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