Sonos Roam Review: Portable Speaker Perfect for Multi-Room Home Audio

Experience the versatility and impressive sound of the Sonos Roam, a portable speaker designed to blend seamlessly with your home multi-room system and on-the-go lifestyle.

If you’ve ever dipped your toes into the Sonos ecosystem, you know it’s all about sleek design and superb sound quality. But mixing portability with Sonos’s signature multi-room magic? That’s a tricky balance. Enter the Sonos Roam—Sonos’s first truly portable speaker that manages to pack Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and excellent sound into a compact, stylish package.

Sonos Move tried to fill this role but was a bit of a beast—hefty and bulky, making it unlikely for weekend bagging or park trips. The Roam is a breath of fresh air: lightweight, compact, and practical. It fits beautifully into your home setup and also appeals to Bluetooth-only listeners hunting for a versatile speaker this summer. And the best part? It’s the most affordable Sonos speaker to date, setting up a showdown with portable giants like JBL and Ultimate Ears.

So, did Sonos nail the sweet spot between portability, functionality, and sonic excellence? Let’s dive in.

Design and Build Quality: A Stylish Companion

Looking at the Roam, you’d be hard-pressed to find much to complain about. Weighing just 430 grams and measuring a neat 17 x 6 x 6 cm, it’s easy to carry, stow, and place. The design cleverly allows it to sit both vertically or horizontally, adapting to whatever space you have—whether on a kitchen counter or a park bench.

It’s tough too, with an IP67 rating that means it’s dust-tight and waterproof. So worry less about spills or accidental dunks. Its minimalist Sonos aesthetic shines through the matte black or white options, far from the loud, neon Bluetooth speakers annoying park-goers everywhere. The front sports a refined metal grille and smooth rounded edges, while the back is made of sturdy plastic with rubberized ends for shock absorption.

Unlike the latest Sonos One and many multi-room devices, the Roam has physical buttons, which means no accidental presses—a smart move for a portable device. Charging is via USB-C, a nice upgrade from previous Sonos cables, with a neat, curved cord bundled in to avoid tangling. There’s also wireless charging support compatible with any Qi-enabled charger, and Sonos offers a special magnetic wireless dock (sold separately) to keep things effortlessly powered.

Small but mighty LED indicators pepper the device: a tiny light above the logo shows connection status and errors, another near the buttons lights up when microphones are active, and a third at the bottom signals power and charging status with an orange glow when thirsty.

Features That Elevate Portable Listening

When Sonos takes a stab at portable speakers, it doesn’t hold back on features—and the Roam is proof.

As soon as we powered it up, the Sonos app instantly found the Roam, and pairing was effortless. You can control it directly from your favorite streaming service or podcast app, and for Apple users, AirPlay 2 support makes casting a breeze. Connect to Wi-Fi and you unlock voice control with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant by pressing a button that activates the built-in mics.

The cool Auto TruePlay feature (an upgrade from what Sonos introduced with the Move) means the Roam listens to its surroundings and automatically tweaks its sound to suit whether you’re indoors or outside. Just a heads-up—TruePlay relies on those microphones being on.

A nifty new addition is Sound Swap: hold the play/pause button, and the Roam hands off playback to the nearest Sonos speaker. It’s perfect for when you’re chilling inside but want to take your tunes outside with you.

Switching between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is smooth as silk—no hiccups when moving from the park back to your home network. Honestly, it all just happens automatically, so you barely have to think about it.

Battery life is rated at 10 hours, and while we found it a tad optimistic, we never ran out mid-session. Battery status pops up in the app or can be checked through voice commands, although the latter might chew up some charge. The package includes the USB-C cable, but you’ll need a power adapter (5V/1.5A or higher) to juice it up. Full charge takes about 2 hours, but a quick-charge feature would be a welcome addition, especially since competitors often boast longer playtimes.

Sound Quality: Big Sound from a Small Package

So how does it sound? For a Sonos of this size, the Roam’s audio is genuinely impressive.

While it might not outshine JBL or Ultimate Ears in pure volume or crystal clarity, this little Toblerone-shaped powerhouse punches way above its weight class in bass. The low end is robust and thumping—sometimes even a little too eager, depending on the track. Midrange frequencies are well balanced, providing warmth and body to vocals and instruments.

The downside? High frequencies don’t sparkle as much as you might hope. Take Jane Weaver’s "The Revolution of Super Visions," for example: her voice sounds slightly muffled, but not enough to detract from the overall enjoyment. And honestly, unless you’re in a quiet room begging for an audiophile critique, no one’s going to ask you to hush up in the park.

The Final Word on Sonos Roam

The Sonos Roam nails the trifecta of versatility, portability, and sound quality. Its rich feature set and seamless integration within any Sonos multi-room system are bonuses that set it apart, but it’s just as happy flying solo as a Bluetooth speaker.

It’s fair to say Sonos should have launched the Roam years ago, but hey—better late than never. For anyone seeking a stylish, robust, and smart portable speaker that doesn’t skimp on sound or features, the Roam is a solid choice.

“Roam possesses a refined aesthetic, matching other Sonos products, highlighted by the front metal grille and rounded edges.” – Review Author

FAQ

• How durable is the Sonos Roam?
  The Roam is IP67 rated, making it dustproof and waterproof. It’s built to handle outdoor use and rougher conditions with rubberized ends for shock absorption.
• Can Sonos Roam connect to multiple devices?
  Yes, it supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, allowing seamless switching between devices and integration with other Sonos speakers.
• Does the Roam support voice assistants?
  Absolutely! When connected to Wi-Fi, you can use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant by pressing a dedicated button.
• What is the battery life like?
  Sonos claims around 10 hours of playback, and while actual use might be slightly less, it comfortably lasts through most day trips.
• Is wireless charging included?
  Wireless charging is supported via any Qi-compatible charger, but the magnetic wireless charging dock is sold separately.

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