Sonos has a speaker for wherever you may Roam 2
Sonos has just improved the already incredible Roam with the launch of the Roam 2, with a simplified setup and dedicated Bluetooth button.
BTTR is independent, but when you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Find out more.
I was late to review the original Sonos Roam earlier this year, but even years after launch I felt it was an exceptional Bluetooth speaker. Sonos has just announced its sequel alongside the Sonos Ace, with improvements to its UI and setup process making it even better than the original.
Visually there appears to be only minor changes to the compact speaker's design. The Roam 2 measures in 168 x 62 x 60 mm, weighs 430 grams and has an IP67 rating against dust and water.
From the sound perspective, the Roam 2 is powered by two Class-H amplifiers, a custom racetrack mid-woofer and a tweeter.
So what are the differences?
The biggest is the addition of a dedicated Bluetooth button, so you can switch quickly between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modes.
You can also set up and run the Roam 2 as a Bluetooth speaker straight out of the box. The first-generation required you to setup the speaker over Wi-Fi via the Sonos app before you could pair it via Bluetooth.
There are also a few extra colours on offer for generation 2. But other than that, the speakers are almost the same, at least on paper.
You get features like automatic Trueplay tuning, 10 hours of battery life with wireless charging support, voice assistant control and the simple controls on the top of the speaker.
Sonos Roam vs Sonos Roam 2 specs
| Sonos Roam | Sonos Roam 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| DImensions | 168 x 59 x 62 mm | 168 x 62 x 60 mm |
| Weight | 0.42 kg | 0.43 kg |
| Finish | Matte | Matte |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Colours | Shadow Black, Lunar White, Sunset, Wave, Olive | Black, White, Sunset, Wave, Olive |
| LEDs | Lights on the product indicate connection, charge status, mute status, microphone activation and errors. | Lights on the product indicate connection, microphone activity, and mute status. |
| Controls | Use the buttons to play, pause, skip, replay, adjust the volume, turn off the microphones, manually switch to Bluetooth, and more. | Press the buttons on the top/left side of the speaker to play, pause, skip, replay, adjust the volume, and mute/unmute the microphones. Use the Bluetooth button to pair a device. Press the power button to put the speaker in sleep mode, power off, and wake up. |
| Wi-Fi | Connect to WiFi with any 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4 or 5 GHz broadcast-capable router. | Connect to WiFi with any 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4 or 5 GHz broadcast-capable router. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 supports audio streaming from any Bluetooth-enabled device. | Bluetooth 5.2 supports audio streaming from your Bluetooth-enabled device. |
| Battery | 18Wh battery provides up to 10 hours of continuous playback on a single charge at moderate volumes. | 18Wh battery provides up to 10 hours of continuous playback on a single charge at moderate volumes. |
| USB-C Port | 15W, 5V/3A | 15W, 5V/3A |
| CPU | Quad core 1.4 GHz A-53 | Quad core 1.4 GHz A-53 |
| Memory | 1GB SDRAM 4GB NV | 1GB SDRAM 4GB NV |
| Operating temperature | 5°C to 35°C | 5°C to 35°C |
| AirPlay 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Voice assistant | Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant on WiFi | Works with Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa |
| Amplifiers | Two Class-H digital amplifiers have been perfectly tuned to the speaker's unique acoustic architecture. | Two Class-H digital amplifiers have been perfectly tuned to the speaker's unique acoustic architecture. |
| Tweeters | One tweeter creates a crisp, high-frequency response. | One tweeter creates a crisp, high-frequency response. |
| Midwoofers | One midwoofer ensures faithful playback of mid-range frequencies and maximises low-end output. | One midwoofer ensures faithful playback of mid-range frequencies and maximises low-end output. |
| Microphones | The far-field microphone array uses advanced beamforming and multi-channel echo cancellation for quick and accurate voice control and automatic Trueplay tuning. | The far-field microphone array uses advanced beamforming and multi-channel echo cancellation for quick and accurate voice control and automatic Trueplay tuning. |
| Adjustable EQ | Use the Sonos app to adjust bass, treble, and loudness | Use the Sonos app to adjust bass, treble, and loudness |
| Automatic Trueplay | Yes | Yes |
| Sound Swap | Hold the Play/Pause button to send sound between Roam and the nearest Sonos product in your system. | Hold the Play/Pause button to send sound between Roam and the nearest Sonos product in your system. |
| Price | $299 | $299 |
Sonos Roam 2 pricing and availability
The Sonos Roam 2 is available now in five colour options: Olive, Sunset, Wave, Black and White.
It has an RRP of $299, and is available from Sonos directly.
