Sonos is renowned for its in-home speaker systems. I’ve been using their speakers for over a decade and they still stack up, delivering great sound from my turntable (via an auxiliary connection to a Sonos:5) as well as streaming from multiple sources. The Roam is Sonos’ take on a speaker you can take anywhere, boasting network and Bluetooth connectivity.
| Product | Sonos Roam |
| What is it | Portable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker |
| Price | Recommended price is $299, street price is around $269 |
I’ve been using my Sonos Roam for about a month. It’s come on a camping trip and I often take it outside to listen to tunes when I’m in my home gym, chilling in the yard with friends or when doing chores like gardening and washing the car. The beauty of the Sonos Roam is that it can be used either on your network as part of a broader Sonos set up, or on its own via Bluetooth.
Initial challenges
My biggest gripe with the Roam is the initial set up. If you’re planning to buy one while you’re on holidays and fire it up to listen to some music, you’ll be disappointed. The initial setup, even if you only intend to use it via Bluetooth, requires the Sonos app and initialisation as part of a Sonos system – even if it’s the only Sonos speaker you have.
You can not simply open the box, turn it on and use it over Bluetooth.
As an existing Sonos customer, this wasn’t a big deal but I can imagine people wanting to kick off their Sonos journey with a low cost option only to find they have to go through a registration process just to turn it on.
My second issue happened while I was camping. Having the set the Roam up at home and connecting it to my iPhone via Bluetooth, I knew it was working as expected. When I was at the camp site, I wanted to pair it with my iPad. I carried the instructions with me (just in case) which told me to press the power button for a few seconds to initiate the Bluetooth pairing process – a fairly typical process for wireless speakers.
However, what the written instructions didn’t say was to only hold the button for a couple of seconds and then release. Most of the speakers I’ve used in the past have made a sound or used an LED to indicate that the pairing process was initiated. But, with the Roam, the pairing tone happens after you release the button.
As I had held the button for too long, waiting for a tone that never came, I actually factory reset the device, meaning I could not use it for the rest of the trip because I needed network access to go through the configuration.
While this may seem like what testers call an ‘edge case’ – it highlights the importance of having clear instructions that aren’t checked by product experts.
Real world use
Having overcome my initial issues, I’ve used the Roam in many different situations.
At a recent get together, I popped the Roam out and used it to stream music from Spotify and Apple Music. Sonos rates the Roam’s battery life at 10 hours. From a full charge, using Bluetooth, we managed about six hours – quite a long way behind Sonos’ prediction. My real world use was over Bluetooth which can be influenced by a number of factors including proximity of the transmitting device and objects and devices that interfere with the signal.
At other times, such as when I’m training in my home gym, battery life over Bluetooth has been longer. In about eight hours of training time I’m yet to have a low battery warning. And over Wi-Fi, I have no doubt that ten hours is achievable.
Sound quality
Sound quality is an interesting thing to quantify. If you want a real audiophile’s view, I’d suggest looking at more technical reviews. I’m sticking to what my ears tell me. When buying a speaker – this is really important. While the design of the speaker and acoustics of a room can make a lot of difference, our ears are unique and the acoustics of our skulls mean we all hear things differently.
Unlike many other speakers I use (I have a Bose SoundLink that has been used for over a decade as well as a number of other speakers), the Roam hasn’t followed the trend of producing really strong, and what I find sometimes overpowering, base. Out of musical diet is Australian pop and rock and I like that the base lines don’t overpower the guitars and vocals.
For me, the Roam delivers great sound that suits the music I listen to and my ears.
Controls
The Roam has the usual array of buttons you’d expect. There are skip forward and back buttons as well as the requisite play/pause and volume buttons. In practice, you’re more likely to control things either through the Sonos app or using your iPhone’s volume buttons and your preferred music-playing app. If you’re using Bluetooth and have an Apple Watch, the Digital Crown can be used as well as its music app.
There’s a power button on the back, adjacent to the USB-C charging port (cable included in the box). For an extra $79, there’s also a wireless charger.
Would I recommend the Sonos Roam?
If you’re already committed to the Sonos ecosystem, the Roam makes a lot of sense. It gives you a portable option that is far cheaper than the $699 Sonos Move.
The question then remains – is $299 a worthwhile investment?
If you already have several Sonos speakers and want an easy way to add a portable speaker to your set up, then the Roam is worth considering. In that case, I’d seriously consider the wireless charger so it’s ready to when you take it for a walk.
But if you aren’t a Sonos user, there are many other lower cost options that will fit the bill.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.