With the Roam, Sonos took steps to move beyond the home and reach a new audience, and with the Roam 2, that idea finally feels fully realized. Sonos has long been a household name in home audio, known for their premium speakers and seamless multi-room setups. In recent years, however, they’ve ventured into the portable speaker market, aiming to bring their signature sound quality to the great outdoors. Enter the Sonos Roam 2, the latest iteration of their compact Bluetooth speaker, which promises to deliver big sound in a small package—and finally delivers the way it needs to.
When the original Roam hit the market, I loved what it brought to the table, especially when I first cracked it out and used it over the coming months. It was not until I used it for a few months that I noticed some minor issues that did make me hope to see improvements in future iterations. While its audio performance and versatility were fantastic, I had real issues with the battery life and Bluetooth connectivity, making it an interesting but flawed product, especially after a few months of use. With the Roam 2, Sonos has clearly listened to user feedback, making key improvements that address these pain points without reinventing the wheel.
When you first unbox the new Roam 2, you might think it looks nearly identical to its predecessor. It maintains the same sleek, triangular design that’s both aesthetically pleasing and functional. The speaker can be positioned vertically or horizontally, adapting to your space and preferences. Weighing just under a pound and measuring about 6.6 inches long, it’s incredibly portable—perfect for tossing into a backpack or beach bag.
Sonos has made some much-needed updates to the little speaker, and while it may seem minor, the new Bluetooth button on the back of the Roam 2 is one of the best changes the speaker underwent. This might seem like a small change, but it’s a game-changer for usability. With the original Roam, switching to Bluetooth mode was a bit of a hassle, requiring users to press and hold buttons in a specific sequence. Now, it’s as simple as tapping a single button. This improvement alone makes the Roam 2 far more user-friendly, especially when you’re on the go.
“Sonos has made some much-needed updates to the little speaker, and while it may seem minor, the new Bluetooth button on the back of the Roam 2 is one of the best changes the speaker underwent.”
Sonos has also expanded the colour options, offering the Roam 2 in five hues: Black, White, Sunset, Wave, and Olive. I personally opted to review the white variant of the speaker, but it’s great to see Sonos make this speaker more of an accessory—one that can be purchased in a colour that fits your style. The build quality remains top-notch, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. This means you can confidently take the Roam 2 to the beach or pool or even accidentally drop it in shallow water without worry. I will be honest, though—beyond minor splashes from my water bottle due to my clumsiness, I haven’t pushed the IP67 rating to its full extent.
Thankfully, even with the updates, Sonos never lost sight of what makes people buy their products: sound quality. The company has always prided itself on delivering premium audio, and the Roam 2 doesn’t disappoint. Despite its compact size, this little speaker packs a punch. It uses the same driver configuration as the original Roam, with a tweeter and a mid-woofer powered by two class-H amplifiers. The result is a surprisingly full and balanced sound that belies the speaker’s small size. I found the sound to be a bit on the bassy side, but it still manages to feel rich and full, especially given its size.
The Roam 2 handles a range of music and audio with ease, delivering sound as it was intended to be heard. Bass-heavy tracks have a satisfying thump without overwhelming the mix, while acoustic performances shine with clarity and detail. At moderate volumes, the sound is rich and well-defined. When pushed to higher volumes, you’ll notice some compression kicking in to prevent distortion, but it remains listenable even at its loudest settings.
“The company has always prided itself on delivering premium audio, and the Roam 2 doesn’t disappoint.”
Part of the sound quality comes from the fact that the Roam 2 features Sonos’s Automatic Trueplay technology. This clever bit of engineering uses the speaker’s built-in microphones to analyze its surroundings and adjust the EQ accordingly. Whether you’re in a small bathroom or a wide-open backyard, the Roam 2 optimizes its output for the best possible sound. It’s a feature that truly sets it apart from many other portable speakers in its class.
As I mentioned, the original Sonos Roam had issues with the battery, especially after months of use, so it’s good to see the Roam 2 improve on this, even if it’s only an incremental refinement. Sonos claims up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge, which is on par with the original Roam. In real-world testing, I found this estimate to be fairly accurate, though your mileage may vary depending on volume levels and whether you’re using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Much like the original Roam, the Roam 2 features both Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi capabilities. This dual-mode functionality is one of its strongest selling points. At home, you can seamlessly integrate it into your Sonos multi-room system over Wi-Fi, enjoying all the benefits of the Sonos ecosystem. Step outside your Wi-Fi range, and it effortlessly switches to Bluetooth mode, ready to pair with your phone or tablet.
Even though this is also a Bluetooth speaker, the Sonos app remains a crucial part of the experience, offering granular control over EQ settings, grouping with other Sonos speakers, and access to a wide range of streaming services. However, it’s worth noting that the app has undergone some significant changes recently, and not all users have been thrilled with the redesign. That said, for basic Bluetooth use, you don’t need to engage with the app at all—you can use the Roam 2 as you would any other Bluetooth device if you prefer that route.
Now comes the part that makes the Roam 2 a bit harder to recommend for everyone: the price. At $179, the Sonos Roam 2 sits at the higher end of the portable Bluetooth speaker market. It’s not cheap, but it offers a level of audio quality and versatility that justifies its price tag for many users. That said, if you’re already invested in the Sonos ecosystem, the Roam 2 works as an extension of your current setup and makes sense as an addition. For those new to Sonos, it’s an excellent entry point that showcases what the brand is capable of.
The Sonos Roam 2 represents a refinement rather than a revolution, improving just enough to make it a much more compelling offering. Sonos has taken what worked with the original Roam and made thoughtful improvements where they were needed most. It bridges the gap between home and portable audio in a way few other speakers can match, and if you’re already invested in Sonos, few portable speakers can match how well it integrates into an established setup. While it may not be the cheapest or longest-lasting speaker on the market, its combination of sound quality, build, and ecosystem integration makes it a standout choice in the portable speaker category.
