Unleash the Roam: Sonos, the Ultimate Bluetooth Speaker for Campervan Adventurers.
"Great design, great colours, excellent quality and all of the important features, but the value for money is questionable - similar sound can be achieved for under half this price."
Hello, Jacob Rose here. Over the last 15 years, I've put just about everything tech-related through its paces, from cutting-edge travel gadgets to rugged camping and climbing gear. I've even cut my teeth in Hewlett Packard labs, exploring the ins and outs of exciting new products. Today, though, I'll be lending my ears and experience to the Sonos Roam – Sonos' portable Bluetooth speaker that everyone seems to be raving about. If there's anyone can put this device through a rigorous field test, I like to think it's yours truly. So let's dive in, get under the Roam's skin, and see if this portable Bluetooth speaker truly justifies its fanfare. No jargon, no hype, only good, honest review. Hang tight. This is going to be interesting.
Features
The Sonos Roam supports music streaming over WiFi and is compatible with the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2, and Amazon Alexa. It offers Bluetooth capability for portable use. This speaker has a waterproof construction and is lightweight and durable. It provides up to 10 hours of playback, can be recharged using the provided USB-C cable or any Qi wireless charger. It can be integrated with other Sonos speakers to establish a multiroom sound system. The product, built with shock-absorbent materials and holding an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Weight 0.43 kgs Warranty 12 months Battery Life (estimated) 10 hours Waterproof Yes, IP67 Dimensions 168 x 62 x 60 cm Sound Output 10 watts
Highlights
As a seasoned campervan owner, I found the Sonos Roam to be exceptional in fulfilling my audio needs. The speaker sets up effortlessly, connects seamlessly to my various devices via Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2 and Amazon Alexa, and the sound quality is surprisingly great for its size - the bass is full and the treble is crystal clear. Its petite size and light weight made it a perfect audio companion to easily move from room to room, or even outside my camper. The Roam's portability shines during my frequent, relaxing and affordable holidays throughout UK and Europe.
An added bonus of the Sonos Roam is its solid build and durability, which holds up across varying weather and terrain conditions that we campervan owners often encounter. Thanks to its IP67 dust and water resistance rating, I never have to worry about it getting wet or being exposed to dust. The speaker also comes with an impressive battery life of up to 10 hours, ensuring continuous playtime throughout our journey, and it's easily rechargeable with the included USB-C cable, which is another big convenience for us.
For motorhome aficionados like me who appreciate being surrounded by decent sound, the ability to integrate the Sonos Roam as part of a multiroom sound system elevates every camping experience. The Alexa and Siri control options further enable hands-free music operation, making it an impeccable addition to my Sonos ecosystem at home and on-the-go. Despite a slight standby issue, the speaker's performance is top-notch. Overall, Sonos Roam is a sturdy, practical, and quality audio device that easily enhances the campervan lifestyle.
Is this the best Bluetooth Speaker for you?
Check out our full roundup: Waterproof Bluetooth speakers for campervans and motorhomes
Concerns
Despite the Sonos Roam's impressive array of features, it has some significant drawbacks. The first issue I encountered was during the setup process. The app failed, forcing me to reset the Sonos and restart, which was a long and tedious process. Once set up, the speaker's performance was disappointing. While the sound quality was respectable at lower volumes, it significantly deteriorated above 50% volume, with a noticeable lack of bass response and unclear mids. The AirPlay 2 feature, while great for connecting to other speakers, was unreliable, often not showing up in the AirPlay list despite the device being connected to the internet. The app also took ages to connect to the speaker and sometimes failed to connect at all, requiring a forced shutdown and restart of the speaker.
The Sonos Roam also has some design flaws that make it less user-friendly. The power button, a narrow, long-shaped multi-function button, is difficult to operate and is inconveniently located on the back of the device. Turning the speaker on and off is almost a lottery, depending on whether you've held the button in too long or not long enough. Additionally, the speaker's battery life is average at best, lasting only a few hours. While it does have wireless charging, this doesn't make up for the short battery life. The speaker also requires connection to the Sonos S2 app to activate Bluetooth, meaning it can only be activated over WiFi, which is not ideal for a portable speaker. Lastly, the speaker is not compatible with the older Sonos S1 app, so if you have older Sonos equipment, you can't use it.
Should You Buy?
To wrap up, as a well-travelled campervan owner, the Sonos Roam has presented a delightful blend of portability, durability, seamless connectivity, and appreciable sound quality that greatly enhance my travel experiences. The battery life and its resistance to dust and water were especially noteworthy. However, the positives do not completely obscure the noticeable drawbacks.
The speaker's initial setup process was disjointed, requiring a system reset which was rather time-consuming. Sound performance, although commendable at low volumes, disappoints at higher levels, evidenced by an evident lack of bass and muddled mids. The functionality of the AIrPlay 2 feature and the connection issue with the app also call for improvement.
From a structural standpoint, the awkward power button placement and activation method is a clear design flaw, limiting user-friendliness. Additionally, the reliance on WiFi connectivity for Bluetooth activation is less than ideal, given the speaker's projected portability. It's worth mentioning, the battery life, whilst satisfactory, could potentially fall short on longer journeys.
Factor in the compatibility problem with the older Sonos S1 app, the Sonos Roam could be seen as having as many negatives as positives. In terms of overall impressions, while its design and quality shine, there's no escaping the point that the sound quality achieved by this speaker can be found for considerably less.
Therefore, whilst there is much to admire about the Sonos Roam, potential buyers should carefully consider whether the positive aspects of the speaker adequately offset its shortcomings and justify the cost. Speaking from my own experience, as much as I appreciate its positive attributes, I believe there's considerable room for enhancements before this device could make it to my 'must-have' list.
(Price When Reviewed: £179.00)
Rating
Jacob Rose
4k FollowersTraveller, writer and travel-writer. Often accused of insufficient planning and poor impulse control, but happier for it!
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Unbeatable Sonos Roam
Simply the finest speakr available for purchase. Extremely straightforward to configure and the quality is top tier. Ideal for superior audio on the go.
Little speaker, big sound for Sonos Roam
In search of a versatile speaker, I chose the Sonos Roam due to its portability - easily movable from room to room - and sound quality, during my decision process for a sound system in my new house. Far from being disappointed, its sound might not quite match my Bose headphones, but it certainly outperforms my LG TV; quite a feat for such a tiny box. Additionally, I wanted a device that could function as a Alexa controller; it does this admirably with just one drawback. It consistently enters standby mode and won't react afterwards, means I can't leave it unplugged for to long.
Excellent Compact Sonos Roam.
For those who possess any Sonos equipment already, the Sonos Roam is an exceptional portable speaker that would be a valuable addition to your current configuration. On the other hand, if what you're seeking is merely a bluetooth portable speakr not necessarily designed to integrate with an existing Sonos set-up, there are less costly options out there that will serve you just as effectively.
Sonos Roam's Portability Wins My Heart
I am really enjoying my Sonos Roam. It's fantastic not having to stress about any potential water damage at the beach because it's waterproof. Occasionally, I even bring it in the shower with me. The only minor inconvenience is the single button; it holds a multitude of functions which can occasionally be tricky to navigate.
Easy Sonos Setup, Great Bluetooth, Superior Sound Range
I almost didn't purchase this Sonos Roam to replace my broken budget portable speaker because of the negative reviews I saw concerning its setup, battery life, and general usage. However, I wanted a device compatible with both Alexa and Siri for indoor (namely bathroom) and outdoor use. Given that my existing Sonos gadgets (a beam and two Play1s on a Samsung QLED) have been fantastic, I decided to go for it.
The speaker wrangled itself onto my Sonos2 network quickly after being unboxed (it came in an all-cardboard box - brilliant.). The Bluetooth paired easily with my iPad. I did, however, encounter a small issue when trying to connect to my iPhone as the Bluetooth would refuse to pair. However, after booting up Spotify and selecting the Sonos Roam as my preferred speaker, everything synced perfectly. I wonder if this could be the problem some people encountered, trying to list it directly on their devices' Bluetooth listing? This tech
Excellent Sonos Roam, Power Button Disappoints
The Sonos Roam speaker is truly alluring, providing nearly all you could ask for in a portable speaker with its lightweight design, superior sound quality, and extensive range of connection possibilities like Bluetooth, WiFi, and voice command. Its unique triangular style, flexible positioning (being able to stand both upright and landscaped), wireless charging, and innovative Auto Trueplay sound adaptation to surroundings all make it a standout choice.
However, the power button is a notable concern for me. It's very narrow and long, and managing its various functions can be a challenge. Getting the speaker to turn on or off feels like a game of chance, it depends on whether you've held the button for too long or too short a period. Its placement - out of sight on the back of the unit - doesn't help either.
My initial solution was to disable the battery saver function so that the unit only enters sleep mode. Yet, each time the Sonos app is launched, the speaker wakes up which de
Letdown by Sonos Roam
Activation of Bluetooth for the Sonos Roam requires connection to the Sonos S2 app, hence, deploys only over wifi. So, activation in remote areas without internet is impossible. Unfortunately, it doesn't connect to the older Sonos S1 app, which might be an issue if you own older Sonos devices. However, if you don't have any antique Sonos speakers, this won't pose a problem. Once I managed to get the Bluetooth paired with my iPhone, to my surprise, it would not consistently play sound even though it was technically connected. It required a number of restarts to get it going. When I eventually got it to play, the sound quality hardly matched my expectations. The power button seemed resistant and occasionally unresponsive. This purchase did not meet the standards I've grown to expect from Sonos. For better quality, consider investing more and opt for a Bose, or for a budget-friendly option the Bose Soundlink Flex will provide you with an improved sound
Seek Alternatives
I took a chance on the Sonos Roam Bluetooth speaker during a Black Friday deal and was initially attracted by the device's compatibility with Apple AirPlay and home Wi-Fi connectivity. The product unboxing and initial setup confronted me with a faulty app that required a forced reset and restart of the Sonos Roam, followed by a lengthy setup procedure.
Testing the speaker revealed a mix of outcomes. On a positive note, at volumes ranging 0-50%, the sound performance was fairly commendable considering the speaker's size, featuring a satisfying bass effect with clear mids and detailed treble, all conveniently customizable via the Sonos app. However, the system fell short when cranked to above 50% volume, which led to a noticeable decline in bass response and somewhat obscure mids, rendering it unsuitable for loud music.
The speaker supports AirPlay 2, excellent for linking to other household speakers for a multi-room effect, but frequent reliability issues were experienced with the feature. Multiple times
Excellent Audio, Lacking User-Friendly Features on Sonos Roam.
I have accumulated quite a collection of Sonos products over the years, but I have encountered the most issues with the Roam. On a positive note, it boasts a stylish design, impressive bass and sharp treble. Leveraging Alexa to play music especially while in the shower is quite convenient. An overlooked feature is its ability to be used either horizontally or vertically.
On the downside, it's disappointing to note that Roam has been falling short on its AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth functionality. I even took the step of returning one unit in the belief that the problem was with the hardware, only to discover it was an issue with the software. The sound swap feature with my Beam does not work as smoothly as advertised. Although I have not personally faced issues with the battery life, I can envision it being a potential concern for others.
Here’s hoping these kinks will be resolved with the launch of the Roam 2. Until that time, I will remain cautiously optimistic about my
Excellent Sonos Roam Output
The Sonos Roam is incredibly handy for vacations and travels, and it integrates beautifully with my home Sonos system.