Expert review of the Sonos Roam
Sonos Roam
- You can stream via Bluetooth and WiFi.
- Via TruePlay in the iOS Sonos app, you can adjust the sound of your speaker to the acoustics of the room.
- Thanks to the built-in Google Assistant, you can control the speaker via voice commands.
- The Google Assistant only works when you're connected via WiFi.
First impression of the Sonos Roam
When I unbox the Sonos Roam, the compact size stands out right away. I can easily hold it with my hand, and easily move it from one room to another. It's possible to put the speaker vertically and horizontally.
Easy to set up
I can download the Sonos app and set up the speaker. I have to do this, because I can't stream music via Bluetooth right away. Everything is explained clearly in the app, to it's easy to set up the speaker. Within minutes, the speaker is ready for use.
Powerful bass and clear vocals
The sound of the speaker surprises me. The bass sound powerful, but it doesn't flood the medium-range tones and treble. That way, you can listen to many different genres, like dance and folk. I didn't expect that when I saw the size of the speaker.
Stereo pair via WiFi
With 2 Sonos Roam speakers, I can easily create a stereo pair in the Sonos app. When I connect the speakers to each other, I can listen to a more powerful sound with more volume. It's a shame I can only make a stereo pair via WiFi. I can't connect the speaker to each other via Bluetooth, so I can only take 1 speaker outside.
AirPlay and Spotify Connect problems
I mainly stream music via Apple AirPlay and Spotify connect. That doesn't always work without issues. With AirPlay, the music sometimes suddenly stops playing for a minute before I hear sound again. Via Spotify Connect, I can't always adjust the volume via my phone. To be fair, the issue probably lies with the software, not with the Sonos Roam.
Conclusion
The Sonos Roam is a compact speaker, which you can easily take outside. I had my doubts due to the size, but it has a high sound quality. The bass is powerful and doesn't flood the medium-range tones and treble. I can stream music via WiFi and Bluetooth, so this speaker is very suitable for outdoor and indoor use.