What with it being a regular Bluetooth speaker. Read our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers It could be better, but we still like it a lot.Ĭheck out these Sonos Roam tips, tricks and features It’s a box many customers have wanted to be ticked for a while, and the Roam doesn’t generally disappoint. It just means there is better all-round sound out there – and there has been for some while.įor a Sonos user, though, this is a welcome addition to the family. Will that matter to most people? Depending on when and where you encounter the Sonos Roam, it probably won’t. There is plenty of punch to the Roam’s performance, but it is far less expressive than the competition here, and can also seem quite sluggish. Superior high-end articulation is one thing, but comparisons reveal textures and timbres can be greatly more insightful throughout the frequency range.Ī listen to other portable Bluetooth speakers around this price also confirms that we could be expecting more in terms of timing and dynamics. This speaker doesn’t particularly sound boxed in, but pit it against some of the best portable speakers, which might have fewer features but offset that with a lighter price tag, and the difference is a little disappointing.Ĭlarity is an area in which Sonos often excels, but we’re talking about a noticeable step behind its rivals here. But we feel Sonos could have stretched itself a little more in certain aspects of its audio performance.ĭetail and clarity are two such areas. For many people, this will be the ideal speaker, fit for purpose. However, this is a four-star review, so what has gone wrong for the Roam? Not much at all in isolation. Deeper voices in particular can be lusciously full and are placed well enough forward in the mix for this kind of outdoor and party speaker. Sonos is well aware that low end is desirable but the mids are the star of the show. That bass weight is kept well in check, too, ensuring some presence and punch without muddying up the mix. A clear high-end would be even better, but sometimes we can understand playing things a bit safe. There’s nothing worse than coarse hi-hats cutting through the chatter at a party when the speaker is turned up too loud. That’s not necessarily a bad thing when you consider how the Roam might be used. Treble frequencies aren’t overly rolled off, but we’re definitely on the easier side of listening. As with any Sonos product, you can tweak the EQ of the Roam, but this is naturally quite a bass and mid-heavy presentation. Even from a standing start, the Roam eats up a bass-heavy drill beat. Impact is something it definitely isn’t lacking, not in terms of confidence nor its bold presentation. These are powered by separate Class-H digital amplifiers, but there’s no attempt at any audio tricks that could see the Roam fall flat on its face this is straightforward mono designed to have an impact in any scenario. The driver tech inside is pleasingly simple, in that Sonos has opted for just a single tweeter and, behind its insignia, a large ovular mid/bass woofer. Connecting via Bluetooth is as simple as holding down the Roam’s power button and waiting for the Sonos to pop up in your available devices. Given its nomadic ambitions, the Roam cannot rely on wi-fi alone for its music streaming, so Bluetooth and Apple AirPlay 2 are also on board. The latter, with help from the built-in mic, tweaks the EQ automatically depending on the speaker’s surroundings, though you can also fine-tune bass and treble yourself. It’s simple to use, and as well as being vital for set-up is where you can control a number of features, such as compatible voice assistants and Trueplay tuning. Featuresįor anyone who hasn’t used the Sonos app before: it’s simply the best out there. There are controls for play/pause, volume and microphone function on one of the Roam’s rubbered ends, but otherwise everything is controlled via the Sonos app. That USB port is the only physical connection, so there seems little danger of being harmed during a fairly rough and ready life. Sonos is also launching its own charging base, to which the speaker snaps magnetically. On that note, the Roam comes with a USB-C charging cable – though not a power adaptor – and is compatible with standard Qi wireless chargers. The Roam doesn’t just feel tough it is IP67 rated, meaning complete water and dust resistance – it can be immersed in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes – and its built-in battery has the stamina for up to 10 hours of playback from a single charge. At just 17cm tall, it’s small and weighty (430g) enough to feel robust without weighing you down while on the move.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |