Sonos today introduced a new ‘ultraportable’ smart speaker, the Sonos Roam, which is designed for use at home and on the go. It’s designed to be even more portable than the Sonos Move and competes with the likes of the Ultimate Ears Boom.
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Priced at $ 169 in the United States, the Sonos Roam is now the most affordable Sonos speaker out there, and it’s also the lightest at just under a pound. Sonos said that despite being “smaller than a water bottle,” the Roam “delivers” powerful, customizable sound that “exceeds expectations for a speaker its size.” The speaker can sit upright or placed on its side, with the triangular design directing the sound upwards.
“Roam is made to provide an incredible sound experience wherever you are,” said Sonos. “Like all Sonos products, Roam has been tuned by industry leaders in music and film to ensure that the speaker delivers content exactly as the creator intended. clarity, depth and richness you would expect from a larger speaker. “
The speaker is equipped with two Class-H amplifiers, a custom racetrack midwoofer, a tweeter and a high-efficiency motor. Other audio specifications include adjustable EQ and a far-field microphone array with advanced beamforming.
Roam automatically switches between WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0. At home, the speaker connects to a Wi-Fi network when in range, then automatically repairs with an iPhone or other smartphone via Bluetooth when on the go. The speaker can be operated with the Sonos app, Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, or physical touch control. Built-in LED lights indicate speaker, microphone and battery status.
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It is possible to create a stereo pair with two Roams in the same room and the speaker can be grouped with other Sonos speakers by pressing and holding the play / pause button or by using the Sonos app. When a user presses and holds the Play / Pause button, an all-new feature called Sound Swap switches the music playing to the nearest Sonos speaker for a seamless listening experience from room to room.
With a feature called Automatic Trueplay, the Roam intelligently adjusts the sound based on what’s playing and the environment. Roam’s microphones detect what’s playing and measure the frequency response of the environment, then adjust the EQ for a balanced sound. Auto Trueplay is activated when Roam is moved to a new location, and it continuously fine-tunes the sound while Roam is stopped.
Roam offers up to 10 hours of continuous playback on a single charge and can last up to 10 days in sleep mode, according to Sonos. The speaker can be charged with an included USB-C cable and any USB power adapter, or wirelessly with any Qi wireless charger. Sonos will sell an official Roam-shaped wireless charger for $ 49.
With IP67 rated water and dust resistance, the Roam can be submerged in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes without water damage. Silicone end caps protect it from accidental drops and turbulence in transit, and a slightly concave design helps prevent physical controls, such as volume, from being accidentally pressed.
Sonos said the Roam will be available in the United States and dozens of other countries starting April 20, with pre-orders starting today. The speaker is available in two colors, including Shadow Black and Lunar White.