NEWS: Sonos launches Roam ultra portable smart speaker

[Andy Bassett]

Sonos’ latest is a smaller, lighter, waterproof smart speaker that you can slip into a bag and take with you wherever you go - and it's the company’s most affordable speaker yet at £159.
Read the news.

 

[low-def.]

Looks great and definitely what I need for the garden

 

[Mr X]

Does look very interesting and very curious to hear what SQ is like, so have pre-ordered one.

 

[LeftyXXIII]

For those who have access to UniDays, the 15% discount works on the pre-order, so I've managed to get one ordered for £135.15

 

[Mr X]

For those who have access to UniDays, the 15% discount works on the pre-order, so I've managed to get one ordered for £135.15

Thanks for this! I just cancelled and ordered again with the code and also ordered the charging base this. I still have a couple of 30% vouchers but didn't want to use those yet and forgot about Unidays. Cheers

 

[danwel]

Shame all the discounts seem to be Uniday, i have a totum card but they don't offer any sonos discount sadly

 

[AlanX]

Has anyone checked the dimensions of this device? The dimensions given - 240 x 160 x 126 - suggest a truly enormous hand is holding it!

 

[low-def.]

Has anyone checked the dimensions of this device? The dimensions given - 240 x 160 x 126 - suggest a truly enormous hand is holding it!

Richer Sounds has it listed as: 62 x 60 x 168

 

[CaptainEd]

Disappointing, like the Move, no stereo pairing over bluetooth, but I guess not what the speaker is intended for. I'm sure it will sound better than my Anker but I can get 5 of them for the cost of this.

 

[AlanX]

Richer Sounds has it listed as: 62 x 60 x 168

That sounds a bit more like it. Looks like the dimensions from Andy B might be for the box it came in.

 

[marcoeser]

Looks very similar to the Denon bluetooth speakers

 

[LexDiamond]

Very interested in this but I’m going to wait for reviews after release. Separate tweeter, mid and trueplay means this looks promising for a balanced sound and something that can easily be moved from room to room or taken outdoors.

 

[Richard Groves]

Very interested in this but I’m going to wait for reviews after release. Separate tweeter, mid and trueplay means this looks promising for a balanced sound and something that can easily be moved from room to room or taken outdoors.

Based on recent Sonos releases and stock shortages then if you want one this side of summer you'd be best off pre-ordering and returning if you don't like the sound.

 

[SimonFoz]

If you want one at £135.15 but aren’t eligible through uni days, try registering for free at www.perksatwork.com

 

[LexDiamond]

Based on recent Sonos releases and stock shortages then if you want one this side of summer you'd be best off pre-ordering and returning if you don't like the sound.

I don’t have Sonos at the moment so did not know that. Thanks for the heads up and have ordered two!

 

[UMAR 3:16]

Can you use this as surrounds? WoulD love a small surround speaker

 

[Mr X]

Can you use this as surrounds? WoulD love a small surround speaker

According to Sonos no unfortunately

 

[UMAR 3:16]

According to Sonos no unfortunately

Damn! That would have swayed it for me. It’s good an opportunity to waste IMO.

 

[Mr X]

Damn! That would have swayed it for me. It’s good an opportunity to waste IMO.

I guess they have the ability with a software update but they probably don’t want to cannibalise sales of the ONE.

 

[LexDiamond]

They never did it with the Move either so was probably always going to go the same way with the Roam.

 

[Woodymogs]

The reviews are starting to appear The Sonos Roam is one of the best mini wireless smart speakers you can buy

 

[Mr X]

Another very promising video review here...

Hands-On With the New Sonos Roam Speaker

Sonos in March introduced a new portable smart speaker called the Sonos Roam, which is priced at $169, making it the most affordable Sonos...

www.macrumors.com

 

[Woodymogs]

The only concern I have (I've got a set of 2 x Roams on pre-order) is that using Google Assistant drains the battery, mentioned in some of the reviews:

‘There’s also a battery drain bug if you set up Google Assistant on the Roam that Sonos warned reviewers about, and it’s bad enough that the company is encouraging customers to power the speaker down when it’s not being used to conserve juice. Sonos says it’s working with Google on a fix...’

I'm using GA with the rest of my Sonos system so this is a bit of a disappointment. Sonos have said they are working a fix but there's no timescale for a resolution

 

[LexDiamond]

I read some of the reviews and they seem very promising. If this can deliver solid mid range without sacrificing the top end then this could be a game changer in the portable market.

 

[UMAR 3:16]

Really wanted these as surrounds for the beam