Sonos today introduced a new “ultra-portable” smart speaker called the Sonos Roam, designed for use at home and on the go. It is designed to be even more portable than Sonos Move, competing with Ultimate Ears Boom.
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Priced at $ 169 in the United States, the Sonos Roam is now the most affordable Sonos speaker available and is also the lightest at just under a pound. Sonos said that despite being “smaller than a bottle of water”, Roam offers “a strong and adaptable sound” that “defies expectations for a speaker of its size”. The speaker can stand upright or sit sideways, with a triangular design directing the sound upwards.
“Roam was created to provide an incredible sound experience, no matter where you are,” Sonos said. “Like all Sonos products, Roam has been tuned by industry and music industry leaders to ensure that the speaker reproduces content exactly as the creator intended. A carefully designed acoustic architecture delivers a rich and detailed sound, with the clarity, depth and fullness you would expect. from a larger speaker. “
The speaker is equipped with two H-class amplifiers, a custom mid-woofer, a tweeter and a high-efficiency motor. Other audio specifications include adjustable EQ and a range of advanced beam microphone with advanced field formation.
Roam automatically switches between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. At home, the speaker connects to a Wi-Fi network when it’s within range, and then automatically repairs with an iPhone or other smartphone via Bluetooth when it’s on the go. The speaker can be controlled with Sonos, Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa or with physical touch controls. The built-in LED lights indicate the speaker, microphone and battery status.
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You can 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 using the Sonos application. If a user continues to hold down the play / pause button, a completely new feature called Sound Swap switches the played music to the nearest Sonos speaker for a perfect room-to-room listening experience.
With a feature called Automatic Trueplay, Roam intelligently adapts the sound according to what is being played and the environment. Roam microphones detect what is playing and measure the frequency response of the surroundings, then adjust the EQ for a balanced sound. Auto Trueplay is triggered whenever Roam is placed in a new location and continuously refines the sound while Roam is stationary.
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 recharged with an included USB-C cable and any USB or wireless power adapter with any Qi wireless charger. Sonos will sell an official Roam-shaped wireless charger for $ 49.
With water and dust resistance, IP67, Roam can be immersed in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes without suffering water damage. Silicone caps protect it from accidental drops and turbulence in transit, and a slightly concave design helps prevent accidental pressing of physical controls, such as volume.
Sonos has said that Roam will be available starting April 20 in the United States and dozens of other countries, with pre-orders starting today. The speaker is available in two colors, including Shadow Black and Lunar White.