Sonos Roam vs Sonos Transfer: Variations in contrast

Sonos / Pocket-lint
Sonos Roam

Our best choice for portability

For these already invested in Sonos, this transportable speaker is an absolute no-brainer addition to the household. It delivers all of the comfort of a Bluetooth speaker, with the advantages of including it again right into a wider Sonos system while you’re at residence. All that, and it sounds implausible, while additionally being tremendous transportable.
Execs

Light-weight and really transportable

Glorious sound high quality for dimension

Waterproof design
Cons

Battery life somewhat beneath claimed

No accompanying case

Cannot use as surrounds
Sonos / Pocket-lint
Sonos Transfer

Our best choice for sound

There are different nice transportable Bluetooth audio system on the market – together with Sonos’ personal Roam that’s far smaller and higher designed for fixed portability – however there are none fairly just like the Sonos Transfer when it comes to sound output and options, particularly not for these already invested within the Sonos system.
Execs

Glorious sound high quality

Sturdy and waterproof design

Bluetooth capabilities
Cons

Not all that transportable

Fairly costly

Cannot use as surrounds

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Sonos Roam is the second Bluetooth speaker within the Sonos speaker portfolio and it is available in two fashions – the Roam and Roam SL, each of which sit alongside the Sonos Transfer. How does the Roam evaluate to the bigger Sonos Transfer although, and which one is correct Sonos transportable speaker for you?

For those who’re contemplating a Sonos speaker and would love it to be transportable and supply Bluetooth, you are in the appropriate place. Right here is how the Sonos Roam compares to the Sonos Transfer that can assist you determine one of the best one on your residence and life. We have referenced the Sonos Roam SL all through this characteristic however we even have a characteristic on how the Sonos Roam and Sonos Roam SL evaluate if you would like a deeper dive.

Specs, value and availability

First issues first, whereas the Sonos Roam fashions and the Sonos Transfer share similarities when it comes to Bluetooth and portability, they don’t seem to be wherever close to one another when it comes to value.

The Sonos Transfer prices £399 within the UK and $399 within the US. The Sonos Roam SL in the meantime, prices £159 within the UK and $159 within the US, whereas the Sonos Roam is £179 within the UK and $179 within the US, so they aim fairly completely different budgets.

The Roam is available in 5 color choices, whereas the Roam SL and Transfer each are available two. All three fashions can be found globally.

You possibly can see a fast breakdown of the Sonos Roam’s specs in opposition to the Sonos Transfer for a fast look side-by-side to provide you an concept of what the variations are, however we have gone into extra element about these variations additional down.

	Sonos Roam	Sonos Transfer
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 5.0, Bluetooth	Wi-Fi 4.0, Bluetooth
Battery	10 hours	11 hours
Water Resistance	IP67	IP56
Audio	Two class-H amplifiers, customized racetrack mid-woofer, tweeter, far-field mics	Two class-D amplifiers, mid-woofer, tweeter, far-field mics
Voice assistant	Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Management	Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Management
Colours	Shadow Black, Lunar White, Olive, Sundown, Wave	Shadow Black, Lunar White
Dimensions	168 x 62 x 60mm, 0.43kg	240 x 160 x 126mm, 3kg
Buttons	Tactile controls, Energy/Bluetooth button	Capacitive contact controls, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth toggle, Pairing button
Others	Sonos options, Auto Trueplay tuning, AirPlay 2, Sound Swap	Sonos options, Auto Trueplay tuning, AirPlay 2

Design

Like their value, the Sonos Transfer and Sonos Roam fashions are very completely different when it comes to design. Whereas they share comparable traits – like the remainder of the Sonos portfolio – they’re completely different sizes, completely different shapes, completely different weights they usually have completely different makes use of too.

The Sonos Transfer measures 240 x 160 x 126mm (9.44 x 6.29 x 4.96-inches) and weighs 3kg (6.61lb). It is oval in form, very rugged and options an built-in deal with. It is also IP56 rated for defense from mud particles and liquid splashes.

The Sonos Roam and Roam SL in the meantime, have a triangular prism form, measure 168 x 62 x 60mm (6.61 x 2.44 x 2.36-inches) and weigh 0.45kgs (0.95lb), making them considerably smaller and extra transportable than Transfer. They do not want any type of built-in deal with as they’re across the dimension of a water bottle and simple to hold round, plus they’re additionally absolutely waterproof with an IP67 score, so more durable than Transfer.

The Sonos Transfer has capacitive contact controls on prime, together with play/pause, skip, rewind and a microphone button, together with a Wi-Fi to Bluetooth button on the rear and a pairing button. It additionally has connection factors on the backside to hook up with the wi-fi charging base.

The Sonos Roam and Roam SL even have controls on prime however they’re tactile and barely raised fairly than capacitive. The Roam has the identical management choices as Transfer, whereas the Roam SL would not have the microphone button. Each Roam fashions have a button on the aspect and a USB Kind-C port for charging. Neither Roam mannequin has any connection factors however they do supply small round ft for when positioned horizontally. Transfer solely affords one orientation; Roam and Roam SL supply twin.

The Sonos Transfer and Sonos Roam SL each are available Shadow Black and Lunar White color choices, whereas the Roam is available in Shadow Black, Lunar White, Olive, Wave and Sundown choices, making it somewhat extra enjoyable.

Options

Although completely different in design and value, the Sonos Roam and Roam SL supply lots of the similar options as Transfer, and within the case of the usual Roam, a few extras too.

The Sonos Transfer is a standard Bluetooth speaker when in Bluetooth mode, however it’s a conventional Sonos speaker when in Wi-Fi mode and related to a Sonos system. You need to press the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth toggle button to change between the 2 modes nevertheless.

The Roam and Roam SL change between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi routinely although, that means they provide a extra seamless expertise when transferring from inside to outdoors and vice-versa. Roam additionally has a characteristic referred to as Sound Swap. This enables customers to press and maintain the play/pause button on the Roam to group Roam with different Sonos audio system already enjoying – as you’ll be able to with Transfer – or proceed urgent to switch the music enjoying on Roam to the closest Sonos speaker. It is value noting right here that the Sonos Roam SL would not have this characteristic.

Roam and Roam SL each supply all the identical options different Sonos audio system do although, together with help for over 100 music companies, multi-room audio, stereo pairing, Sonos Radio and alarms, like Transfer. Neither the Roam fashions or the Transfer can be utilized as surrounds or bonded to a Sonos Sub.

Like Transfer, Roam additionally affords Apple AirPlay 2 help and Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built-in, in addition to help for Sonos Voice Management, the latter of which is helpful for management of the audio system themselves fairly than for sensible residence management or normal questions. Transfer’s Auto Trueplay tuning characteristic can be on the Roam, utilizing spatial consciousness to routinely modify the sound for the speaker’s orientation, location, and content material. This works over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for each audio system.

The Roam SL has AirPlay 2 and it has Trueplay tuning like different Sonos audio system, however it is not Auto Trueplay and it would not have sensible assistants on board both, missing a microphone just like the Sonos One SL.

Audio and {hardware}

Sonos Arc update adds Dolby Atmos height channel volume adjustment photo 2

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The Sonos Roam and Roam SL do not ship the identical audio capabilities because the Sonos Transfer, however they nonetheless sound wonderful for his or her dimension and are greater than able to filling a room with sound or a small to medium backyard.

The Transfer has two class-D amplifiers, one mid-woofer built-in into the cupboard and one down-firing tweeter and it delivers wonderful sound. It additionally has a far-field microphone array and a chime to let you already know Sonos Transfer has heard you and is engaged on a response.

The Roam and Roam SL in the meantime, have two class-H amplifiers, one customized racetrack mid-woofer, a tweeter and a motor to extend energy and vary. The usual Roam additionally has a far-field microphone array just like the Transfer, although the Roam SL lacks this.

As talked about, the Transfer has a wi-fi charging base however it affords an 11-hour battery life when not on its base. The Sonos Roam and Roam SL have a USB Kind-C port for charging, however in addition they have an non-compulsory wi-fi charging base that may be purchased individually they usually work with Qi wi-fi charging pads too. Their battery life is round 8 to 9 hours in use.

Sonos Transfer helps Wi-Fi 4 and Bluetooth. Sonos Roam and Roam SL help Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0.

Sonos Roam vs Sonos Transfer: Which must you purchase?

The Sonos Roam is a a lot smaller, lighter, extra transportable Sonos Bluetooth speaker than the Sonos Transfer. It affords every little thing Transfer does when it comes to options, together with some further ones, like Sound Swap and automated switching between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, all in a extra compact format. The Roam SL in the meantime, affords the portability and a strong characteristic set, however with out sensible assistants.

Sonos / Pocket-lint

Sonos Roam

Our best choice for portability

For these already invested in Sonos, this transportable speaker is an absolute no-brainer addition to the household. It delivers all of the comfort of a Bluetooth speaker, with the advantages of including it again right into a wider Sonos system while you’re at residence. All that, and it sounds implausible too.

We would not anticipate the identical audio capabilities from Roam or Roam SL as Transfer delivers given they’re virtually half the worth and dimension, however each Roam and Roam SL nonetheless greater than ship on the sound entrance.

In our expertise, Sonos Roam is a wonderful addition to any Sonos system, in addition to an awesome beginning place for these new to Sonos, and the identical will be mentioned for the Roam SL. They’re additionally much more transportable than Transfer so excellent for travelling and chucking in a bag.

Sonos / Pocket-lint

Sonos Transfer

Our best choice for sound

There are different nice transportable Bluetooth audio system on the market – together with Sonos’ personal Roam that’s far smaller and higher designed for fixed portability – however there are none fairly just like the Sonos Transfer when it comes to sound output and options, particularly not for these already invested within the Sonos system.

In the meantime, Transfer delivers huge on sound, however it’s huge on value too, making it extra of an funding. It is nice for many who need a further Sonos speaker to fill a decent-sized room with sound, however one they’ll additionally carry into the backyard or the pool. It is not nevertheless, the higher possibility out of those two for popping in a bag and bringing to the park because it’s just a bit too huge. For those who’re after portability, it is the Roam you will need, whereas when you’re after sound, the Transfer is implausible.

You possibly can learn our full Sonos Roam overview, or learn our full overview on the Sonos Transfer for a extra intricate breakdown of how the 2 audio system carry out.