New Products

Spring has nearly sprung, and that means people will soon be heading outdoors for socially distanced adventures. More good news: Your adventures can be soundtracked by the Roam, a new $169 ultra-portable smart speaker from Sonos that connects via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and has an IP67 rating to make it both dust- and water-proof.

Available starting April 20 in shadow black or lunar white, the Roam’s battery provides up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge and can be recharged using the included USB-C cable, a wireless Qi charger, or an optional Sonos wireless charger ($49). It automatically switches from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth connectivity when you leave your home base and features sturdy silicone end caps to protect it from drops.

A unique feature of the Roam is its automatic Trueplay tuning technology. A room correction feature found on the company’s indoor smart speakers and soundbars, Trueplay on the Roam uses spatial awareness to optimize outdoors sound based on the speaker’s location and orientation, along with the content being played back. When you return home, it can be grouped with other speakers in a multiroom Sonos setup, as well as linked with a second Roam to create a stereo pair. A new Sound Swap feature making its debut with the Roam also lets you transfer music from the portable to other speakers in your home as you move from room to room.

As with all Sonos products, the Roam is controlled by the Sonos app, which features more than 100 streaming services. It also supports Apple AirPlay 2 and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands.

Visit the Sonos website for more info on the Roam.