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When to Roam, When to Move.

Steven Saftig

Global Head of Editorial

With our new portable speaker Roam joining Move, you now have two options when it comes to listening on the go. But which speaker should you choose and when? Read on to find out.

Here’s the scenario: You’re getting ready to enjoy a rare day off. As it so happens, your favorite way to relax is with great content—music, podcasts, and audiobooks. But you just got the new Sonos Roam and are still getting up to speed on the differences between our newest portable speaker, Roam, and our first portable speaker, Move. As you go through your day, you’ll make choices about which speaker you should use in different scenarios. Don’t worry though—there won’t be a quiz at the end and we’ll help out along the way. Ready?


Dawn. The initial glimmers of sunrise stream through your windows. You’ve awoken to the sound of the news coming from the speaker by your bed. For a moment, you try to recall what you have to accomplish today. Oh, right, it’s your day off. You decide that you want to keep listening to the news while you make coffee, but your partner is still asleep and you don’t want it to keep playing in the bedroom. So you need to send the news to the speaker in the kitchen while turning it off in the bedroom. Sure, you can do this with your phone, but you can also do it with a single press of a button. Which speaker do you choose to have by your bed in this scenario? Roam or Move?

You choose: Roam

Great call! With Roam, you can send sound to another speaker by simply pressing and holding the play button. The sound will begin playing on the nearest speaker, and stop playing on Roam. Roam is also designed for dual-orientations, meaning that you can place it vertically so that it doesn’t take up much space on your nightstand or horizontally for added stability when you’re likely to be groggy and fumbling around in the morning.


You’re caffeinated. Since everyone in the house is still asleep, you decide to go for a short hike. There’s a small clearing along your route where you like to spend a little time stretching and savoring the view. And today you’re in the mood to catch up on a podcast while you stretch. Which speaker do you bring with you on the hike?

You choose: Roam

Nice choice! Roam weighs .95 pounds (.43 kg), compared to Move’s 6.61 pounds (3 kg). And at 6.61 inches long, you can easily carry it in a day pack, stuff it in a roomy pocket, or hold it in your hand.

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Refreshed from your hike, you return home to a house that’s come alive. Breakfast is sizzling and plans are being made for the day. After deciding that you want to have dinner on the patio that evening, you take a look outside to survey the scene. It’s not great. The furniture is covered in dust. Leaves are strewn about everywhere. And the plants look in desperate need of some extra water. So after breakfast, the family heads out for some much needed backyard TLC. Now, you want to play some motivational music, but because the area is so big, you need a speaker that can cover the entire backyard. Which speaker do you bring?

You choose: Move

Exactly! Roam’s sound defies expectations. But Move’s size allows for a wider soundstage and more powerful bass. And because it’s rated IP56, it can stand up to an occasional splash from the garden hose. Speaking of sound, both Move and Roam have automatic Trueplay™ tuning, meaning that they automatically adapt to your surroundings for sound that's astonishingly detailed and perfectly balanced.


Just as you’ve finished sprucing up the backyard, your parents call. They want to see their grandkids, so they’re inviting you all over for a swim. They’ll take care of lunch, but they ask you to bring the music. Between the kids and the dogs, you can pretty much assume that whatever speaker you bring will end up in the pool. It’s just physics. So, which speaker do you bring to your parents’ home?

You choose: Roam

Wow, you’re good at this. Roam is rated IP67, meaning that it can be submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.


Coming home from your parents’ house, you pull up to your garage and see your neighbor waving at you from over the hedge. Turns out they’re going car camping next weekend and are wondering if they can borrow one of your Sonos speakers. It’s a short walk to the campsite from where they’ll park, but they won’t be able to charge the speaker once they’ve set up camp. Which speaker do you lend them?

You choose: Move

Yes! While Roam boasts up to 10 hours of battery life, Move offers an extra hour—up to 11. So when every minute of battery life counts, go with Move. What a good neighbor you are.

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After everyone is showered and chlorine-free, you eventually gather in the living room. Your youngest kid wants the whole family to participate in a social media dance challenge. The family needs to watch a few practice videos first and everyone agrees that they must be played LOUD. This is clearly a job for your Sonos system. Which speaker allows you to play live audio from your phone on your Sonos speakers?

You choose: Roam

Right again. Roam unlocks Bluetooth audio for your entire system. Just group Roam with other speakers in your system and then use Bluetooth to send the audio from your phone to Roam.


Dinnertime! The grill is fired up and the table is covered with appetizers, side dishes, drinks, plates, and utensils. There is very little room for a speaker on any of your outdoor tables. Maybe you just should forgo dinnertime music tonight?

You choose: Move

Exactly. The weather-resistant Sonos Wall Hook was specifically designed to fit Move’s ergonomic handle, allowing it to be securely hung up indoors and out. Create the perfect mood for an alfresco meal without taking up any table space.


The sun has set. The dishes are washed. And the night sky is filled with stars. So you bring a big blanket out to the backyard, pile on a few pillows and get ready to do some stargazing while pondering the big questions in life. It’s time for music, but not just any music. These are the moments when music isn’t just background noise, but integral to the actual experience. This is when you play the album that you know inside and out, when you want to appreciate every detail of the music. The moment calls for stereo-pairing. So, which speakers do you choose to stereo-pair next to you?

You choose: Either

Nailed it. Both Roam and Move are great options for this scenario. They can be stereo-paired on WiFi for richer sound and placed wherever is most convenient for your makeshift listening setup.

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Both Roam and Move offer incredible sound, portability, WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities, long-lasting battery life, and the ability to seamlessly integrate into your home system. But they each have their own unique attributes that make them especially suited for certain listening scenarios. Whether you choose to enjoy it with Roam, Move (or both!), we hope you enjoy your next day off.