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Meet Sonos Roam, the ultra-portable smart speaker

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  • March 9, 2021
  • 394 replies
  • 24927 views
Meet Sonos Roam, the ultra-portable smart speaker
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394 replies

BMF
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  • Prodigy III
  • March 29, 2021

Seems like a promising speaker. Too bad usb-c port is only for power charging and cannot be used to connect to a device like computer, smartphone, ..

Just out of curiosity, what would this allow you to do that you can’t do anyway?

I am guessing here…. But audio over USB-C? 
 

Can’t imagine that many people would use it that way? 99.9% would just use Bluetooth in that scenario.


  • Lyricist II
  • March 29, 2021

I would plug it on a computer or other devices not equiped with bluetooth. In some cases, audio quality would be better than over bluetooth or airplay and I would be able to share the source to other Sonos speakers.

I understand the comment from GuitarSuperstar and I agree but it makes the speaker more versatile.


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  • Prodigy I
  • March 31, 2021

Did the shipping date for Roam pre-orders get pushed back to May (so no delivery on or before April 20th)?  I inquired about changing the Roam color (from Black to White)for my Roam pre-order, and was told I could only do that by cancelling the order -- which would further delay delivery beyond the May 7th current shipping date!


I found My answer Thanks

It means you can send audio from your phone to the Roam via BT, and then the Roam can be grouped with the rest of your Sonos speakers to play that audio stream in other speakers.  It sounds like it’s the same basic concept as sharing an airplay stream.Now I can have a good BT speaker in my embroidery store.

Sonos has not said this yet, but surely there will be a delay/buffer between the audio coming from your phone and playback on other speakers besides the Roam


Winchesterclub
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  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 2, 2021

HI All

How easy will the Roam  be just playing in the kitchen as opposed to the Beam and surrounds in the Lounge ?, do you need to go on the App to pick the Roam in the Kitchen and not the Lounge set up !

 

Cheers


  • April 2, 2021

HI All

How easy will the Roam  be just playing in the kitchen as opposed to the Beam and surrounds in the Lounge ?, do you need to go on the App to pick the Roam in the Kitchen and not the Lounge set up !

 

Cheers

Yes it really is that easy. If even that is too much effort there is voice control.

Thought control is not yet possible. 


Winchesterclub
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  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 2, 2021

Thanks John

And the new Swap feature will add it to the rest of the system ?

So do you add it to the Sonos app and have it placed say in the Kitchen “area” ?

I did try and send these questions Telepathically but didn't get a reply :smile:  


Ken_Griffiths

Thanks John

And the new Swap feature will add it to the rest of the system ?

So do you add it to the Sonos app and have it placed say in the Kitchen “area” ?

I did try and send these questions Telepathically but didn't get a reply :smile:  

You may find this video overview helpful too, perhaps:

 


Bumper
  • April 2, 2021

Did the shipping date for Roam pre-orders get pushed back to May (so no delivery on or before April 20th)?  I inquired about changing the Roam color (from Black to White)for my Roam pre-order, and was told I could only do that by cancelling the order -- which would further delay delivery beyond the May 7th current shipping date!

 

Oof -I preordered on March 9. My Sonos account isn’t showing even showing the preorder anymore. Based on my personal experience, I won’t be surprised if they’ve messed the delivery date or even lost my order. 


Ken_Griffiths

Oof -I preordered on March 9. My Sonos account isn’t showing even showing the preorder anymore. Based on my personal experience, I won’t be surprised if they’ve messed the delivery date or even lost my order.

A link to contact the Sonos Sales Team is here in case there’s an issue with your pre-order:

Sonos Sales Team (9am-7pm: Opening times may vary by Country) 

Just change the Country setting, at foot of page. 


Bumper
  • April 2, 2021

Oof -I preordered on March 9. My Sonos account isn’t showing even showing the preorder anymore. Based on my personal experience, I won’t be surprised if they’ve messed the delivery date or even lost my order.

A link to contact the Sonos Sales Team is here in case there’s an issue with your pre-order:

Sonos Sales Team (9am-7pm: Opening times may vary by Country) 

Just change the Country setting, at foot of page. 

Thanks for the pointer Ken, I’ve contacted them. 🙏


Winchesterclub
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  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 3, 2021

Thanks John

And the new Swap feature will add it to the rest of the system ?

So do you add it to the Sonos app and have it placed say in the Kitchen “area” ?

I did try and send these questions Telepathically but didn't get a reply :smile:  

You may find this video overview helpful too, perhaps:

 

Thanks Ken 

Very helpful

So do you add it to say 'Kitchen area' on the app ?

Cheers


Ken_Griffiths

Winchesterclub,

All Sonos devices are given a name which usually relates to the room they are used in, but because the device roams around like the Sonos Move, you may want to name it accordingly. These below, are just some suggestions off the top of my head. However I’m sure you will find your own name for the little speaker....

  • Portable
  • Walkabout
  • Roam/Roaming
  • Drifter
  • Wanderer
  • Explorer
  • Traveller

Winchesterclub
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  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 3, 2021

Thanks ken…… and just this side of Condescending  like your style:wink:

Has anyone used Smart Home Sounds to buy equipment before ?

 

 

Cheers


Ken_Griffiths

Thanks ken…… and just this side of Condescending  like your style:wink:

Has anyone used Smart Home Sounds to buy equipment before ?

Cheers

Ah sorry that wasn’t my intention.
 

I’ve not used Smart Home Sounds. I either opt to buy direct from Sonos (mostly) and occasionally from John Lewis, if the Sonos product is preorder and JL have them in stock. Also JL may sometimes offer their own additional guarantee.


  • April 3, 2021

@Winchesterclub  - Sonos uses the term ‘Room’, but this doesn’t necessarily correspond to a physical room (although in practice it often does).  ‘Room’ is essentially just an identifying label for a single Sonos speaker, or a collection of speakers that are linked so as to operate as a single entity.  Examples of this would be a stereo pair or a home theatre setup.

So, for example, the single living / dining area in which I am typing this post contains four Sonos ‘rooms’: a stereo pair of Play:5s with Sub (‘Living Room’), a single Play:5 (‘Dining Room’), a Playbar (‘Playbar’) and at the moment, a Move (‘Move’).

I can if I wish group any or all of them on the fly to play in sync, but they remain separate rooms (with, for example, independent volume controls).

 


Winchesterclub
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  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 3, 2021

Thanks John

I am normally a Richer Sounds bloke.. but may give SHS a try I see the White version doesn't start shipping until the 30th April…

Thanks for the explanation I was asking to see if you needed to open the App every time to change sound /speakers from one room to another , but the Sound Swap innovation seems to cover this

 

Cheers


  • April 3, 2021

I haven't used SHS but have also bought from RS in the past, and like RS. Mostly I have bought direct from Sonos. Their returns policy is particularly good.

On the other hand, RS possibly still give a free extended warranty - maybe SHS do too?


Ken_Griffiths

Thanks John

I am normally a Richer Sounds bloke.. but may give SHS a try I see the White version doesn't start shipping until the 30th April…

Thanks for the explanation I was asking to see if you needed to open the App every time to change sound /speakers from one room to another , but the Sound Swap innovation seems to cover this

 

Cheers

By all accounts, you can group/ungroup speakers, or swap audio between the Roams and Sonos speakers and adjust volume (or mute audio) using the available buttons on the device.

Additionally, based on the current features of the Sonos Move, some of those can also be done by using the built-in voice assistant, such as Amazon Alexa.

Some of the available voice instructions (using Alexa) are shown here, FYI...

https://support.sonos.com/s/article/3514


Winchesterclub
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  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 3, 2021

Hi John 

I think SHS have a 6 year warranty it looks like £25 to extend that... Seems they are official Sonos stockists 

Lots of features on the Roam hopefully the Sound will be spot on as well 👍

 


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  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 6, 2021

The reviews are starting to appear :)  https://www.cnet.com/news/sonos-roam-review/

 


BMF
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  • Prodigy III
  • April 6, 2021

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  • Trending Lyricist I
  • April 6, 2021

The reviews are promising so I’m glad I got my pre-order in early on. However, as a Google Assistant user, I’m a little concerned about the problem mentioned in some reviews that says using GA drains the battery:  

‘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...’

@James L. do you think this will fixed before the Roam is released or are you able to provide an expected timeframe for this to be resolved please?


James L.
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  • Retired Community Staff
  • April 6, 2021

The reviews are promising so I’m glad I got my pre-order in early on. However, as a Google Assistant user, I’m a little concerned about the problem mentioned in some reviews that says using GA drains the battery:  

‘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...’

@James L. do you think this will fixed before the Roam is released or are you able to provide an expected timeframe for this to be resolved please?

I can confirm that we are indeed working on a fix with Google, but I can’t comment on a timeframe for the resolution to be implemented.


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  • Lyricist III
  • April 6, 2021

How does this compare to my 3 year old Amazon tap?