Verdict
With its redesign audio system , the Sonos Move 2 adds two tweeters into the commixture to deliver stereo , as well as a across-the-board , less positional soundscape than its predecessor . There ’s no escaping that this is an expensive speaker system , but there ’s nothing else that can quite do what the Move 2 can : it ’s a proper , fully integrate Sonos speaker unit that do work as well inside and out , capable of running on Wi - Fi or Bluetooth . And with more than double the battery life of the original , this is a speaker system that keeps going
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
When Sonos entered the portable speaker marketplace in 2019,the Movediffered to its competition . Rather than plan to fall away in a bag and be carried everywhere , the Move was built like a traditional indoor Sonos speaker system , only it had a bombardment and was sealed against the elements . Now , the company is back for more with the Sonos Move 2 .
A redesigned talker organization , with two-channel tweeters , and all - Clarence Shepard Day Jr. battery life , the new speaker is for those that want tone sound recording inside and out .
Design
There ’s not a mess of difference from the outside between the old Move and the Move 2 , more of a pinch in invention . That ’s alright with me , as the pilot already looked stylish , so there ’s not much point in starting from fresh .
Once again , the speaker is useable in three color . I really care the green model , but I ’ve get the Andrew D. White for review , and there ’s also a black version .
One of the chief differences is the controller panel on top . The honest-to-goodness Move had the older - style touching push , which were n’t clearly labelled , and you had to look up how to pass over a raceway . Here , the controls are much better . There ’s a slider for intensity control , plus consecrate drama / pause and track omission button . It ’s far easier to practice this speaker than the erstwhile one .
flip over the Move 2 around , and there ’s a slight divergence . The power and Bluetooth buttons remain the same , but here , there ’s no Join push button ( that ’s no longer needed , as the connection cognitive process has been streamlined ) and a dedicated permutation to turn the integrated microphone off .
USB - Cis provided at the back . This can be used for charge the intimate shelling if you do n’t require to dribble the dockage station around with you , or it can be used to recharge a gadget ( handy if you need a straightaway power rise to your phone while you ’re away from a big businessman socket ) .
The USB - C port wine also doubles up as an input , although you ’ll need to buy the Line - In Adapter to connect 3.5 mm audio devices . Still , it ’s good that Sonos has perpetrate to multiple forcible inputs , outside of streaming services only .
For use of goods and services at home , there ’s the same docking station as before . Drop the Move 2 into this and it will charge the stamp battery and posture there on understudy so that the speaker can be used within just like any other Sonos speaker .
When you ’re ready , grab the integrated handle and take the speaker where you want it , inside or out . At 3 kg , the Move 2 does agitate the terminus ad quem of what can be moot a portable verbaliser . Think of this more as a speaker that you may either belt down out into the garden or take in the automobile rather than a slimline utterer for send away in a backpack , and you ’ll get the idea . For those who travel more , theSonos Roamis what you ’re after .
An IP56 military rank means that the Move 2 is protected against detritus , water , mud and , well , whatever else it may see alfresco . The only thing it ’s not rated against is dousing in water . Have a company and impart this speaker outside , and you ’ll not have to worry about it being ruined in the morning .
As with the original , the battery can be replace by purchase a kit from Sonos . Good news for longevity and well for the environment , too .
Sonos sells a few accessories for this Cartesian product , including a £ 79 carry case and a more low-cost £ 29 paries hook so the talker can be hung out of the way . I ’m entice by one of the hooks for my garden to use when I have guest .
Features
Once the Move 2 is connected to its charging base , you may join it to an existing S2 system over Wi - Fi . It ’s aWi - Fi 6device , as are the more recent Sonos speakers . I found it only ask a few minutes to tie the loudspeaker to my system , at which point it appears just like any other Sonos speaker . Any stream services configured , including Spotify , Tidal , Apple Music , Qobuzand TuneIn , can simply be streamed to the utterer , and it can take part in multi - way music , too .
There ’s alsoSpotify ConnectandAirPlay 2built - in , so you could skip the Sonos app and stream audio directly to the speaker .
Inside , connected to Wi - Fi , the Move 2 can also work as a smart speaker . Amazon Alexaand Sonos Voice Control are both option . The latter ’s advantage is that it processes commands topically on the speaker and is designed specifically for euphony playback .
It ’s possible to run specific euphony from Sonos Radio , Apple Music , Amazon Music , Deezerand Pandora ; for other streaming service , such as Spotify , you must select the euphony from the app . However , once euphony is line up up , Sonos Voice Control does let you hesitate , encounter and skip tracks , as well as adjust volume .
AutomaticTrueplayis useable on this speaker , tune up the end product every time the speaker system is moved . The only requirement is that the microphone is trade on . Automatic Trueplay is similar to the system in theHomePodandHomePod mini .
It ’s a particularly useful system on aportable talker , which can be place in a Brobdingnagian compass of locations , from wide , open outdoor spaces to modest rooms inside . move from a kitchen counterpunch to a bookshelf , then to my garden , I get hold that Automatic Trueplay did a cracking job balancing the audio output so that the Move 2 always sound well .
As well as operating as a standalone speaker , you may use two Move 2 speakers in a two-channel pair if you really want to .
When you ’re away from Wi - Fi ( or you just want to play from a different source ) , you’re able to tap the Bluetooth button on the back . This will mechanically connect the talker to the last Bluetooth gadget you used ; a long - closet puts the Move 2 into pairing mode .
Bluetooth 5.0is supported on this modelling , rather than the sr. Bluetooth 4.2 . Bluetooth 5 allow for high - quality watercourse , uses less power and increases range . For all effective uses , if you’re able to see the Move 2 , you’re able to connect to it via Bluetooth .
Battery lifespan is now rat for up to 24 hour , a staggering 13 - hr advance over the Move ’s assault and battery . This figure is ground on the utterer being set to a ‘ moderate ’ horizontal surface .
In real purpose , endurance depends on what you ’re doing . I sit my loudspeaker system outside for an eight - 60 minutes session , which still had 54 % bombardment life the next day . Based on my listening volume , I ’d easily get to 15 - hours+ on in high spirits volume . In other Holy Scripture , any distance of party can be cater for with this speaker .
Tap the power clit on the back , and the speaker goes into sopor modality , conserving energy until it ’s used , while a foresighted press will turn it off . As with its precursor , the Move 2 will automatically shift to sleep mood after being groundless for 30 minutes . If you want to push barrage life further , there ’s a Battery Saver option in the Sonos app that will automatically power the Move 2 off after 10 hour of sit idle .
Sound Quality
The old Move had a single tweeter and one mid - woofer , but the Move 2 has two angled tweeters ( two-channel sound ) and a mid - woofer , all power by three Class - D digital amplifiers . As always , Sonos is a trivial cagey on the spec , but the utterer layout is similar to that of theEra 100 .
Moving to stereo verbalizer rather than mono does make a difference , particularly when you ’re not using a stereophonic system couple . For freshman , the speaker has a all-encompassing mien . Its audio sound less guiding and better fills the space , inside and out .
As the tweeters are comparatively tightlipped together , you do n’t get the stereoscopic photograph separation that a pair of speakers delivers . Fire up Foo Fighter ’s Enough blank , and the possibility guitar is designed to swirl between the left and right talker . With separate talker , you get the full effect of the guitars moving around you ; with the Move 2 , the impression is not as pronounced but the soundscape is wider than on a mono speaker .
There ’s more nicety to this speaker unit than the original Move . hear to John Williams ’ Imperial March , and the center , quieter incision is answer in all its point . With Simon and Garfunkel ’s speech sound of Silence , the harmonies are delivered beautifully , bringing the caterpillar track to life as it should sound .
Pump in something more fast-growing , such as Rage Against the Machine ’s Bombtrack , and the Move 2 shows its capability . Its mid - woofer throw out freshwater bass with telling weight and punch , but it never imperil to destruct residue ; Zach de la Rocha ’s hard - hit song are absolutely clear .
That balance is evident listening to the Whiplash soundtrack , with the deed of conveyance song bouncing between the basso line and brighter trumpets and saxophones that the Move 2 handle well . If I ’m being picky , I found the speaker a tactual sensation Light Within in the midrange .
Turn up the book as the DSP steps in to adjust the phone so that basso does n’t get distorted or overwhelming . within , I find that up to loudness 40 was honorable enough ; outdoors , I could go louder , although I never call for to get anywhere near the maximum volume .
shift between Wi - Fi and Bluetooth , I could n’t hear any evident difference . Of course , it ’s soft to practice Wi - Fi where it ’s useable , resorting to Bluetooth when that ’s not an pick .
It ’s worth play around with the equaliser options , adjusting bass and threefold to suit your hearing preferences .
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Should you buy it?
Use the Move 2 inside like a normal speaker , but nibble it up and move it around the theatre and into the garden when needed , all without sacrificing timbre or features .
If you require something you’re able to carry around with you , then theSonos Roamor a traditionalBluetooth speakermay be a better option .
Final Thoughts
A premium over the old Move , the Move 2 at least justifies that price increase with better audio , thanks to stereo sound , and much - improved battery life .
Its compounding of lift - and - move widget , Bluetooth and Wi - Fi sound , and full Sonos integration make it unlike anything else , bar its forerunner . If you want a speaker that works as well in your garden as it does in your bread and butter elbow room , then there ’s nothing better .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every wireless speaker we critique exhaustively over an extensive catamenia of time . We utilise industry standard tests to compare feature properly . We ’ll always tell apart you what we ascertain . We never , ever , assume money to review a product .
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FAQs
Yes , Sonos provides a kit , so you could interchange a barrage that ’s damage or not charge .
Yes , although they can only be used for euphony playback and ca n’t be used as rearward speakers for a home theatre organisation .
