Sonos Roam SL – New portable speaker with WiFi and Bluetooth

Sonos Inc. presents the new Sonos Roam SL, another portable speaker that joins the previously available Sonos Roam. As an ultra-portable speaker, it is supposed to deliver impressive sound at home as well as on the go.

Whether at home or on the go, the new Sonos Roam SL should prove to be an ultra-compact portable speaker, according to the promise of Sonos Inc, a company specializing in streaming solutions, which is thus expanding its range with another such solution. The new Sonos Roam SL will thus join the already previously available Sonos Roam, which the company calls a mobile smart speaker, and which for the first time did not rely solely on WiFi, but in addition on Bluetooth.

The new Sonos Roam SL is also a solution that offers both WiFi and Bluetooth, but unlike the Sonos Roam, it does without an integrated microphone.

Versatile Sonos speaker in ultra-compact form without microphone

While the Sonos Roam, as described, is a so-called smart speaker, the new Sonos Roam SL does without this feature. The new Sonos Roam SL is thus equally suitable for use at home and on the go, but the focus of this solution should be on the second scenario.

Nevertheless, the new Sonos Roam SL is supposed to offer all the essential strengths that characterize solutions from Sonos Inc. in general, and the Sonos Roam in particular.

Thus, the manufacturer speaks of an ultra-compact solution and underlines this with specifications regarding the size of 168 mm in height, 62 mm in width, and 60 mm in depth. The case is IP67 certified and thus dust and water resistant, even withstanding up to 30 minutes of water at a depth of one meter. It presents itself with a matte finish in either Shadow Black or Lunar White.

The new Sonos Roam SL is said to have an elegant design and a shape that makes it fit well in the hand, but just as perfectly in any living environment. It can be placed both horizontally and vertically.

WiFi for home, Bluetooth for on the go

The new Sonos Roam SL connects like all other Sonos systems in the house, of course WiFi according to IEEE 802.11ac is used, whereby the setup is supposed to be very simple and fast in a typical way, according to the promise from Sonos Inc.

Of course, this is done via the well-known Sonos app for Google Android or Apple iOS, which can also be used to play various contents, regardless of whether they come from the user’s own media library or from one of the countless streaming offers that the system from Sonos Inc. supports. The direct connection with other speakers is also possible, for example, to form a stereo pair from two Sonos Roam SL or in combination with a Sonos Roam.

However, you do not have to rely on the Sonos app alone in the network; this solution also supports Apple AirPlay 2 like all other current systems from the manufacturer.

If you are outside the range of your own network, for example in the garden, on the terrace, or even on the road, Bluetooth is available, namely Bluetooth 5.0. The manufacturer promises that the new Sonos Roam SL – once paired – immediately connects to the source device, first and foremost of course the smartphone.

Especially on the go, buttons are supposed to enable simple operation directly on the device, as the manufacturer states.

Of course, the Sonos Roam SL uses the latest Sonos platform and is equipped with a 1.4 GHz A-53 Quad Core processor as well as 1 GB SDRAM and 4 GB NV.

Detailed sound despite compact dimensions

The new Sonos Roam SL is supposed to excel with a detailed sound with clarity, depth and fullness, according to the promise of Sonos Inc. For this purpose, they rely on a two-way system consisting of high and low midrange drivers as well as two amplifier modules in Class H. As with all solutions, the company does not really give more exact details, but promises an adjustment to one’s own taste via bass and treble control, which is available via the Sonos app.

No Sonos Truplay tuning, no voice control

As already mentioned, the Sonos Roam SL does without an integrated microphone. This means that the Sonos Trueplay Tuning function for automatic optimal adjustment to the respective environment is not available here, just as you cannot use this solution for voice control in the smart home and the Sonos Sound Swap function is also not available.

Up to ten hours of playtime

The integrated 18 Wh battery of the new Sonos Roam SL is supposed to allow a playing time of up to ten hours away from the wall socket, whereby it is charged via a USB-C port. Such a power adapter is not included in the scope of delivery, but it should at least supply 7.5 W at 5V 1.5 A. Only a USB-A to USB-C cable is included with the Sonos Roam SL. You can optionally purchase a wireless charger because the Sonos Roam SL supports wireless charging via Qi.

Prices and availability

As already mentioned, you can choose between two design variants of the new Sonos Roam SL, namely Shadow Black and Lunar White. According to the manufacturer, both variants will be available from March 15, 2022, although you can already pre-order them directly on the website. The price is stated by Sonos Inc. at € 179.

Getting to the point

With the new Sonos Roam SL, Sonos Inc. expands its range in the field of portable Bluetooth speakers by another model, a solution that one puts to the side of the previously available Sonos Roam. Here, too, the user can of course expand his existing Sonos system with another Sonos speaker, because the new Sonos Roam SL connects to it via WiFi, but on the road it automatically switches to Bluetooth, should thus always and everywhere for appealing sound despite compact dimensions can deliver. It is interesting that you cannot speak of a smart speaker here, because unlike its brother Sonos Roam, the new Sonos Roam SL is not equipped with an integrated microphone. Thus, it does not offer voice control and Sonos Trueplay Tuning as well as Sonos Sound Swap are not available here.