Compare Sonos Roam 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker vs Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Speaker 3rd Gen

AirPlay support is consistently confirmed across reviews and is presented as part of the Roam 2’s appeal for Apple and Wi-Fi users.

Review evidence says the A1 does not support AirPlay, so Apple users still rely on Bluetooth or wired USB-C rather than Wi-Fi/AirPlay streaming.

Amplifier evidence is clear: the Roam 2 uses two Class-H/digital amplifiers powering its tweeter and mid-woofer architecture.

Multiple reviews cite the dual 30W Class D amplification or 60W total output, supporting unusually strong output for the compact chassis.

App reliability is mixed: some reviewers found the Sonos app easy or handy, while others reported setup hurdles, app quirks, dead buttons, or broader Sonos app frustrations.

The B&O app is repeatedly described as helpful, responsive, and one of the best of its kind, though one reviewer could not get built-in radio working.

Audio format support is limited on Bluetooth, with repeated evidence of SBC and AAC only, while Wi-Fi can provide higher-quality streaming.

Audio format support centers on SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, and USB-C wired audio rather than Wi-Fi-based formats.

Backwards compatibility is decent, with familiar Roam sound/features and evidence that original Roam units can pair or remain compatible in some contexts.

Backwards compatibility is a strength for stereo pairing because the third-generation speaker can pair with a second-generation A1.

Battery life is the most common limitation: 10 hours is usually workable, but many reviewers say it trails similarly priced or larger rivals.

Battery life is consistently positive, with most third-generation reviews citing 24 hours and several testers finding that figure believable or conservative.

Bluetooth codec support is limited, with reviewers citing SBC and AAC only and comparing unfavorably to LDAC-capable rivals.

Bluetooth codec support is strong for the class thanks to AAC and aptX Adaptive alongside basic SBC support.

Bluetooth stability is mostly positive, with reviewers reporting easy pairing, auto-connect, and no dropouts in testing.

Connection stability is generally praised, with reviewers reporting no dropouts or solid pairing, though one garden-range test eventually cut out at distance.

Range evidence is moderate, with one review citing about 10 meters outdoors and another suggesting real-world limits near the end of a garden.

Build construction is premium for the class, with metal, rubberized parts, and sturdy materials noted by reviewers.

Construction is one of the most consistent strengths, with reviewers praising premium aluminum, polymer, finish quality, and overall craftsmanship.

Charging is convenient through USB-C, wireless Qi support, and improved cables, but specific charge-speed evidence is limited and one third-party charging comment was slower.

Charging time is functional but not fast; several reviews cite roughly three hours and describe it as long or leisurely.

Cohesion is a strength, with reviewers describing balanced output, fullness, and a wide presentation that avoids obvious compression for the size.

The A1 is repeatedly described as cohesive, unified, controlled, and spacious rather than scattered or disjointed.

The dedicated Bluetooth button and tactile controls are widely viewed as meaningful usability improvements over the original Roam.

Physical buttons are generally praised as responsive, tactile, clicky, and easier to use.

Design earns broad praise for a sleek, minimalist, premium, portable look, though one reviewer noted the matte black finish picked up marks.

Design and aesthetics are a standout consensus strength, with reviewers repeatedly emphasizing the premium, stylish, minimalist look.

Detail retrieval is mostly good for a small speaker, with several reviewers hearing clarity and track details, though What Hi-Fi and Good Housekeeping wanted more nuance.

Detail retrieval is strong across reviews, especially through the midrange, vocals, and small instrumental textures.

High-volume distortion is mostly controlled, with several reviewers hearing clear output or no distortion, though some note DSP or performance tradeoffs at the top end.

Distortion control is mostly strong at higher volumes, though one review notes distortion or strain on demanding bass-heavy tracks.

Durability evidence is positive overall, including rough handling, sand, ocean exposure, drops, and scratch-free results, though one reviewer treats drop-proof claims cautiously.

Durability is mixed: IP protection and prior-generation bump resistance help, but several reviewers warn the aluminum can scuff or may not survive rough drops like rugged JBL rivals.

Dust resistance is strongly supported by IP67 dustproof evidence, making the Roam 2 suitable for beach, sand, and outdoor use.

Dust resistance is strongly supported by repeated IP67 references and explicit dustproof or dust-resistant descriptions.

Dynamic headroom is limited at high volume because one reviewer heard DSP step in and reduce dynamics when bass was pushed.

Dynamic performance is capable for the size but not class-leading; some reviews praise dynamism while others say rivals offer larger dynamic swings.

Energy management is helped by sleep mode, power-save behavior, and automatic power-down, though battery life remains only moderate.

EQ customization is useful but basic, generally limited to bass, treble, and loudness controls through the Sonos app.

EQ customization is a clear app strength, with preset modes and a visual sound control repeatedly described as useful and approachable.

Everyday usability is a strong point, with reviewers praising grab-and-go portability, simple Bluetooth use, shower/room use, and easy placement.

Everyday usability is strong because reviewers find the speaker simple to operate, portable, and easy to live with in travel, desk, shower, and small-room use.

Float capability is absent; reviews explicitly state the Roam 2 will sink or still does not float.

Most reviewers describe the tuning as balanced, clear, and full for the size, with respectable bass and mids, though a few wanted more clarity or refinement.

Frequency balance is generally warm, rich, and controlled rather than strictly neutral, with impressive bass for size and some caveats around bass depth or treble impact.

Google support is a repeated weakness: reviewers consistently state that Google Assistant is not supported on the Roam 2.

Google-related support appears through Google Fast Pair, making Android pairing easier alongside Microsoft Swift Pair and Apple-focused support.

The lack of a carry strap, loop, or attachment point is a recurring complaint, and one review also notes it does not float.

The strap is usually praised as elegant or useful for carrying, though one review notes there is no carrying case and another notes leather may not suit every buyer.

Home-theater integration is limited: it can fit the Sonos ecosystem, but one review says two Roam 2 units cannot act as soundbar surrounds.

Inter-speaker connectivity is a standout strength, including Sonos grouping, Sound Swap, Bluetooth audio sharing to other Sonos speakers, and stereo-pair options.

Inter-speaker connectivity is strong because multiple reviews confirm stereo pairing, including pairing across second- and third-generation A1 units.

LED lighting effects are essentially absent; one review frames the Roam 2 as not LED-filled compared with flashier competitors.

Lighting effects are not a selling point; the design favors minimalism and sound over party-style lighting.

Reviewers generally find the Roam 2 loud for its compact size, with enough output for rooms, patios, and casual outdoor use, but not enough for high-volume parties.

Maximum volume is good for the size and small spaces but not ideal for big outdoor parties or competing with larger JBL-style speakers.

The microphone supports voice control and Trueplay tuning, but it does not turn the speaker into a speakerphone.

Microphone support is well covered, with reviews describing built-in mics, mute controls, FarField technology, and speakerphone use.

Multi-speaker use is a strength inside the Sonos ecosystem, with reliable grouping and stereo-pair options, though some stereo features require Wi-Fi.

Multi-speaker pairing is a strength in the included reviews, especially because the app supports stereo setup and cross-generation pairing works.

Multipoint is a clear weakness because one review explicitly says the speaker does not support multipoint pairing.

Multipoint connectivity is consistently supported, with multiple reviews describing two-device pairing and one YouTube reviewer calling it flawless.

Omnidirectional sound is weak because one review says the Roam 2 pushes sound out the front rather than around the speaker.

Omnidirectional sound is mixed: some reviews call it 360-degree or all-directional, while others say it is not truly 360-degree and depends on positioning.

On-device controls are strong, with physical buttons for playback, volume, microphone, Bluetooth, and power, including track-skip support.

On-device controls are well implemented, with power, pairing, volume, playback, and mic controls placed around the speaker body.

Power-bank functionality is absent because one review states there is no reverse charging.

Price/value is mixed: reviewers often call it expensive, but some justify the price for Sonos integration, build, sound, AirPlay, and Wi-Fi.

Price/value is the most repeated caveat: reviewers like the product but frequently call it expensive or weaker value than JBL alternatives.

Privacy evidence is limited but positive in one review because the removal of built-in Alexa means the speaker is not always listening for Amazon voice commands.

Setup is generally easier than the original because Bluetooth can work out of the box, though some app-based setup experiences remain inconsistent.

Setup is generally simple, helped by Fast Pair, Swift Pair, quick Bluetooth discovery, and straightforward operation.

Alexa and Sonos Voice Control are repeatedly supported, but evidence also shows Alexa depends on Wi-Fi and is not a full replacement for every control task.

Smart assistant integration is weak for the third generation because several reviews say Alexa has been dropped or is not built in.

Smart features are a key advantage, including Wi-Fi, Trueplay, voice assistants, app control, Sonos grouping, AirPlay, and streaming-service access.

Smart features are mixed: the app adds streaming, radio, EQ, and settings, but reviewers note no Auracast, no Wi-Fi, and no Alexa on the third-generation model.

Speakerphone capability is poor or absent, with multiple reviews stating there is no speakerphone or phone-call support.

Speakerphone quality is a useful strength, with several reviews saying calls are clear or successful and one caller rating it highly.

Status indicators are basic; reviews mention LEDs, but at least one reviewer wanted larger lights and a graded battery indicator.

Status indicators are functional but mixed, with LEDs present for status and charging while one review wished the indicator were larger.

Stereo performance is mixed because the speaker itself is mono, but multiple reviews note that pairing two Roam units can create a better stereo experience over Wi-Fi.

Stereo imaging and separation are generally good for a compact Bluetooth speaker, with reviewers praising organized soundstage and instrument separation, though scale is limited.

The Roam 2 has limited sub-bass reach; one review says it cannot reproduce deep sub-bass notes.

One reviewer described the presentation as room-filling surround-like sound, but broader evidence still points to a compact speaker rather than a true surround product.

Sustainability is a standout feature because reviews repeatedly cite Cradle to Cradle certification, modularity, repairability, and replaceable battery support.

USB-C charging is well supported, with reviewers repeatedly noting the port or included USB-C-to-USB-C cable.

USB-C charging is well supported and also doubles as a wired audio/data path in several reviews.

Value for money depends heavily on priorities: it is expensive against Bluetooth-only speakers but stronger when Sonos ecosystem features matter.

Value for money is mixed: some reviewers say the premium is justified by build and sound, while others say cheaper JBL or other rivals are better buys.

Voice assistant responsiveness is mostly favorable, especially for Sonos Voice Control and basic Alexa tasks, though Alexa music-control limits appear in one review.

Voice assistant responsiveness is only supported in the older included A1 review, where Alexa setup is described as working equally well once configured.

Voice and vocal reproduction earns mostly positive notes, with clear vocals and good spoken-word body, although one comparison found the Bose SoundLink Flex clearer.

Voice clarity is a recurring strength, with reviewers praising vocal intelligibility, natural vocals, and clear speech reproduction.

Voice recognition is generally positive where tested, with reviewers reporting accurate voice control and Sonos Voice Control understanding requests.

Water resistance is a strong consensus point, with repeated IP67 evidence and real-world water, shower, splash, and submersion comments.

Water resistance is strongly supported by repeated IP67 descriptions and sink, beach, pool, shower, and shallow-submersion references.

Portability and weight are major strengths, with repeated praise for the Roam 2’s light, compact, backpack-friendly shape.

Weight convenience is good but not perfect; reviewers find it easy to bag or carry, while noting it is not the lightest option at its size.

Wi-Fi streaming is a major advantage, with reviewers praising Sonos ecosystem integration, AirPlay-capable Wi-Fi playback, and stable Wi-Fi use, despite setup/app caveats.

Wi-Fi streaming reliability scores low because reviews repeatedly say there is no Wi-Fi on board, so Wi-Fi streaming is not available to evaluate.

Wired input is absent; the USB-C port is for charging and one review explicitly says it cannot be used for wired audio playback.

Wired input is a strength on the third-generation model because USB-C can handle wired audio as well as charging.