Sonos Move 2 Review

Our Sonos Move 2 Experience

We are obsessed with this speaker's pristine, intoxicating sound, and if it weren't so expensive, we would recommend it to everyone. We used Sonos' “Trueplay” in multiple rooms, a high-tech feature used to optimize the sound reverberation after scanning the objects in the room, and it customized its sound to each room perfectly.

The Sonos Move 2 isn't as plug-and-play as we would like. The setup took longer than most, as we had to create a Sonos account and register our speaker before we could use it. Luckily, this is a one-time thing.

While most of us had no connectivity issues, some couldn't get the Sonos to connect to regular home WiFi, which is needed to pair it with the Sonos app where you can customize the sound mix. We also had constant trouble playing music, even though our phone said it was connected. So, when it comes to connectivity, it's a roll of the dice.

We liked the unique circular base charger, which doubles as a home station for the device. The entire time we lived with the Sonos, it lived on its charger, so we never had to remember to recharge it.

While the inverted handle is decent for carrying it short distances, we would have preferred a sturdy attached handle, as we constantly worried it might slip from our fingers due to the unit's heavy weight.

We don't love that the controls are at the top of the speaker, which were easy to brush up against. We would also have appreciated tactile or audible feedback when pressing any of the buttons, as it was difficult to tell whether the speaker was performing any action at all.

Analysis and Test Results

Sound Quality

The Sonos Move 2 has a lush, immersive sound that spreads in all directions. We were absolutely delighted by the clear, smooth sound profile that maintains its clarity at all volumes, never sounding distorted or compressed. The Sonos has powerful yet tight and controlled bass, lively mids, high-fidelity vocals, and precise treble, providing an altogether exhilarating listening experience.

This speaker's bass feels powerful and punchy without being too aggressive or thumpy, but instead offering warmth and richness to tracks like “Bigger than the Whole Sky” by Taylor Swift. In the mid-range, the vocals are incredibly clear and realistic. Tracks like “Sunsets For Somebody Else” by Jack Johnson made us feel like we were listening to a live performance, with him singing into a lone mic not too far from where we were seated. Ethan Regan's harmonies on “Secrecy” are neatly layered, blending beautifully yet still self-contained. The strong bass doesn't dominate the vocals, while the acoustic guitar sounds forward in the mix against the percussion.

For dramatized audiobook listeners, the Move 2 is a pleasure to listen to. The background noise conveys the drama of the scene without overwhelming the vocals.

The sound has a consistent quality from all directions, thanks to the two angled tweeters that help to balance it throughout the room rather than beaming it in one direction. The result is a highly immersive listening experience.

Portability

The Sonos has an inverted carrying handle, making it relatively portable, but mostly for moving it from room to room. At around 7 pounds and being nearly the size of a six-pack (6.3" x 5.0" x 9.5"), it takes up a lot of real estate in a backpack or suitcase, so it's not our first option for travel or spending time outdoors. While the inverted carrying handle is helpful, it's not an ideal design for carrying long distances. You can buy travel bags separately to carry the Sonos on your voyages.

This IP56 speaker cannot be submerged in water, but can withstand some light rain or snow. While it offers okay protection against dust and water, it is marginal compared to most other high-end speakers we tested and we wouldn't go as far as to call it rugged.

Volume

The Sonos Move 2 can belt out a song like no one's business at 98.2 decibels. For reference, this is about as loud as the revving of a sports car engine.

While most speakers lose their clarity at max volume, the Sonos retains a realistic, natural sound from the lowest to the highest volumes. While only a bit less detailed at the highest volume, it was much clearer than other premium speakers we tested. That said, the volume may not be enough to blast in a large backyard, but we think it will do an excellent job of filling most mid-sized rooms or providing music for small gatherings.

Drop Test

Sonos claims that the Move 2 has some shock resistance for falls and drops. Because of its hefty weight, we expected it to fall apart when we pushed it off a countertop. We even played Celine Dion's “My Heart Will Go On” as its funeral song. But despite the fall, it still functions normally, and the sound quality remains as amazing as before. It only received a few minor scuff marks and a small dent.

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The bottom half of the speaker is coated with a thin layer of grippy silicone, and the upper half is made of hard plastic. The hard plastic paired with the heft of this speaker doesn't scream durable or unbreakable, but the Sonos proves that looks can be deceiving.

Battery

While the manufacturer claims that the battery life can last up to 24 hours, we found that at 75% volume, it only lasts for 12 hours and 14 minutes. Still, this was enough to listen for about a couple of hours a day, each day for a week, on a single charge.