With Auto TruePlay spatial tuning, a rugged design, and built-in virtual assistants, Sonos Move is an excellent indoor-outdoor audio device. Read on the following Sonos Move review to know more about this smart speaker.
Contents
Sonos Move Review
1. Price
In the first part of the Sonos Move review, we want to refer to its price. The Sonos Move costs $399.99 is available to purchase. It originally launched in a single, Shadow Black finish, but Sonos has since added a Lunar White option with UV protection.
2. Design
It is very similar to the style of previous Sonos models. You get a black speaker with a metal front grille, with capacitive playback controls at the top along with a series of four far-field microphones. Around the back, you’ll find a power button, a Bluetooth / Wi-Fi toggle button, and a multi-room pairing button.
In terms of acoustics, the Sonos Move uses two Class-D digital amplifiers, a downward-facing tweeter for highs, and a mid-woofer built into the cabinet for the mids and bass. Sonos has built the shell to be resonant and balanced from all angles – after all, the outside world has no boundaries.
As a portable product, it has been rigorously tested for durability. Sonos also claims that it can withstand cold and extreme temperatures – so whether your team is in the desert or in the middle of a snowstorm, Sonos Move should have you covered.
That would reduce its weight, we imagine. Measuring 240 x 160 x 126 mm, it is portable but not small. With a weight of almost 3kg, you can lift the Sonos Move with ease, but you won’t want to carry it for too long.
3. Audio performance
When it comes to technical speakers, Sonos has an excellent track record. Move delivers an immersive listening experience with a tweeter, subwoofer, and two amplifiers. Depending on your preference, the speaker can deliver subtle background noise, booming bass, and everything in between.
Speakers can deliver subtle background noise, booming bass, and everything in between.
As for listening options, Sonos Move offers 100 streaming services controlled from the Sonos app, using voice, or with Apple AirPlay 2. But only if the device is connected to your Wi-Fi. Once you switch to Bluetooth, you can only stream audio directly from music service apps like Spotify and Pandora.
4. Auto TruePlay
If you have a Sonos speaker, you may have used TruePlay through your smartphone to sync the device for the space in which it resides. Move will replace that manual configuration with Auto TruePlay, a new Sonos technology that allows the speaker to automatically adjust through – in the microphone. Sonos says it’s not exactly like the traditional manual setup with its other speakers, but it’s a lot more convenient.
Not all outdoor spaces sound the same, so Auto TruePlay has to adjust sound settings to best suit your surroundings. Whether you’re at a crowded backyard party, an open-air beach, or a small balcony, the Sonos Move offers a balanced audio experience.
5. Outdoor use
Most smart speakers need Wi-Fi to work, so they become less useful when you’re out of range of the network. Sonos has solved this problem by installing a switch in Move that allows users to choose whether they want to operate the speaker over a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. Pressing this button overrides a standard Wi-Fi control so users can pair their smartphone with Move.
But once Bluetooth mode is turned on, you will no longer be using the smart speaker. Aside from Sonos’s quality sound, it’s like any other portable speaker. Alexa and Google Assistant are checked at your home Wi-Fi door and the Sonos app becomes useless.
6. Battery life
When disconnected from the charger, the Sonos Move boasts an acceptable nine-hour battery life, which we achieved by playing music at around 70% volume. Admittedly, nine hours is not an accurate impression in the world of wireless speakers – if there is one thing we know for sure, it is that a higher price does not necessarily mean better battery life. For example, the JBL Flip 4 runs for about a quarter of the price of the Move and has almost accurate battery life. Even so, nine is more than enough for most people. Just remember to fully charge before your camping trip.
