One look at our lean of thebest Bluetooth speakers , and you may see that JBL exert a dominant influence . The company seems to have an unerring sense of what people want when it comes to portability and sound lineament . Within the sub-$200 class , its latest model is theFlip 7 , and it bring greater toughness and lossless audio to an already proven formula .
But forSonosfans — or those who may be thinking of starting a Sonos - based whole - home sound system — the company’sRoam 2speaker feel like a very tempting option . After all , why buy a standalone Bluetooth portable when you get a Bluetooth speaker unit that also integrates with the rest of your Wi - Fi based speaker ?
Still , the choice might not be as simple as that . With handsome difference in battery life , power , and extras , determining which of these speakers make more sensation need a close flavour at their strengths and failing . Fortunately , we ’ve done the heavy lifting for you .
JBL Flip 7
Sonos Roam 2
JBL Flip 7 vs. Sonos Roam 2: Price
The Flip 7 , as the latest generation of its serial , has yet to see any discounts on its $ 150 even cost . This could exchange in time , but in all likelihood not while JBL is getting rid of its remainingFlip 6inventory .
Meanwhile , Sonos ’ Roam 2 has rarely escort discounts on its $ 179 regular cost , despite now being about one year old . That ’s typical for Sonos as a marque — it tends to deposit to its guns on pricing , only offering discount a few times a year .
There are good reasons why the Roam 2 costs more , but there ’s no denying that the Flip 7 is the more low-priced choice , and will likely become more low-cost as time go away on .
victor : Flip 7
JBL Flip 7 vs. Sonos Roam 2: Specs comparison
From a glasses perspective , the Sonos Roam 2 go the extra mi , specially on thing like wireless charging and smart , Wi - Fi base lineament like voice commands . Still , the JBL Flip 7 holds it own ( and then some ) on USB Audio , battery life , and ruggedness . Those last two areas should get special thoughtfulness give that we ’re babble out about speakers contrive to anywhere and everywhere .
The Flip 7 is a shade more rainproof than the Roam 2 atIP68 versus IP67 . However , neither speaker will float , so it ’s bonny to say they ’re best kept beside the syndicate , not in the consortium .
When on - the - go , a portable speakers is only as honest as its battery living . This reach the Flip 7 a big advantage , with a normal 14 - hour survival that can be extended to 16 hour via the JBL Portables app ’s Playtime Boost mode . That compare to the Roam 2 ’s 10 - hour life . That ’s still good for most of a day , but it ’s not in the same league as the Flip 7 .
The Roam 2 ’s wireless charging is handy for home use , maintain it quick for travel without observe it plug away in via the USB - degree centigrade port wine . The Flip 7 has no such selection , but it can use its USB - C port for force andlossless audio . The Roam 2 can also do lossless audio , but only via Wi - Fi , and only when using the Sonos app or Tidal Connect . It has no way of life to pipe - in external sound recording sources .
Both loudspeaker system let you make a stereophony dyad when you have two of the same simulation on manus , it ’s just that the Roam 2 can only do this when at home plate on your Wi - Fi internet . Same thing pass away for multispeaker audio recording sharing : The Flip 7 can partake in a synchronized provender with any otherAuracast - enable JBL speakers , including the Flip 7 , Charge 6,Xtreme 4 , and several of its newer Party Box models . The Roam 2 can only do this with other Sonos speaker unit over Wi - Fi . When it come to powering a party away from house , this is a big consideration .
It ’s worth note that Apple users will appreciate the Roam 2’sAirPlaycapability , but once again , you ’ll ask to be on Wi - Fi to utilise it .
Do you demand a portable talker to also act as smart speaker when at household ? Probably not , but it can be a very handy feature specially if you ’re an Amazon Alexa fan . The Roam 2 is also the most affordable means to add up vocalisation mastery to an existing Sonos system .
It ’s hard not to reach the conclusion that the Roam 2 is a smarter , more connected utterer , but if we ’re judging these speakers by their ability to provide euphony while by from home — which is why most the great unwashed buy extremely portable Bluetooth loudspeaker — the Flip 7 give birth more of the feature needed to do so . A bigger shelling and a much more rugged bod being the primal constituent .
Winner : JBL Flip 7
JBL Flip 7 vs. Sonos Roam 2: Design
Though they ’re both designed to be portable Bluetooth speakers , the Flip 7 and Roam 2 interpret this mission differently from a aim point of view .
The oversized JBL logo is barely pernicious ( same goes for the exclamation mark on the peaceful bass voice radiator ) . you may use it horizontally or vertically , and the controls are well-to-do to get at in either orientation course .
It ’s JBL ’s drop - proofing and furrowed woven fiber exterior ( with goodish rubber eraser bumper at each end ) that makes the Flip 7 stand up out as travel companion . The Roam 2 , with its all - plastic grille and rubberized goal pileus will likely do comfortably when it comes to inadvertent drops and bumps than theBeats Pill(another Flip 7 alternative ) , but it ’s clear not as lead or company - proof as the Flip 7 .
On the other hand , the Roam 2 is a act modest and perceptibly lighter than the Flip 7 , making it less cumbersome to tote around . Though the lack of any radiocarpal joint shoulder strap is a perplexing deletion ( there are no climb loops either ) , especially when you moot the Flip 7 ’s swappable conduct attachments .
The Roam 2 has a decidedly more sophisticated spirit . The logo is more subtle and the plastic grille transition seamlessly into the eternal sleep of the trapping , for a flowing overall show . Where the Flip 7 tends to await like someone left a piece of sports equipment on the counter , the Roam 2 looks like it was made to compliment a variety of indoor configurations .
Like the Flip 7 , you may employ it in vertical or horizontal orientations , but the Roam 2 ’s control are easier to see and use when the speaker is standing upright .
That simplicity of shape , while beautiful to look at , loses something in the utility section . You ’ll have to hold it in your hand or toss it in a handbag when you leave the house . The Flip 7 has a carry loop and a carabiner that can be swapped in seconds thanks to its clever Pushlock system , pass on you a diverseness of slipway to have a bun in the oven , cartridge holder , or hang the loudspeaker .
The Flip 7 may not win any knockout pageants , but its rugged and versatile design reach it a much more equal to familiar .
JBL Flip 7 vs. Sonos Roam 2: Sound quality
From a pure truth and detail full stop of view , the Sonos Roam 2 delivers a more nuanced carrying out than the Flip 7 . There ’s also a noticeably panoptic soundstage that helps medicine go like it ’s coming from outside of the speaker ’s enclosure , instead from within . For its size , it father surprisingly loud .
But not even remotely as flashy as the Flip 7 . In fact , I had to crank the Roam 2 as high as 90 % just to get confining to the Flip 7 at 50 % . Even then , the Roam could n’t compete with the Flip ’s bass turnout , which I could feel amount through my desk surface as I played them side - by - side indoors .
outside , it ’s really no competition . If you had to pick one of these loudspeaker to power a terrace company , it would be the Flip 7 , hands - down . As it gets louder , the sound can become more abrasive — the Flip 7 is more of a panga to the Roam 2 ’s scalpel — but unless your gather is more wine & cheese , and less beer & burgers , I do n’t think you ’ll notice the Roam ’s redundant detail over the sound of your Edgar Guest bask themselves .
you’re able to pick off the Roam 2 ’s bass and double to your liking via the Sonos app , but there ’s a catch : it only works over a Wi - Fi connecter . The Flip 7 , on the other mitt , has an app with both preset and manual EQ readjustment that can be controlled at any time using the speaker ’s Bluetooth connection .
Listening to lossless audio recording on these talker provide the expected improvements in detail and nuance ( though it does n’t change their cardinal auditory sensation signatures ) . However , once again , the Roam 2 is limit by its trust on Wi - Fi . With the Flip 7 , you may get lossless audio frequency from any gimmick that has a USB - C audio output ( laptop , phones , and tablets ) as long as these machine have lossless content put in on them or they can stream it . The Roam 2 need a home wireless connection .
With its much more muscular system , easy lossless connexion , and EQ setting that can be managed no matter where you are , the Flip 7 only brings more to the table , whether that board is on your pack of cards , or in the heart of the countryside.q
JBL Flip 7 vs. Sonos Roam 2: The verdict
With wins in every category , the JBL Flip 7 takes this contest in a landslide . It ’s acquire almost everything you could ask for in a portable Bluetooth speaker .
It lacks the Roam 2 ’s ability to mix into a Wi - Fi based Sonos whole - home wireless audio system , and it can be a turn jolty around the edges both in smell and heavy lineament , but it ’s the better option overall for most people .
Does that mean you should ignore the Roam 2 ? Nope , it ’s a big footling loudspeaker system . It ’s perfect for folks who want a aerodynamic , smart addition to their Sonos base system that can also move out to the terrace , exist the elements , and journey with you on your next trip .
But the Roam 2 ’s strength is being able-bodied to play both role , while the Flip 7 is laser focus on a unique mission : to be the adept go - anywhere , survive anything , company machine and at that it succeeds better than almost any other utterer .
