Sonos Move 2 review

Sonos updates the lineup with the Move 2, a jack-of-all-trades audio solution. This speaker covers a few case uses in a single package. It’s a smart speaker, Bluetooth speaker, AirPlay 2 speaker, and turntable speaker in a pinch (with some added accessories). We find out if it’s the right fit for your home.

What I like about the Sonos Move 2

If you like to connect to a bunch of different audio sources, the Move 2 will be appealing with its Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, and line-in capabilities. You can even pair it up with another Move 2, which obviously doubles the price. Set up is simple: pull out the dense (3 kg) speaker from the recyclable box, plug in the USB-C cable, and cradle to the charger. You can also charge it using a USB-C cable directly into the back, but you can’t charge it simultaneously and use the line-in function.

Setting up using the Sonos app goes smoother than any Sony product I’ve ever connected. The app immediately integrates the Spotify account on my device. Updates occur quickly without any issues. There’s a real focus on Sonos Radio in the app, so virtually all the speaker’s functions are in the Settings section of the Sonos app.

The default tuning of the speaker sounds decent for music and podcasts. The Sonos app has an equalizer, but it’s limited to bass and treble only. Still, some EQ is better than none. For music, you’ll need to temper your expectations by remembering the size of the Move 2. Listening to Last Goodbye by Jeff Buckley (with the loudness function off), the low end comes through with a good amount of volume, arguably, a little too much. The kick drum thumps too loudly compared to cymbals and the cello strings, but the cello sounds good. Buckley’s voice comes through well, albeit lacking some of the upper register detail, which is also true of the cymbals. These come through as a one-dimensional splash. Overall, the sound veers a bit into “boxy” sounding territory, but honestly, the Move 2 is good for what kind of speaker it is.

The IP56 rating makes it a suitable speaker to take from inside the house onto a porch, and you don’t need to worry about surprise rainfall. Don’t knock it into a pool, though, because the Move 2 is not waterproof.

Sonos rates the Move 2 as having a 24-hour battery life. Unlike many battery-powered devices, Sonos states that you can leave the Move 2 in the charging cradle without negatively impacting the battery life and capacity of the speaker. It takes 3 hours to fully recharge the Move 2 from dead with the cradle, which is fine. You can swap out the battery on the Move 2 down the line, which is a step in the right direction in terms of serviceability. Compared to the previous Sonos Move, this new version has a larger battery capacity, as well as being more energy efficient.

Along the flat top of the Move 2, you’ll find most of the dedicated controls for pause/play, skip track, voice assistant, and a slider for volume. There’s a power button, Bluetooth pairing, and a switch to mute/unmute the mic on the back. You can either slide your finger along the volume touchpad or just tap the far left or right for finer volume adjustments.

What I don’t like about the Sonos Move 2

If you haven’t used a Sonos speaker before, you’ll want to download the Sonos app to use the Move 2 because the speaker relies (too) heavily on it. You also have to sign up and create an account to use the speaker, and now I receive not particularly welcomed emails from Sonos. While you can turn off the mic manually and location tracking, turning it off defeats the room-tuning Trueplay function. Relying on an app’s continued compatibility with your device for the bulk of the functionality of a speaker this expensive feels like a test in obsolescence.

Speaking of the Sonos app, in it, there’s a loudness toggle, which boosts bass while listening at lower volumes. This is designed to compensate for your ear’s sensitivity changes when listening at low volumes. Annoyingly, you wouldn’t know it’s enabled by default unless you go through Settings. Unfortunately, the Move 2 only uses Bluetooth 5.0 without more Android-friendly Bluetooth codecs like aptX HD.

The Move 2 doesn’t quite reach party volume without compromising the sound quality. While the Move 2 is a stereo speaker, unlike the original Sonos Move, it’s a little tricky to distinguish between left and right channels.

At 3 kg, the Move 2 is technically portable, but it’s not ideal for anybody without a car. Lacking a case or carrying bag, the exterior housing of the Move 2 seems unlikely to continue looking good after rolling around in your trunk. It’ll basically fill up your backpack if you plan to head somewhere on a bicycle or on foot.

At $449, you really shouldn’t need to buy more parts for the Move 2, but Sonos doesn’t include the line in adapter that converts an analog 3.5mm connection to USB-C. This should just be in the box rather than an extra $20 to shell out. In addition, buying a purpose-built carry case is surprisingly expensive at around $80. Arguably, to get the most utility from the speaker, you need a protective case and an adapter, and these added pieces push the final price well above $500.

Sonos Move 2 specs

Should you buy the Sonos Move 2?

The Sonos Move 2 speaker has a long compatibility list and works well. At no point did the Move 2 disconnect unexpectedly. However, it’s simply too ungainly to pack unless you see yourself hosting a family reunion-sized picnic on the regular. For excursions, the Sonos Roam ($418 at Amazon) makes more sense for most people.

Within the home and on the deck or yard, the Sonos Move 2 is a fun companion. While the speaker certainly projects in stereo, you won’t really notice. Even so, the sound is pretty good, for the kind of speaker it is, at safe volumes. If you have other Sonos speakers, the ability to group and use the familiar per-function interface makes the speaker a breeze.

Including the charging cradle is a step in the right direction, rather than paying for it separately, as is the ability to change the battery. However, batteries are expensive, and it’s hard to know how many years into the future the Sonos app will support the Move 2 speaker in concert with your device. If you don’t plan on taking advantage of the portable possibility of the Move 2, the Sonos Era 300 goes for $449 at Sonos and has additional Dolby Atmos support.

Remember, if you value privacy, there’s no real point in buying the Move 2. As many individuals have already made their peace with continued surveillance and data collection this isn’t a hard no for all. For instance, Bose manages to tune a speaker to a room by using a headset tool without forcing your mics to constantly stay live to have room tuning; Sonos could as well so that you could turn off your mic. On the other hand, if you value talking to Alexa or Sonos Voice Control (hands-free) above all else, it’s decent but expensive.

Sonos Move 2 review: FAQs