I’ve invested a lot of money over the years in speakers, and one of those that has really stood the test of time is my Sonos system. I’ve got several speakers around the house and I believe for the pure listening quality; without spending a lot more money, you’re going to struggle to find something that will out perform Sonos.
The Sonos Move 2 bridges two worlds within the speaker space; home based quality sound and a mobile option to keep your party going wherever you may land. This, as a stand alone feature – in my opinion at least – goes a long way to justification of the AU$639.00 price tag.
The setup and controls
The Sonos Move 2 boasts a powerful audio setup with three Class-D digital amplifiers, two angled tweeters for crisp stereo sound, and a mid-woofer that delivers clean and dynamic bass. It offers versatile connectivity with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 to keep you streaming whether you’re at home or on the go.
With a 44Wh battery, the Move 2 theoretically provides an impressive 24 hours of continuous playback, and when it’s time to recharge, you can simply place it on the included Wireless Charging Base with its detachable USB-C adapter. The Move 2 is also compatible with USB-PD chargers for added convenience.
Measuring 241mm tall, 160mm wide, and 127mm deep, the Move 2 weighs smack on 3kg. It’s designed to be both durable and portable, featuring an IP56 rating for water and dust resistance. The matte finish and sleek design, available in black, white, or green, make it an attractive addition to any space.
Control is effortless with capacitive touch controls for playback, volume adjustment, and grouping with other Sonos speakers. The Move 2 also supports voice control with Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa, and it’s compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 for easy streaming from Apple devices.
Beyond its impressive hardware, the Move 2 utilises automatic Trueplay technology to continuously optimise the sound based on its surroundings and the content being played. You can further fine-tune the audio with adjustable EQ settings for bass, treble, and loudness via the Sonos app.
This combination of robust audio features, extended battery life, versatile connectivity, and durable design makes the Sonos Move 2 a compelling option for those seeking a premium portable speaker.
The audio and user experience
This is where my doubts over a $639.00 speaker quickly eroded. After setting up the speaker (a couple of hiccups due to the previous reviewer not resetting the unit) and updating the firmware, the experience was flawless. The speaker was added to my existing system easily, recognised by the setup and easily grouped with other speakers; which was important since it was Hottest 100 day.
But stand alone, even as a comparison to my Play:1 that I have in my office, the audio quality has progressed and it’s at a level I’d definitely be replacing the Play:1 with a Move 2 should the need arise with a speaker failure.
Where I find that battery based speakers often fall short is in either the bass, audio balance or both. In this instance, with a very minor tweak to the EQ, I’m more than happy with the audio quality. The balance between the mid and bass is just what I like, and vocal ranges are super crisp. When this is joined by impressive highs, you’ve got a speaker that’s going to hit the mark for even eclectic tastes like mine.
During testing, I listened to a lot of different music — dominated by heavy genre — including everything from orchestral scores, acoustic sets, live music from my favourite bands and even took the time to discover some new bands. Only once did I stop and go back because of a moment where the audio seemed “not quite right”, and simply put it down to running the speaker a full volume which resulted in some clipping.
Audio clipping happens when the audio signal is too loud for the system to be able to deliver which results in some of the audio at the top and bottom of the range being “cut off”. This usually presents to the listener as either distorted or fuzzy audio; often with some popping on the top end.
The two standout features for me were the sound quality, and the battery life. I’ve seen some good battery life from speakers in the past, but this was exceptional with over 20 hours of playback at moderate to high volume and still having 14% of battery remaining.
Who should buy one?
It doesn’t matter what your preference is, AU$639.00 is a tough sell to most people but if you’re going to utilise the speaker and it’s features, it’s well worth the money. You’re getting a speaker that stands up to just about anything currently on the market in a comparable price range; with the huge advantage that you can pack it up and take it with you wherever you may roam.
What’s more important than just the mobility, is the fact that the sound is exceptionally well balanced and clean right through a variety of music genres and volumes. It’s not an outrageously heavy speaker, and the charging dock (or USB-C charging option) means that you can pick it up and take it for an overnight, or weekend away, knowing you’ll get possibly the best mobile sound around.
I’ve boxed up and returned the unit, but after my experience with the Move 2; I’m seriously considering adding another Sonos to my collection. I’ve got more than enough smart speakers around the house, maybe it’s time to improve the audio quality a bit.
If you’re thinking about buying, then heading over to Sonos, or your preferred retail stores.
