I am writing this review with special attention, not as an expert but as a lover of both sound and technology, so I will be as specific as possible to help anyone considering buying a Roam. The next paragraph will be a summary for those who prefer the essence of the matter. Otherwise, I will talk about sound, portability, and connectivity, which I believe make up the overall experience of the speaker.
In summary, the Roam is an extremely versatile speaker that, although not the most powerful in its category, and more expensive than most similar speakers, stands out for the clarity of the sound it produces, both in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. It withstands high temperatures, impacts, water, dust, etc., very well, and its size and shape are designed for a truly portable experience, both indoors and outdoors. The uniqueness of the Roam mainly comes from its multifaceted nature as both a home and outdoor speaker, as well as its smart functionality (supports Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant). Therefore, it offers you the possibility, when you don't need it outdoors, to place it as an indoor speaker, where it works wonderfully and easily fills medium-sized spaces. If you can afford the price it demands, and you are not swayed by cheaper competition considering the features of the Roam, I would highly recommend it.
Starting with sound, of course, the situation is very good, and clear, as one would expect from someone who already knows the quality of other Sonos products. Personally, I have had a Sonos One for a year now, which allowed me to compare it with the Roam. As you will read elsewhere online, the Roam is equally "clean" in the sound it produces compared to other Sonos products, but with lower volume (and bass) due to its size. For those who are not impressed by the speaker's smart features or its brand, a cheaper and bass-heavy JBL will probably please you more. Otherwise, the Roam produces an extremely rich sound for its size, and in indoor use, things are even better as the sound bounces off the surrounding walls. Like all speakers, the practical volume is reduced in outdoor spaces due to the non-bouncing of sound, but the speaker's pure tones are not lost. Noteworthy is the Auto Trueplay function that allows the speaker to automatically adjust at intervals for optimal sound reproduction in the given space. As a user of Sonos products without automatic TruePlay, I can say that the improvement is significant. In short, the sound of the Roam is exceptionally clear but with lower volume than other speakers in a similar price range (or other Sonos products).
The portability of the speaker is evident from the beginning as an important characteristic of the product. From its size to the automatic switch from WiFi to Bluetooth, the speaker is suitable for transportation, without losing its second nature as a stationary indoor speaker when no transportation is required. The perfect balance of these two natures makes the speaker, for me, worthy of the good reviews it often receives. As for the battery, the Roam does not perform miracles, and its actual life depends on factors such as temperature and sound intensity, but in general, you will not run out of battery if it is charged before a trip. For many hours of music outdoors or for long trips, I recommend a power bank that, from personal experience, works wonderfully and does not affect the speaker's function in the slightest while charging. The only negative thing I want to mention about portability is that I have noticed that the speaker automatically reduces the maximum volume when operating in extremely high temperatures. I emphasize that this has happened to me in extreme temperatures (above 34-35 degrees) but I feel the need to mention it because on one hand we live in a country with heatwaves and on the other hand, it is an outdoor speaker with durability.
Finally, I will mention all the smart features of the speaker that give it its unique character beyond its dual nature as an indoor and outdoor speaker. I should note that, as a technology enthusiast, this group of features was decisive for my purchase, especially the supported AirPlay. I'll start with the basics. Smart assistants work fine (I use Alexa), as does Bluetooth (no issues with connection or playback). In case you don't know, it is widely accepted that playback via Wi-Fi has slightly better quality than Bluetooth, but the difference is small. The other smart services like Spotify, Sonos Radio, etc. work perfectly. Now, regarding the AirPlay feature that interested me particularly, things are very good with one exception: when I return from a trip or from somewhere where I had taken the speaker and used it via Bluetooth, AirPlay doesn't work even though the speaker has returned to my Wi-Fi. I have to restart it for it to appear. Functionally, it's not a problem, but I would expect such an issue not to exist from the beginning with Sonos and especially to have been resolved after so many months since the release of the Roam. From what I've searched online, I haven't encountered other people with a similar issue, but mine persists despite my efforts, and I felt the need to mention it. Otherwise, the smart experience of the Roam is perfect, both for those who want to expand their Sonos collection and for those looking for an exceptionally high-quality speaker that is also their first smart speaker. Encyclopedia-like, I mention that there is the possibility of connecting two Roams in a Wi-Fi (not Bluetooth) environment for those considering having a pair of speakers at home.
In the end, the Roam is an excellent speaker for many functions, both inside and outside the house. The sound quality is exceptional, but have reasonable expectations for its volume. Personally, I'm happy to enjoy good quality sound even at slightly lower volume. If you are: users of other Sonos products for connecting multiple speakers in a sound system, new users of smart speakers who want quality sound in the category, or users who are frequently outside the house, I believe the Roam will more than satisfy you. Its portability and functionality have often made me take it with me more than I expected, and I have enjoyed it a lot. Finally, on the technological front, the fact that it is smart is a big plus, and additionally, although it is not for everyone, the support for AirPlay will set it apart from the competition for those specifically interested in it (including myself).