Sonos Move 2 review

4 years on from the unique, Sonos has launched the Transfer 2 as its new premium moveable speaker with a raft of upgrades. 

This sequel gives a lot improved battery life, new controls, extra makes use of through USB-C, dual-tweeters and extra. It does, because it typically the case with Sonos, come at a price. So, is the $449/£449 Transfer 2 price it?  

Design & Construct 

• Comparable feel and appear 
• New color 
• Quantity groove 

The Sonos Transfer 2 doesn’t rewrite the rule e book with regards to design. At a look, it’s straightforward to suppose it’s similar to the unique. It has the identical dimensions and nonetheless weighs 3kg.  

It will be good if it weighed a bit lower than that to extend its portability but when that had been to imply a compromise on sound high quality or battery life – and it most definitely would, then I’m completely satisfied Sonos has stored it on the chunkier facet.

Chris Martin / Foundry

In any case, there’s the Sonos Roam in the event you want one thing nearer to pocketable. 

There are two key giveaways that is the Transfer 2 and never its predecessor. Firstly, a quantity slider on the highest which matches that of the Period 100 and Period 300. It’s contact delicate like the opposite buttons on the highest and sits in a satisfying groove, making it faster and simpler to regulate the quantity. I might identical to to have the ability to modify its sensitivity.

The opposite giveaway is the brand new Olive inexperienced colourway. Sonos has a historical past of merely providing black or white choices with colors coming in a while a choose few fashions however it’s good to see wider alternative from the off. 

And I am keen on this color, partly because it matches my entrance door but additionally as a result of Sonos has color matched the charging base, in addition to the cable and adapter. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Should you’re new to the Transfer then that is Sonos’s authentic moveable speaker design, and this 2023 mannequin nonetheless has a helpful carry deal with on the again. You’ll match it in a big rucksack however there gained’t be house for a lot else. 

On the again you’ll discover buttons for energy in addition to a swap to electronically disable the microphones for privateness. Different design options embody standing LEDs, a rubber base to maintain the speaker regular and an IP56 ranking that means it may possibly, in accordance with Sonos, “stand up to unintended drops, splashes, rain, filth, and solar”. 

It’s shock-absorbent, too, and I’ve discovered the Transfer 2 simply as sturdy as the unique. Construct high quality, as we’ve come to anticipate from Sonos, is exemplary. 

Sound High quality  

• Twin tweeters 
• Auto Trueplay 
• Luggage of oomph 

In terms of sonic, the large improve for the Transfer 2 is a further tweeter. Beforehand, there was only one down-firing tweeter however now a pair face angled out to both facet. Sonos mentioned this unlocks a “greater constancy stereo soundstage”. 

A stereo subject (utilizing correct left and proper channels) is extraordinarily troublesome to attain from a single enclosure for the reason that drivers have to be so bodily shut to one another. Even angled to the facet and sitting going through the speaker to hear, it’s not sufficient to supply a real stereo expertise. That mentioned, the Transfer 2 does sound extra spacious than the unique. 

If you need true stereo you then’ll have to purchase a further Transfer 2. Sadly, the speaker can’t be stereo paired with the unique Transfer as a result of distinction in acoustic make-up, however you possibly can nonetheless group them within the app for the same impact. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

The identical single midwoofer handles the remainder of the audio and total, the Transfer 2 sounds nothing in need of sensible. It’s full of life and wealthy with loads of bass with out it overwhelming the mid and excessive tones. I’ve listened to simply about each major style of music on the speaker and the tuning makes it sound nice no matter what will get placed on. 

Testing was achieved with Computerized Trueplay switched on which suggests the converse can modify the sound based mostly on its environment each time you progress it to a special location. After all, the Sonos app has EQ for bass and treble if you wish to customise the sound. 

As soon as once more, the Transfer 2 is extremely highly effective and I hardly ever wanted to hear at even 50% quantity as a result of it begins getting so loud. That was usually indoors however you possibly can depend on that oomph in the event you’re, for instance, having a celebration within the backyard. 

Another issues price noting are you could’t use a Sonos Sub with the Transfer 2, it’s not designed to work with a TV (over Bluetooth or Line-in because of latency) and it doesn’t assist Dolby Atmos just like the Period 300. 

Battery Life & Options 

• All day, all night time longevity 
• USB-C has many makes use of 
• Some voice companies 

Battery life has acquired an enormous enhance on the Transfer 2. An affordable however not wonderful 10 hours on the primary Transfer has now been elevated almost 150% to at least 24 hours, and the battery remains to be replaceable.  

That’s one lengthy get together if in case you have the stamina – after three of hours of listening the Sonos app mentioned it nonetheless had 98% – and in the event you don’t then the Transfer 2 doubles up as an influence financial institution. Utilizing the USB-C port on the again and the fitting cable, you possibly can cost absolutely anything you want together with your smartphone. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

When it comes to charging, utilizing the wi-fi base (which now has a removable wall adapter) I discovered the Transfer 2 went from utterly useless to simply 13% in 30-minutes however reached a extra affordable 41% after an hour. It’s price noting that it prices on the unique Transfer base and vice versa. 

That USB-C port can be utilized for greater than charging, too. Just like the Period audio system, Sonos sells an adapter cable which provides you a line-in port. It can price you $19/£19 for the privilege or $39/£39 if you’d like the one with a further Ethernet port for wired web. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Will probably be a worthwhile buy if you wish to join one thing, like I did, a turntable otherwise you maybe have an older gadget like an iPod which doesn’t have Bluetooth. After all, having the port on the speaker itself can be extra best than spending on an adjunct however it’s there if you’d like it. 

Until you’re shopping for an ‘SL’ Sonos speaker (that means speechless), it’s secure to imagine that it’s a wise speaker. The Transfer 2 provides voice companies however sadly doesn’t assist Google Assistant because of “modified the technical necessities” however the agency is “hopeful that Google Assistant can be a part of this ecosystem sooner or later.” 

This leaves you with Alexa or Sonos Voice Management (voiced by Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Dangerous fame). I usually use Google Assistant, however Sonos Voice Management is helpful for basic playback and transferring music between Sonos audio system. There’s simply not almost sufficient of a tutorial while you set it up, with solely “Hey Sonos, play music” given as a suggestion earlier than you’re left to your personal units. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

You possibly can toggle voice companies on and off with the contact button on the highest the place the speech bubble icon is however a bodily swap on the again disconnects the microphones for a further layer of privateness. 

In addition to the selection of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, the Transfer 2 helps Apple Airplay 2 and Spotify Join. 

Value & Availability 

The Transfer 2 is priced at $449/£449/€499 so it’s not precisely the most cost effective moveable speaker round. This value means it’s an additional $50/£50/€100 in comparison with its predecessor. 

You should purchase it instantly from Sonos within the US or get it from the likes of BestBuy and Andorama. 

UK patrons can head to Sonos or Currys. 

Take a look at our information to one of the best Sonos audio system in addition to our chart of one of the best Bluetooth audio system for extra choices. 

Must you purchase the Sonos Transfer 2? 

The Transfer 2 is one other nice speaker from Sonos which brings numerous upgrades in comparison with the unique.  

Primarily for much longer battery life (with energy financial institution skills), a brand new Olive inexperienced colourway and contact controls so house owners of its predecessor won’t really feel notably compelled to improve except they’re throwing some long-lasting events or travelling for lengthy intervals with no capacity to cost. 

An extra tweeter for stereo sound is a pleasant concept however whereas it’s extra spacious, just isn’t a correct stereo subject so don’t purchase the Transfer 2 for this. Regardless, it sounds extremely good and fits every kind of music and has greater than sufficient energy accessible. 

It’s a disgrace to not have Google Assistant and the line-in adapter is a further buy however these don’t cease the Transfer 2 being top-of-the-line moveable good audio system with Bluetooth cash should purchase.

Specs

• 3x Class-D digital amplifiers
• 1x mid-woofer
• 2x tweeters
• Twin-band Wi-Fi 6
• Bluetooth 5
• Apple AirPlay 2
• Spotify Join
• Amazon Alexa
• Sonos Voice Management
• 44Wh battery, 24 hours per cost (replaceable)
• Wi-fi charging base
• USB-C port
• Far-field mic array
• Capacitive contact controls
• LEDs
• IP56
• 242x160x126mm
• 3kg
• Launch colors: Black, White, Olive