Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Amazon Echo Dot Max ranks #5 of 15 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $119.99; the Sonos Roam ranks #94 of 178 medium speakers by sound quality at $169.99.
Why pick the Amazon Echo Dot Max: An affordable Alexa smart speaker with an excellent far field microphone, louder and bassier than the standard Dot. The tradeoff: Engadget’s main complaint was that it is a real step down from the discontinued Amazon Echo (4th Gen) it effectively replaces at the same price: that older speaker paired a 3-inch woofer with dual 0.8-inch tweeters, against the Dot Max’s single 2.5-inch woofer and one tweeter, and frequencies felt smushed together without a clean bass-to-treble separation.
The Sonos Roam is the battery-powered, tougher pick. A small, waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with wireless charging, voice control and Sonos multiroom support. Its battery is rated for 10 hours, while the Amazon Echo Dot Max needs an outlet. It is rated IPX5, while the Amazon Echo Dot Max has no water resistance. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Amazon Echo Dot Max lacks. The catch: Bass extension isn’t very good.
Worth knowing: the Sonos Roam has been discontinued and is hard to find new at this point. The Sonos Roam’s replacement, the Sonos Roam 2, is still sold new.
Buy the Amazon Echo Dot Max at $119.99 if you want a powered desktop speaker. Buy the Sonos Roam at $169.99 if you want a medium speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.
An affordable Alexa smart speaker with an excellent far field microphone, louder and bassier than the standard Dot.
A small, waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with wireless charging, voice control and Sonos multiroom support.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Amazon Echo Dot Max | Sonos Roam | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.99 each | $169.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #5 of 15 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #94 of 178 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX5 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa Home Theater) | - |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes (Alexa) | Sonos S2 App |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field, mic mute) | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) | Yes |
| Drivers | 2.5in woofer, 1x tweeter | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | - |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| RCA Input | No | - |
| TRS Input | No | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | No | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 4.4” x 4.9” (99 x 112 x 124 mm) | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ | Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (choose one) plus Sonos Voice Control |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 63Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Weight | - | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
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