Short answer: the Sonos Roam 2, if you are buying new. The Sonos Roam ranks higher than the B&O Beosound Explore (#96 vs #141 of 175 medium speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Sonos Roam 2, is rated 3.2/5 at $179 and is still sold new.
The B&O Beosound Explore is the longer-running, tougher pick. IP67 rated with a rugged ‘seatbelt’ strap and carabiner hook. It is rated for 27 hours of battery against 10 for the Sonos Roam. It is rated IP67 against IPX5 for the Sonos Roam. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Sonos Roam. The catch: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble.
The Sonos Roam is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. Very neutral. Its bass reaches about 63Hz before falling 10dB, against 70Hz for the B&O Beosound Explore. At 0.9 lbs (429 g) it weighs noticeably less than the B&O Beosound Explore at 1.4 lbs (631 g). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the B&O Beosound Explore lacks. Watch for: Bass extension isn’t very good.
Buy the Sonos Roam 2, the replacement for the discontinued Sonos Roam; it is rated higher for sound quality than the B&O Beosound Explore.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound Explore | Sonos Roam | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $294.99 | $169.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #141 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #96 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (631 g) | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Dimensions | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | - |
| Maximum SPL | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| App | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) | Sonos S2 App |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| Strap | Yes (carabiner) | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (choose one) plus Sonos Voice Control |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Sonos Roam compares with other leading options:
- EarFun Uboom L vs Sonos Roam
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Sonos Roam
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Sonos Roam
- Minirig 4 vs Sonos Roam
- B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen vs Sonos Roam
Prices on this page were last checked October 15, 2026 at 5:41 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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The Two Speakers In Full
B&O Beosound Explore: $294.99 Amazon $294.99 eBay
Pros: IP67 rated with a rugged ‘seatbelt’ strap and carabiner hook. Real-world battery life around 20-24 hours. Distinctive anodized-aluminum design. Measured bass extension of ~70Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble. Colored midrange. Just not great sounding overall.
Full B&O Beosound Explore review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
| App | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz |
| Battery Life | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (carabiner) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (631 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Sony SRS-XE200
- B&O Beosound Explore vs DOSS E-Go II
- B&O Beosound Explore vs LG Xboom Go PL5
- B&O Beosound Explore vs LG Xboom XG5
- B&O Beosound Explore vs W-King D8 Mini
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Soundcore Flare 2
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Tribit Stormbox Mini
- See all 74 comparisons
Sonos Roam: $169.99 Discontinued Amazon $169.99 eBay
Newer model: the Sonos Roam 2, ranked higher, rated 3.2/5, released May 2024. See every Sonos Roam generation.
Pros: Very neutral. IP67 rated at ~1 lb. Wireless (Qi) charging: rare for a portable speaker. Works with Alexa/Sonos Voice Control and the wider Sonos ecosystem over Wi-Fi. Measured bass extension of 63Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass extension isn’t very good. Not stereo. Gets distorted if you turn up the bass. Discontinued.
Full Sonos Roam review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Sonos S2 App |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (choose one) plus Sonos Voice Control |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons