Short answer: the JBL Charge 2. It ranks #69 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $149; the Sonos Roam 2 ranks #71 and costs $177, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Charge 2 offers: Doubles as a 6000mAh power bank. Watch for: Bass compression at higher volumes.
On the Sonos Roam 2 side: Very neutral. Set against that: Exact same sound quality as the original Roam.
Buy the JBL Charge 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sonos Roam 2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 2 | Sonos Roam 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149 Discontinued | $177.00 |
| Ranked | #69 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #71 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 3.0 | 5.2 |
| Drivers | 2x 45mm fullrange | 1x ~45mm racetrack mid-woofer + 1x tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 8.5" x 3.4" x 3" (216 x 86 x 76 mm) | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 15W RMS | - |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| App | No | Sonos S2 App |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg | 0.9 lbs / 429 g |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IPX5 |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 63Hz |
| Stereo | - | No |
| Wifi | - | Yes |
| Max Volume | - | 95dB |
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- Sonos Roam 2 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- JBL Charge 2 vs Sonos Roam
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Charge 2: $149 Discontinued
Pros: Doubles as a 6000mAh power bank. ~10-12 hour battery life. Social Mode pairs up to 3 phones; works as a speakerphone.
Cons: Bass compression at higher volumes. Warm sound. slightly rolled off treble. Not as loud as other speakers. Discontinued.
Full JBL Charge 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 3.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.5" x 3.4" x 3" (216 x 86 x 76 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 45mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 15W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
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Sonos Roam 2: $177.00 Amazon
Pros: Very neutral. Additional button for pairing instead of being shared with power button
Cons: Exact same sound quality as the original Roam. Bass extension isn’t very good. Not stereo. Gets distorted as you turn up the bass.
Full Sonos Roam 2 review and specifications →
| App | Sonos S2 App |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x ~45mm racetrack mid-woofer + 1x tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Max Volume | 95dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 429 g |
| Wifi | Yes |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons