Short answer: the JBL Charge 5. It ranks #30 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $114.95; the Sonos Roam 2 ranks #94, rated 3.2/5, and costs $179, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The JBL Charge 5 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 10dB, against 63Hz for the Sonos Roam 2. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 10 for the Sonos Roam 2. It is rated IP67 against IPX5 for the Sonos Roam 2. The catch: Shouty upper mids.
The Sonos Roam 2 is the lighter option. A small Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with water resistance, Alexa built in and Sonos multiroom support. At 0.9 lbs (429 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge 5 at 2.1 lbs (960 g). The tradeoff: Exact same sound quality as the original Sonos Roam.
Buy the JBL Charge 5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonos Roam 2 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone.
A small Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with water resistance, Alexa built in and Sonos multiroom support.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 | Sonos Roam 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.95 | $179.00 |
| Ranked | #30 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #94 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Sonos S2 App |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 95dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 1x ~45mm racetrack mid-woofer + 1x tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
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