Short answer: the JBL Flip Essential. It ranks #66 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $130; the Sonos Roam ranks #72 and costs $175, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the JBL Flip Essential side: Aux input for wired sources. IPX7 rated. Genuinely portable at under a pound; a cheaper, more basic alternative to the Flip 5. The catch: Less bass than a Flip 5.
The case for the Sonos Roam: Very neutral. IP67 rated at ~1 lb. Wireless (Qi) charging - rare for a portable speaker. Watch for: Bass extension isn’t very good. Not stereo. Gets distorted if you turn up the bass.
Buy the JBL Flip Essential. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sonos Roam and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip Essential | Sonos Roam | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 | $175.00 |
| Ranked | #66 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #72 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Sonos S2 App |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Weight | / 1 lbs / 471 g | 0.9 lbs / 429 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.0 |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 6.7" x 2.5" x 2.5" (169 x 64 x 64 mm) | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 16W RMS | - |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX5 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 63Hz |
| Max Volume | - | 95dB |
| Stereo | - | No |
| Wifi | - | Yes |
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Flip Essential: $130
Pros: Aux input for wired sources. IPX7 rated. Genuinely portable at under a pound; a cheaper, more basic alternative to the Flip 5.
Cons: Less bass than a Flip 5.
Full JBL Flip Essential review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.7" x 2.5" x 2.5" (169 x 64 x 64 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Weight | / 1 lbs / 471 g |
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Sonos Roam: $175.00 Amazon
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.
Cons: Bass extension isn’t very good. Not stereo. Gets distorted if you turn up the bass.
Full Sonos Roam review and specifications →
| App | Sonos S2 App |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| 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