Short answer: the JBL Pulse 5. It ranks #47 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $224.99. The Sonos Roam 2 ranks #94, rated 3.2/5, at $179, $45.99 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The JBL Pulse 5 is the better-sounding, tougher choice. A waterproof party speaker with a built in light show, app EQ and linking with up to 100 other JBL speakers. It is rated IP67 against IPX5 for the Sonos Roam 2. The catch: Bass does not reach as deep as others, and the plastic scratches easily.
The Sonos Roam 2 is the lighter pick. 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 Pulse 5 at 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Pulse 5 lacks. The tradeoff: Exact same sound quality as the original Sonos Roam.
Buy the JBL Pulse 5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $45.99 you would save on the Sonos Roam 2 does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A waterproof party speaker with a built in light show, app EQ and linking with up to 100 other JBL speakers.
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 Pulse 5 | Sonos Roam 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $224.99 | $179.00 |
| Ranked | #47 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) | ~58Hz | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1500 g) | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 4.2” x 8.4” x 5.2” (107 x 214 x 131 mm) | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | 64mm woofer, 16mm tweeter | 1x ~45mm racetrack mid-woofer + 1x tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB (Manufacturer specified) |
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