Short answer: the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus. It ranks #21 of 135 medium speakers by sound quality at $79.99; the Sonos Roam 2 ranks #71 and costs $177, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Sonos Roam 2: it’s very neutral and has a dedicated pairing button instead of sharing one with power. The tradeoff: the sound quality is exactly the same as the original Roam, bass extension isn’t very good, it’s not stereo, and it distorts as you turn up the bass.
What the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus gets right: switching to Xbass mode gets the flattest frequency response, and all three versions sound exactly the same. Set against that: bass is slightly less deep than the best in the category.
Buy the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sonos Roam 2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus is rated for 20 hours versus 10 hours for the Sonos Roam 2.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonos Roam 2 | Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $177.00 | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #71 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #21 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 429 g | 1.3 lbs / 595 g |
| Wifi | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) |
| App | Sonos S2 App | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) | No |
| Drivers | 1x ~45mm racetrack mid-woofer + 1x tweeter + 2x passive radiators | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 95dB | 99dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 160ms |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Output Power | - | 24W |
The Two Speakers In Full
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 |
| 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
Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus: $79.99 Amazon
Pros: Use Xbass mode for flattest frequency response. V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus sound exactly the same.
Cons: Slightly less deep bass than the best in category.
Full Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) |
| Drivers | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Output Power | 24W |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 595 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
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