Short answer: the Sonos Roam for better sound quality, the JBL Grip for the lower price. The Sonos Roam ranks #72 of 136 medium speakers at $175. The JBL Grip ranks #75 at $99.95, $75.05 cheaper.
The case for the Sonos Roam: Very neutral. The tradeoff: Bass extension isn’t very good.
On the JBL Grip side: Ambient light on the back with settable themes. Set against that: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip.
Buy the Sonos Roam if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL Grip if the price matters more than sound quality.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Grip at IP68 (extended submersion) holds up far better than the Sonos Roam at IPX5 (water jets).
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonos Roam | JBL Grip | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $175.00 | $99.95 |
| Ranked | #72 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #75 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz | ~68Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Max Volume | 95dB | - |
| Stereo | No | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 429 g | 0.8 lbs / 385 g |
| Wifi | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) | 2.5" x 6" x 2.6" (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| App | Sonos S2 App | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) | Yes (7 band) |
| Drivers | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IP68 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Auracast) |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | - | 16W |
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- JBL Charge 3 vs Sonos Roam 2
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- Sonos Roam 2 vs JBL Grip
The Two Speakers In Full
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 |
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JBL Grip: $99.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Ambient light on the back with settable themes
Cons: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip. Not as much clarity as higher ranked speakers, rolled off highs and wavy midrange
Setup: EQ from Oluv in his post can help it a bit but still isn’t very neutral
Full JBL Grip review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~68Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 2.5" x 6" x 2.6" (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 385 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons