What heaven must sound like

When we speak of premium wireless speakers, we see that there are a dime a dozen of options out there in the Indian market. However, there are only a few truly good speakers. While you may have your Sonys, B&Os and Bose, when it comes to wireless audio, only a few audio brands can hold a candle to Sonos.

While they may not be the most popular choice for wireless speaker systems in India, the US audio company is considered one of the best. What sets their audio products apart from other makers, is that apart from sounding phenomenally well, they are very consumer-oriented — easy to set up, easy to pair with other devices, and easy to use.

Sonos Move Portable Speaker Review: Build quality and design
The Move speaker, with dimensions of 9.5 by 6.3 by 5.0 inches, is sturdily constructed and comes with an appealing matte finish, and is available in black or white. Notably, it holds an IP56 rating, signifying its resilience against dust exposure and water projection from any direction. While it can endure rain and poolside splashes, it is not advisable for submersion. Additionally, the speaker is somewhat resistant to exposure to the sun and accidental drops.

Sonos has invested significant effort in the Move’s durability. Predominantly enveloped in a protective grille, the top, bottom, and back sections are composed of plastic, with a substantial part of the bottom using rubberised feet for enhanced scratch resistance and improved grip.

On the upper panel, you’ll find touch-sensitive controls, featuring a central play/pause button and adjacent buttons for adjusting the volume. Additionally, there’s a microphone/mic mute button designed for the far-field mic array, strategically positioned on the same panel.

Along the rear, there are three buttons—power, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi, and Join (for connecting to an existing Sonos network)—accompanied by a USB-C port dedicated to charging. While a charging cable is not included, the charging dock comes with a fixed adapter and a pretty long cable. The Move also comes bundled with a protective pouch secured by a drawstring for added convenience.

You get a charging dock included with the speaker, which is a feature I think should be standard with every Bluetooth speaker. The dock securely houses the speaker when not in use, ensuring it remains consistently charged and ready for use. In instances where the dock is unavailable, like when you’re on the go, the speaker can be conveniently charged using any USB-C charger.

As for portability, the Move weighs approximately 3kg thanks to its weatherproof and shock-resistant attributes. Plus, good speakers are usually on the heavier side, mainly because the drivers are heavy. While the built-in handle makes it easy to carry over short distances, like within a residence, because of its heft and weight, and somewhat unwieldy form, the Move isn’t exactly suitable to be carried around for long. As a result of all this, while the Move is quite adept at being moved around in household spaces, its bulkiness and weight make it impractical for certain outdoor activities like picnics or trekking.

Sonos Move Portable Speaker Review: Functionality & Software
Setting up the Sonos Move is a walk in the park, and really intuitive. Connect the Move to its charging base, and the initial setup is done seamlessly via Wi-Fi. If this happens to be your first Sonos speaker, you’ll have to get the Sonos S2 app. This app not only links up with popular music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Prime Music and a ton of other services, it also has a very easy-to-use Equalizer, along with many other features and options. You will also need the app in case you want to set up two Move units in stereo mode.

While the Move is compatible with both S1 and S2 apps, you should be opting for the S2 app to get the best compatibility, especially with the latest Sonos products and features. Through the app, you gain access to internet radio and the ability to stream music from your phone’s library as well. In the app, you also get a loudness button that primarily enhances bass at lower volume levels.

One standout feature of the Sonos Move is its Auto TruePlay functionality. What it does is play a sound from the Move, record the audio on your phone, and then recalibrate the Move, based on its surroundings and how it sounds. Although not perfect, it greatly simplifies the tuning process for your wireless speaker. The difference is subtle but can get pretty discernible in certain tracks, especially if you have a sharp sense of hearing.

The app also allows integrating the Move into an existing Sonos setup, forming multi-room groups, searching for music, adjusting settings, and monitoring battery life

For connectivity, you get both 2.4GHz and 5.6GHz wireless bands, and Bluetooth, which is limited to version 4.1. Additionally, Apple AirPlay 2 is supported for added convenience. The USB-C port is only for power and charging.

If you find yourself using Bluetooth for streaming with the Move, the pairing process is straightforward, and once done, you can effortlessly switch back and forth between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modes. However, it’s worth noting that some of the best features of the Sonos app is exclusive to Wi-Fi connectivity; when you’re in Bluetooth mode, you don’t get Apple AirPlay 2 obviously, but you also don’t get create stereo pairs, nor do you get to group other Sonos speakers in your system to listen all around your home.

Although the packaging on Move says that it does not support voice assistants, it does support Alexa, and has Sonos’ own Voice Control. Sonos Voice Control works fairly well, but not as well as Alexa. Unfortunately, we do not get support for Google Assistant.

Sonos Move Portable Speaker Review: Audio performance
When it comes to crafting top-notch speakers, Sonos has an impressive track record, and the Move lives up to its legacy. Boasting one tweeter, one mid-woofer, and two Class D amplifiers, this speaker delivers an outstanding listening experience. Whether you’re into subtle background tunes, thumping dance beats, or anything in between, the Move has you covered. Even at its maximum volume, the Sonos Move maintains a balanced sound, handling bass-heavy tracks like The Weeknd’s Starboy, Avicii’s Wake Me Up, or twenty one pilots’ Heathes with finesse.

This speaker leans towards a bass-forward profile, and you have the flexibility to enhance or dial down the bass using the Sonos app. Even at impressively high volume levels, the Move avoids distortion, though there’s a slight thinning of the bass.

For tracks with less emphasis on bass, such as Passenger’s Let Her Go or Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know where the deep bass is less prominent, the Move’s overall sound signature shines. The vocals strike a pleasing balance between low-mid richness and crisp high-mid clarity.

What really stands out, is how well the Move responds to custom EQ settings. Yes, you do not get very granular control over the EQ, and you really don’t need to tweak anything if you’re a casual listener. But it is nice to know that you have the option to do so and that the option works really well, in a pronounced way.

In summary, the Sonos Move can pump out serious volume while retaining impressive detail—a rarity even among pricier speakers.

In terms of listening options, the Sonos Move opens up a world of possibilities with access to 100 streaming services through the Sonos app, voice commands, or Apple AirPlay 2. However, keep in mind that these options are available only when the device is connected to your Wi-Fi network.

Sonos Move Portable Speaker Review: Battery life
Sonos claims that the 2500-ish mAh battery of the Moves has an 11-hour battery life for continuous playback when the speaker is not on the charging dock. In our assessment, we achieved a solid 9 hours of uninterrupted playback at about 80 per cent of the volume, which is quite satisfactory unless you plan on an extended playing session.

The battery life is commendable for a portable speaker delivering the quality of sound that the Move does. Our testing involved a consistent music output peaking at 75dB, as measured by the Apple Watch. Keep in mind that if you opt for maximum volume, the battery life may understandably be shorter.

Nevertheless, considering that the Sonos Move is likely to be predominantly used around the house, the battery life shouldn’t pose a significant issue for most users. If you decide to take it out for the day, the speaker should endure long enough for you to make the most of it before heading back home.

Sonos Move Portable Speaker Review: Sustainability
One thing that we really love about Sonos is how they focus on sustainability. The packaging that the Sonos Move comes in is made out of cardboard instead of plastic. You also get a nice fabric bag that can last you a long time, instead of a flimsy one that will disintegrate in a few days.

We also love the fact that Sonos is providing a user-replaceable battery for the Move, which comes with this easy DIY kit that includes a new battery and all the required tools to carry out the battery swap. Sonos says that the in-built battery will last you for at least 900 cycles. You will have to be a little clever in sourcing your battery, but it is pretty easy to get your hands on one.

Sonos Move Portable Speaker Review: Verdict
Priced north of Rs 40,000, not a lot of people looking for a portable speaker can actually buy the Sonos Move, even though it is one of the best ones that we have tried. There are some pretty solid options out there for a fraction of the price, that offer a lot of the same functionality, and performance that would be sufficient for most people.

However, money no object, if you really want to have one of the best-sounding portable speakers, the Sonos Move is a pretty solid option.

The Sonos Move offers a remarkable degree of flexibility in its usage, catering to both on-the-go portable playback and seamlessly integrating into an in-home multi-room setup. With its robust driver and complete access to the Sonos software ecosystem, what you’re essentially getting is a full-fledged Sonos home speaker that conveniently happens to be portable.

While the portability aspect is well-considered, evident in features like extended battery life, carrying handles, and durability, what truly stands out is the Move’s ability to hold its own against powered home speakers. It manages to deliver a comparable performance without sacrificing key features, except for voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. This dual capability makes the Sonos Move a truly impressive and versatile audio solution.