After months of speculation, Sonos officially announces the Sonos Move 2 Smart Speaker just in time for holiday planning. The dynamic loudspeaker has a lot in common with its predecessor from several years past, but with plenty of quality-of-life upgrades to warrant a sequel. Sonos’s expertise in home audio does not go unnoticed in the Move 2, despite the brand being a relative newcomer to the world of portable Bluetooth sound.
Key Features of the Sonos Move 2
- Up to 24 hours of playback
- True stereo sound from dual tweeters
- Dust, water, and shock resistance (IP56)
- WiFi and Bluetooth enabled
- USB-C line-in for auxiliary playback and device charging
- Advanced voice recognition (Amazon Alexa built-in) via far-field microphone array
- Screen-free, hands-on touch control
- Sonos app consolidates entertainment and speaker control
- Direct integration with Spotify, TIDAL, and Pandora
- Removable, replaceable battery for extended longevity
Stereo Audio
The previous Move speaker by Sonos featured a singular tweeter enclosed in its all-around woofer. Move 2 quite literally doubles the ante with a brand new acoustic architecture that incorporates a pair of tweeters in a left/right stereo arrangement. Listeners can appreciate a much more natural soundstage and can more easily pinpoint stereo imaging details left behind by artists and mixing engineers. As a whole, most content enjoyed through the Move 2 is entirely more substantial and immersive.
Advanced DSP for Fine-Tuned Sound Quality
One of the many hallmarks of a well-designed Bluetooth speaker is its bass response and overall audio fidelity. We tend to measure such speakers on the merit of its boldness and how well it withstands and reproduces heavy bass. While it can be challenging to convey convincing low-end frequencies from a small, portable speaker, the Move 2 takes advantage of advanced digital signal processing (DSP) power to make the absolute most of a compact design.
Onboard DSP and crossover technology communicates precisely what playback material should be represented by the tweeters, woofer, and vice versa. In the woofer’s case, the bass response is bold, punchy, and irreverent of its form factor.
Automatic “Trueplay” Tuning
An increasingly popular trend in consumer audio is the use of smart tech to automate equalization processes. This allows listeners to consistently engage with hi-fi sound regardless of speaker placement. The Sonos Move 2 efficiently utilizes its unique microphone array to not only detect voice commands, but to simultaneously analyze acoustic environments and adjust its internal EQ accordingly.
Regardless of placement or positioning, the Move 2 can maintain its sonic integrity. That’s a distinctly critical feature of a portable Bluetooth speaker, which can see many listening situations within a single session. Move 2 boasts consistent high-fidelity audio no matter the time or place.
Extended Battery Life
Portability and overall wireless-ness is determined by the battery. Up nearly 120% from version one, the Move 2 speaker packs an incredible 24 hours of continuous playback from a single charge. That’s more than enough juice for the casual Friday dinner, the Saturday get-together, and the Sunday outing combined.
As its name suggests, Move 2 is built to operate without restrictions. And as all rechargeable batteries see a decrease in capacity over time, Sonos makes them easy to replace so the sound never stops.
Supreme Durability
Sonos includes a built-in handle — Move 2 is intended to roam. With such exploration come questions of ruggedness. Fortunately, this portable Bluetooth speaker comes equipped with an IP56 rating for resistance to dust, debris, spills, splashes, rain, dirt, humidity, and even sun exposure.
There are virtually zero concerns about durability (within reason) as they pertain to the Sonos Move 2. Longtime purveyors of wireless home audio, the company’s innovations have naturally led them to a novel Bluetooth speaker that’s made to move — and keep up with an active social lifestyle.
Who Should Buy The Sonos Move 2?
The Bluetooth speaker market is incredibly saturated. They come in all shapes, sizes, and prices, and with them also come many questions regarding audio fidelity, sturdiness, and a whole lot more. The Sonos Move 2 is most certainly a higher-end wireless speaker, price-wise. It combines the most desirable features of a well-reputed device for discerning enthusiasts.
Fundamentally, the Move 2 prioritizes sound quality, battery life, and portability. The stereo tweeter array is a particularly attractive feature for audiophiles. It’s often difficult to find such in comparable speakers. Likewise, the rechargeable battery is second to none. The option of replacing a burned-out battery after a few years validates the price of admission. If your Move 2 will to live on its charger, you can easily swap out the battery for a fresh one and continue to enjoy everything it has to offer.
Finally, the Sonos Move 2 can withstand some serious interaction, whether it’s from the environment or heavy-handed usage. Its ability to withstand the elements, drops, and fumbles sets it apart as one of the finer high-end, durable Bluetooth speakers. Most folks can sleep easy knowing their Sonos investment won’t give out after an active night.
Comparing the Sonos Move
| Sonos Move | Sonos Move 2 | |
| Playback | Up to 11 hours of continuous playback | Up to 24 hours of continuous playback |
| Tweeter/Woofer | Singular tweeter and mid-woofer | Dual tweeters & mid-woofer for stereo audio |
| Ports | No auxiliary connectivity | USB-C (w/ 3.5mm adapter) line-in for external audio sources, plus charging |
| Output | Mono output feels constricted | Stereo output feels “larger than life” |
| Connectivity | WiFi or Bluetooth | WiFi and Bluetooth |
| Touch Functions | Base touch controls | Improved touch controls |
| Design | Water & Dust resistance (IP56) | Water & Dust resistance (IP56) |
Conclusion
Sonos further cements their footing in the portable Bluetooth speaker market with the Move 2. Best known for their innovations in room-to-room home audio and semi-permanent installations, Sonos has remained largely unbothered by competitors going “all-in” on portable entertainment. The Move 2 solidifies Sonos’s commitment to sonic excellence as a whole.
