That’s £20 (or US$20) less than the regular Roam and makes the Roam SL the cheapest speaker Sonos makes. At least, that’s if you don’t count the Ikea collaborations such as the £89/US$99 Symfonisk Bookshelf. While it’s exciting to get a new addition to the Sonos range, it is not the rumoured Sonos headphones that many have been waiting for, which could be based on RHA technology. Sonos calls the Roam SL “the essential ultraportable speaker that sounds great at home and can be taken anywhere, now at a more affordable price without a microphone.” With just the mics and other associated internals removed, the Roam SL is still a versatile speaker – it just lacks the ability to hear your voice for the usual hands-free smart functions. The control panel, therefore, is missing the Roam’s mic mute button and accompanying LED. You still get the same sound quality as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity – which it can automatically switch between – durable IP67 design and up to 10 hours of battery life. It’s also compatible with the Roam wireless charger.
The triangular shape means you can use the Roam SL in various orientations and it will ‘retune’ automatically each time you move it thanks to Trueplay. Sound Swap allows you to move audio quickly between different Sonos speakers. The news is excellent for anyone who wants to pair two Roam speakers together for stereo sound, as you now need only one regular Roam to have voice control. Alternatively, you can pair two Roam SLs together for an even cheaper stereo setup. The Sonos Roam SL is available to pre-order starting today and will be released on 15 March. As usual, it is available in black or white colours. Check out our guide to the best Sonos speakers. Tech Advisor’s Reviews Editor, Chris has been reviewing all kinds of tech for over 10 years and specialises in audio. He also covers a range of topics including home entertainment, phones, laptops, tablets and more.
