Sonos Roam 2 vs JBL Flip 7
Buy the JBL Flip 7 if you want the most sound and battery for the money: it is $95.99 at Walmart as of November 3, versus $179.00 at Amazon for the Sonos Roam 2. Buy the Roam 2 if you already own Sonos speakers and want the new speaker to join your whole-home system. The Flip 7 wins on price, power, battery life and ruggedness; the Roam 2 wins on Wi-Fi, multi-room audio and voice control at home.
Today the JBL Flip 7 costs $83.01 less at its best price.
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Sonos Roam 2
4.5$179.00at AmazonObserved at 7:45 AM
Choose the Sonos Roam 2 if you have a Sonos system at home and want a portable speaker that joins it over Wi-Fi with voice control.
Pros
- Joins an existing Sonos system for whole-home audio over Wi-Fi.
- Automatic Trueplay tunes the sound to the room.
- IP67 and 430 g, light enough to carry anywhere.
- Hands-free Sonos Voice Control on the go, Alexa at home.
Cons
- $179.00 is nearly twice the Flip 7's price.
- 10 hours of battery is short next to 16.
- Reviewers call the app setup frustrating.
What separates them
| Sonos Roam 2 | JBL Flip 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 at Amazon as of November 3 | $95.99 at Walmart as of November 3 |
| Output power | 10 W nominal, 15 W max draw | 35 W |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours | Up to 16 hours with Playtime Boost |
| Water and dust rating | IP67 | IP68, plus drop-proof |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 5.4 only |
| Multi-room and voice | Joins a Sonos system; Sonos Voice Control and Alexa | No Wi-Fi, no voice assistant; Auracast to other JBL speakers |
| Weight | 430 g | 1.23 lbs (about 558 g) |
| Ratings |
Price history
$179.00$79.95
- Sonos Roam 2: lowest $79.95 on Nov 1 at Zappos.com; $179.00 on Nov 3.
- JBL Flip 7: lowest $90.00 on Nov 1 at Walmart; $95.99 on Nov 3.
Prices at every store
Sonos Roam 2
- AmazonNew
Availability unknown
$179.00Free shippingObserved at 7:45 AM
Also available at
- Audio AdviceCheck price at Audio Advice
- Best BuyCheck price at Best Buy
- B&H Photo-Video-AudioCheck price at B&H Photo-Video-Audio
JBL Flip 7
- WalmartNew
In stockSold by Verdi
$95.99Free shippingObserved at 7:11 AM - Best BuyNew
In stock
$115.95Free shippingObserved at 7:11 AM - C2 Wireless - BoostNew
In stockReturn policy
$118.12Observed at 7:12 AM - Audio46 Headphone StoreNew
In stockReturn policy
$129.95Observed at 7:12 AM
Also available at
- eBayCheck price at eBay
- WalmartCheck price at Walmart
- DellCheck price at Dell
Specs compared
| Spec | Sonos Roam 2 | JBL Flip 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Black | Black |
| Outdoor | Yes | — |
| Bluetooth | Yes | — |
| Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | — |
| Ports And Interfaces | USB-C | — |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | — |
| Assistant Support | Sonos Voice Control, Alexa, Amazon Alexa | — |
| Smart Functions | Voice control, Multi-room audio | — |
| Speaker Placement | Portable | — |
| Audio Configuration | 2-way | — |
| Audio Highlights |
Questions and answers
- Which sounds better outdoors, the Roam 2 or the Flip 7?
- The Flip 7 has far more power: 35 W against 10 W, and reviewers of the Roam 2 say maximum volume could be louder. For a beach or backyard, the Flip 7 is the safer pick. The Roam 2 counters with Automatic Trueplay tuning.
- Is the Sonos Roam 2 worth $179 when the Flip 7 is $95.99?
- Only if you own Sonos speakers. The extra money buys Wi-Fi, multi-room audio and voice control, not more volume or battery. As a standalone outdoor speaker, the Flip 7 does more for less.
- Which lasts longer on a charge?
- The Flip 7, at up to 16 hours with Playtime Boost. The Roam 2 is rated up to 10 hours.
- Can the JBL Flip 7 join my Sonos system?
- No. It has no Wi-Fi and no Sonos support. It streams over Bluetooth 5.4 and can link to other Auracast-enabled JBL speakers only.
- Which is more waterproof?
- The Flip 7, at IP68 and drop-proof. The Roam 2 is IP67, which is still fully waterproof and dustproof.
- Which is easier to carry?
- The Roam 2 at 430 g, about 128 g lighter than the 1.23 lb Flip 7. Both are small enough for a bag.
