Hailing from California, Sonos, renowned for its multi-room audio products, ventures into the realm of Bluetooth speakers with its inaugural portable device—the Sonos Move.
Marking a significant leap, the Move is Sonos’s initial model equipped with a rechargeable battery and Bluetooth audio compatibility, making it the first-ever Sonos speaker designed for on-the-go use. More than just a Bluetooth speaker, the Sonos Move extends its functionality by incorporating Wi-Fi support through the dedicated Sonos app.
Design & Build
With a design that strikes the perfect balance between minimalism and sophistication, the Sonos Move effortlessly blends into any setting, adding a touch of class to its surroundings.
While touted as a portable Bluetooth speaker, it leans towards the substantial side, making it less ideal for impromptu excursions or day trips in the car. The cylindrical shape, standing at 9.44 inches in height and 6.29 inches in diameter
Weighing in at 3 kg, the Sonos Move leans towards the heavier side among portable speakers. However, its thoughtful design incorporates a recessed area that doubles as a handle, ensuring ease of transportation between rooms or from indoor to outdoor spaces.
While it may not be the top choice for extended hikes due to its weight, the Sonos Move excels in scenarios where mobility within the house or backyard is the primary focus.
The Sonos Move presents an eggshell-like finish, available in black or white, adding a touch of sophistication to its aesthetic appeal. Beyond its stylish exterior, the speaker holds an IP56 rating, providing reliable protection against dust and water. This feature enhances its suitability for outdoor use, allowing it to withstand splashes and rain.
It’s crucial to emphasize, though, that while the Sonos Move is resilient against water and dust, it is not designed to be waterproof and should not be submerged.
The Sonos Move simplifies user interaction with its touch-sensitive controls adorning the top panel. This includes convenient play/pause functionality and responsive volume buttons, enhancing the overall user experience.
Adding to its versatility, the speaker incorporates a mic/mic mute button, facilitating voice control. With a far-field mic array, the Sonos Move ensures accurate and clear voice commands
Turning to the back of the Sonos Move reveals a streamlined connectivity hub. Here, you’ll find the power button, dedicated buttons for Bluetooth/Wi-Fi pairing, and a Join button for effortless integration with other Sonos devices. The inclusion of a USB-C port provides a convenient and modern charging solution
The Move has a charging base/stand and a protective pouch for convenience.
Features & Connectivity
The Sonos Move offers diverse connectivity options tailored to different preferences. Bluetooth connectivity ensures on-the-go usage, enabling music streaming even when away from home internet. The transition between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is smooth, providing flexibility in connection methods.
When linked to Wi-Fi, the Move seamlessly integrates with the Sonos app, available on both Android and iOS platforms. This app furnishes a user-friendly interface for speaker control, access to internet radio, and music streaming from your phone’s library. With support for over 30 music services, including Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, JioSaavn, YouTube Music, and more, the Sonos Move caters to a wide range of music preferences. It’s important to note that an internet connection is required to unlock these expansive features.
Sonos Move incorporates TruePlay, a feature designed to fine-tune the speaker’s audio output according to its surroundings, ensuring an optimal and personalized sound experience.
Adding to its versatility, the Move supports voice control through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, transforming it into a multifaceted smart speaker. Initially exclusive to iOS devices, this functionality is now accessible to Android users through the Sonos app.
The Sonos app provides a seamless interface for enabling your preferred voice assistant and effortlessly controlling the speaker with voice commands. With a sophisticated far-field mic array, the Move adeptly captures voice commands, even amidst high-volume music playback, delivering a comprehensive smart speaker experience.
Sound Quality And Performance
Staying true to Sonos’s legacy of delivering exceptional audio quality, the Move continues this tradition. Supporting standard AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs, it delivers high-quality audio, although lacking aptX or aptX HD support.
The speaker’s audio prowess is attributed to its two Class-D digital amplifiers, a mid-woofer, and a downward-firing tweeter. Together, these components orchestrate a rich and immersive soundstage, elevating the listening experience.
The inclusion of Automatic Trueplay tuning technology takes the audio experience a step further. This innovative feature dynamically adapts the speaker’s output to its surroundings, ensuring optimal performance in any environment and affirming Sonos’s commitment to sonic excellence.
The Sonos Move delivers a robust bass response that strikes a perfect balance, offering a satisfying low-end without overwhelming the overall audio profile. This versatility ensures an enjoyable listening experience across various musical genres.
The midrange is finely tuned for exceptional clarity, allowing both vocals and instruments to shine with prominence.
In the realm of high frequencies, the speaker excels with crisp and detailed tones, contributing a layer of precision to the overall audio landscape. Notably, the Move maintains clarity even at high volume levels, minimizing distortion for an uninterrupted auditory delight.
A standout feature is the speaker’s capacity to seamlessly pair with other Sonos speakers, facilitating the creation of a multi-room audio system. This integration elevates the listening experience, enabling synchronized music playback throughout the home.
Battery Life
A standout feature of the Sonos Move is its innovative battery-powered design. Housing a built-in battery, the Move offers an impressive 11 hours of continuous playback, contingent on the volume levels.
During our comprehensive testing, we found the manufacturer’s claim to be fairly accurate. It’s crucial to note that higher volume levels will understandably result in a faster depletion of the battery.
To ensure uninterrupted usage, the Move comes with a convenient charging base/stand. This base, equipped with a hardwired adapter and a lengthy cable, keeps the speaker charged when not in use.
Adding to its charging flexibility, the Move can also be charged using a USB-C cable, providing users with convenient options to keep the music playing.
Conclusion
In the realm of portable Bluetooth speakers, Sonos strives to redefine premium audio experiences with the Move, and it nearly accomplishes this feat—almost, except for the portability aspect.
Priced at Rs. 43,999 (MRP), the Move stands out with its sturdy design, commendable portability, and a robust feature set, making it a versatile companion for music enthusiasts on the move.
The Move’s remarkable audio performance, seamless smart integration, and durable build position it as a leading choice amid the competitive landscape of portable speakers.
While the price may give some pause, the Move’s stellar performance and extensive features validate the investment, especially for those who prioritize both audio quality and portability.
For savvy shoppers, the Sonos Move is available at a discounted price of Rs. 32,998 on Amazon.in, and it can be conveniently purchased from the Sonos website and various online and offline retailers.