Sonos Period 100 vs Roam vs Roam SL: How do they examine?

• Value, availability and specs
• Design and construct
• Options
• {Hardware}
• Conclusion

• Sonos / Pocket-lint

  Sonos Period 100

  Our best choice

  The Sonos Period 100 is a brand new period – pun fully supposed – for Sonos audio system. It takes the corporate’s glorious entry-level speaker and provides it a make-over, each internally and externally. There may be a lot to like about it that we are able to positively forgive Sonos for changing the superb One.

  Execs

  • Beautiful design
  • Wonderful efficiency
  • Nice options

  Cons

  • Dearer than Sonos One
  • No Google Assistant
  • No spatial audio assist

• 

  Sonos / Pocket-lint

  Sonos Roam

  Purchase for portability

  For these already invested in Sonos, this moveable speaker is an absolute no-brainer addition to the household. It delivers all of the comfort of a Bluetooth speaker, with the advantages of including it again right into a wider Sonos system once you’re at dwelling. All that, and it sounds incredible too.

  Execs

  • Light-weight and really moveable
  • Wonderful sound high quality for this measurement
  • Water resistant design

  Cons

  • Cannot use as encompass audio system
  • Battery life slightly below claimed
  • No accompanying case

Sonos introduced the Period 100 and Period 300 to its portfolio of speakers firstly of 2023, with the Period 100 changing the superb Sonos One to mark itself as the most recent entry level into the Sonos system of wired audio system.

Should you’re out there for a small Sonos speaker although, there may be in fact additionally the Sonos Roam and Roam SL to contemplate, which whereas smaller than the Era 100, supply portability and waterproofing, alongside respectable sound for his or her measurement.

So which must you purchase? We have detailed the variations between the Sonos Period 100, Sonos Roam and Roam SL on this function that can assist you resolve between them. We even have a function comparing the Roam to the Sonos One and the Era 100 to the One if you wish to ensure you’ve coated all bases earlier than you make your resolution.

Value, availability and specs

The Sonos Period 100 is dearer than the Sonos Roam and Roam SL – round £100/$100 extra. It is available in Black and White color choices like most Sonos gadgets and it prices $249 within the US and £249 in the UK.

The Sonos Roam in the meantime, is obtainable in 5 colors comprising Shadow Black, Lunar White, Olive, Wave and Sundown. It prices $179 within the US and £179 in the UK so that you save slightly bit of cash choosing the Roam over the Period 100. The Roam SL furthers this saving, costing $159 within the US and £159 in the UK, although it solely is available in Shadow Black or Lunar White color choices.

We have gone into extra element additional down this function of how the Sonos Period 100, Sonos Roam and Roam SL examine, although you may see a fast look spec desk beneath to provide you a short abstract of the primary floor degree variations between the Period 100 and Roam. For reference, the Roam SL has the identical dimensions and sound structure because the Roam, nevertheless it lacks a few its options.

• 	Sonos Period 100	Sonos Roam
  Dimensions	182.5 x 120 x 130.5mm, 2.02kg, Humidity resistant	168 x 62 x 60mm, 0.43kg, IP67
  Audio	Three Class-D amplifiers, Two dual-angled tweeters, Mid-woofer, Far-field mics	Two Class-H amplifiers, Customized Racetrack Mid-woofer, Tweeter, Far-field mics
  Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, Apple AirPlay 2	Wi-Fi 5.0, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2
  Ports	Energy, USB-C line-in	USB-C
  Colours	Black, White	Shadow Black, Lunar White, Sundown, Wave, Olive
  Buttons	Capacitive controls, Quantity trough, Wi-Fi-Bluetooth change, Microphone change	Tactile controls, Energy/Bluetooth pairing button
  Good Assistants	Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Management	Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Management
  Others	Sonos options, Superior Trueplay Tuning, Fast Tune, Surrounds	Sonos options, Automated Trueplay Tuning, Sonos Sound Swap

Design and construct

The Sonos Period 100 is sort of a bit bigger than the Roam and Roam SL, with a cylindrical construct slightly than the triangular prism form supplied by the Roam and Roam SL. They measure across the similar by way of top – the Roam and Roam SL are round an inch shorter – however they’re additionally roughly half the width of the Period 100, making them rather more moveable, which is in fact the purpose.

You will discover capacitive controls on prime of the Period 100, together with a quantity slider trough and the shell – together with the highest and backside – is constructed from sustainable polycarbonate. It is a pretty trying speaker that may mix seamlessly into most dwelling interiors.

On the again of the Period 100, there is a Wi-Fi to Bluetooth toggle change, a USB-C line-in port and a microphone on/off change, which is a secondary technique in turning off the Period 100’s means to pay attention as there’s a microphone change on the highest too. Beneath, there’s the ability port, with the design cleverly permitting for the result in go out of the again, providing as seamless design as attainable when an influence twine is important.

The Sonos Roam and Roam SL in the meantime, have a polycarbonate grille, although the highest and backside – or sides relying on which orientation it’s in – are rubber. The rubber does dent in order that’s one thing to remember, however the Roam and Roam SL audio system have a beautiful really feel to them and they’re very straightforward to hold round – one thing the Period 100 would not supply being mains powered.

The Roam and Roam SL are charged by way of USB-C, or the wi-fi dock you should buy individually, and there’s a energy button on the again, which additionally places the Roam and Roam SL into Bluetooth pairing mode. On the highest, when in a vertical orientation, there are tactile buttons slightly than capacitive buttons, permitting for simpler operation when your arms are moist, for instance.

And that leads us on to the ultimate level on design between these audio system. The Roam and Roam SL are each IP67 rated, so if you wish to convey them subsequent to a pool or within the toilet, they will deal with it. They will additionally deal with being exterior. The Period 100 alternatively, is designed for indoor use and when you can transfer it between rooms, you will need to unplug it and plug it again in to do that. It additionally is not water-resistant, although it’s humidity resistant.

Options

Whereas there are a number of variations in terms of the designs of the Period 100, Roam and Roam SL – regardless of all being moderately small audio system – the three audio system supply lots of the similar options.

All three ship what you’d anticipate from a Sonos speaker, together with compatibility with over 100 music services, the flexibility to regulate EQ settings via the Sonos app, stereo pairing and seamless multi-room audio with different Sonos audio system. For the whole lot Sonos audio system can do, we have got a Sonos tips and tricks feature that provides you with a rundown.

The Period 100, Roam and Roam SL additionally all supply Bluetooth capabilities, one thing the One did not supply for instance, permitting all three audio system to behave as a standard Sonos speaker when on Wi-Fi and a standard Bluetooth speaker when required. Additionally they all have Apple AirPlay 2 support.

The Sonos Roam and Roam SL change between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi mechanically as you enter and depart your own home with them although, when you’ll have to toggle the change on the again of the Period 100 to put it into Bluetooth mode. The Roam additionally has automatic Trueplay tuning, adjusting to its environment with out you having to do something. For the the Period 100 and Roam SL, there’s customary Trueplay tuning on board, the place you will want an iOS system to carry out the turning via the app, whereas the Period 100 additionally affords an choice known as Fast Tune, which makes use of the on-board microphones, offering an choice for Android customers.

Talking of microphones, the Roam and Period 100 each have them on board, whereas the Roam SL would not. As talked about, the Roam and Period 100 have microphone on/off switches, although the Period 100 has the additional {hardware} change. With these microphones, the Roam and Period 100 each have assist for Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control assistants and you should use them together with one another, with Hey Sonos permitting you to manage speaker features together with your voice, and Alexa overlaying issues like good dwelling management and common data questions. The Roam additionally has Google Assistant as an choice – one thing the Period 100 would not supply, although each Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa solely work when on Wi-Fi, whereas Sonos Voice Management works on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

When it comes to different options, it is attainable to pair two Period 100 audio system collectively to kind surrounds with a Sonos soundbar, just like the Beam (Gen 2) or Sonos Arc – which is one thing not attainable on the Roam or Roam SL.

The Roam does have an additional function the opposite two audio system do not although – aside from those we have already talked about – and that is Sound Swap. We’ve got a Sound Swap feature you can read for all the details however in a nutshell, it lets you switch no matter is taking part in on the Sonos Roam to the closest Sonos speaker as you come again into your own home. For instance, you may be listening to Ed Sheeran exterior however you need to transfer the occasion inside onto the Era 300 or Sonos Five. A press and maintain of the play/pause button on the Roam will switch good previous Ed to no matter suitable Sonos speaker is the closest.

{Hardware}

The Sonos Period 100 has a sound structure comprising three Class-D drivers, two dual-angled tweeters and a mid-woofer. The woofer is claimed to be 25 per cent bigger than the Sonos One’s woofer, and there’s a 47 per cent sooner processor too, future-proofing the Period 100 for software program updates. The Period 100 additionally delivers stereo sound slightly than mono and total, the sound efficiency it delivers is completely glorious.

The Roam and Roam SL share the identical internals, which is made up of two Class-H digital amplifiers, one tweeter and one mid-woofer. They ship mono sound and whereas the sound efficiency is nice from their small sizes, the Period 100 is louder, extra detailed and the superior choice for efficiency. It’s price reiterating that the Roam and Roam SL do nonetheless sound nice although. The Period 100 simply has some extra oomph.

Elsewhere on the {hardware} entrance, the Period 100 supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. It additionally affords a USB-C line-in port. The Roam and Roam SL in the meantime supply Wi-Fi 5.0 and Bluetooth 5.0, although there isn’t any line-in choice.

Conclusion

The selection between the Sonos Period 100, Sonos Roam and the Sonos Roam SL very a lot comes right down to what you’re searching for out of your speaker. All three sound glorious they usually all supply an excellent set of options.

Sonos / Pocket-lint

Sonos Period 100

Our best choice

The Sonos Period 100 is a brand new period – pun fully supposed – for Sonos audio system. It takes the corporate’s glorious entry-level speaker and provides it a make-over, each internally and externally. There may be a lot to like about it.

The Period 100 is a incredible start line into the Sonos portfolio, and so long as aren’t particularly after a speaker you may take with you once you depart dwelling, we might suggest it over the Roam by way of sound efficiency and total expertise.

The Sonos Roam is a good two-in-one speaker although. It nonetheless sounds nice, it is cheaper than the Period 100 and it’s light-weight and moveable, permitting you to convey your music with you. You may’t pair it with one other Roam to make use of it as surrounds, nevertheless it does have a selection of two good assistants, plus Sonos Voice Management, and there is the additional Sound Swap function too, plus Google Assistant as an non-compulsory assistant.

Sonos Roam

Purchase for portability

For these already invested in Sonos, this moveable speaker is an absolute no-brainer addition to the household. It delivers all of the comfort of a Bluetooth speaker, with the advantages of including it again right into a wider Sonos system once you’re at dwelling. All that, and it sounds incredible too.

The Sonos Roam SL in the meantime, is the most cost effective strategy to enter the Sonos system and it affords good sound efficiency just like the Roam, in addition to Bluetooth connectivity and portability. You do miss out on a few options in comparison with the Roam although so ensure you’re completely satisfied to lose these earlier than you save your self the $20/£20.

Sonos / Pocket-lint

Sonos Roam SL

Nice worth

The Sonos Roam SL has the identical design and sound structure because the Sonos Roam nevertheless it would not have microphones, so it misses out on a few options. It’s nice worth although and sounds good for its small and moveable measurement.