Sonos - Move 2

Move 2 is the best speaker in my entire Sonos lineup. The versatility, docking station, and battery are unbeatable.

If you’re moving it around room to room I’d look at a Move 2…especially if it’s going into a humid bathroom

No. It’s actually not. The company leadership made a totally idiotic decision over the past year and a half to prematurely release a new app for all users based entirely on their misguided effort to prioritize a pair of headphones they were releasing. That new app removed many features and introduced many problems for long time users. However, the Sonos move and Move 2 are excellent products. Sonos’ hardware has always been top notch and reliable. And still is. The app has gotten a lot better but the truth is, it never really had issues for the Sonos Move products and if you’re using the speakers as Airplay speakers you don’t need to use the Sonos app at all. The Sonos move products are extremely reliable airplay speakers. But you are welcome to spout off all you want.

I love Sonos, but if I’m being honest, none of their products are top tier for audiophiles. The biggest selling point was whole home audio. They’ve tried to branch out, but for many of us, it’s still coming back to linking multiple rooms to one source easily. I consider Sonos a near luxury brand due to its pricing, but the competition often makes better sounding speakers. They just can’t pry me off the ease of whole home audio. And I don’t want to start over now that I have 20+ products. Addressing the Move, it’s a nice speaker and overpriced for what it does. I feel $250-300 is really what it should cost. If I reviewed it, it would get hammered on its value.

That’s exactly it. Those competitors listed are drastically cheaper. That JBL speaker is no slouch. Can’t speak for the Anker. And if you snag a JBL speaker in the $450-$500 range, it’s better than the Move 2 in sound. I own a Move 1, and never “upgraded” to the 2. Cost was the biggest reason.

I have a lot of Bluetooth speakers. My top 3 picks are Orange Box, Sonos Move 2, and JBL Boombox 3. Orange box gets LOUD and is crystal clear (and portable!) although it doesn’t have quite a bit of bass. Sounds best with rock/jazz/blues/country. Boombox 3 is also LOUD and has loads of bass. However, it is very large and heavy. Move 2 is the perfect mix of both. No matter where I plop it, it sounds incredible. If I were to get rid or two of them, I would probably keep the Move 2.

So I’m using a hacked symfonisk with an amp and outdoor speakers- it’s an amazing setup, but I’ve been missing bass. I actually didn’t want loud overpowering bass and I really only wanted to be able to hear it in a certain space so as not to bug my neighbors. Solution has been to add a move 2 to the setup. Very happy with it

I will not. I have 2 - move 2. One in our office, right off the entry way into the house which gets moved outside and also moved into my basement workout room where I keep the other one permanently and stereo pair them. I have never had them higher than 75 volume. I thought the charging port in the back was cool in theory but wouldnt use much. I literally use it all the time outside while playing soccer in the front yard with my kids in the evening when my phone needs a little juice. I think the move 2 is my favorite product, use it every day. I also like the charging ring. So simple. No thinking just take off and back on

I have two Move 2s. One in the kitchen and one in the bathroom! Portable enough, amazing battery life and sound quality. I also have a Beam 2 and two Era 100s in my living room and two Era 100s in my bedroom. Maybe overkill for a 760sqft 1bd apartment, but I play music throughout when I host small gatherings and guests love it!

Move2’s are amazing. Have a pair (and a pair of Roams). Highly recommend. Great sound, battery, bass, well built. You will love it. Strongly recommend a pair if you can manage

Personally I’ve shifted on outdoor sound. I’m finding it less about “filling the room” like we would indoors, and instead think that smaller and portable is better. Less noise pollution for your neighborhood. Keeps costs down and lets you enjoy any spot in the yard with good sound. Two Move2s is great, give it a few months.

2 x Move 2 in stereo pair will sound better than 2 x Earfun Uboom X in stereo pair. The Sonos cost more because they don’t rely on another device to play the music. They are the device. 

Let’s talk about how far off the mark SoundGuys is on the Sonos Move 2: https://www.soundguys.com/sonos-move-3-139202/ This isn’t just a bad take — it’s a masterclass in lazy, uninformed tech reviewing. 1. “The sound quality is decent” This might be the most hilariously bad line in the entire review. The Move 2 is: • A stereo speaker — not mono like 90% of its competition • Tuned via automatic Trueplay for spatial realism • Capable of shockingly wide soundstage for a portable • Equipped with custom waveguides and tweeter dispersion “Decent”? The reviewer either never listened to it or has zero ear for audio. 2. They complain about… Google Assistant and accessories? Yep. Not price-to-performance. Not Bluetooth codec limitations. But: “It’s missing Google Assistant” “It’s not lightweight” “There aren’t enough accessories” Sure, maybe a way to tweak the design and settling the legal dispute with Google would be nice, but these are by and large small potatoes. It’s not heavy unless you’re 4 or 104 years old. This is an IP56, 24-hour-battery speaker with interchangeable batteries, USB-C audio in, wireless charging, and lossless multi-room playback over Wi-Fi. 3. They exclude it from best portable speaker lists Because of the above nonsense? That’s not objective. That’s manufacturing a reason to snub it for clicks. And let’s be honest — nothing on their “best Bluetooth speaker” list comes remotely close in fidelity or tech. Final Take: This review is embarrassing. Either they didn’t test it properly or they just mailed it in. And if you’re into actual performance — not clickbait rankings — you can smell the difference. If they want to exclude a $449 speaker for being “not cheap,” fine. But pretending it’s not top-tier for its category is just dishonest. But hey, at least I know not to take their articles seriously!

That’s fair and yeah I do think it’s probably something that should MSRP around the $299 range. So the price was a legitimate gripe, but sound quality is still great compared to what they compared it to in the article (Anker, JBL, etc).  But I agree the whole home audio (and taking it outside now with the move) is the allure.

If it’s ‘decent,’ then I’d love to hear what you consider a top-tier portable speaker under $500. Genuinely. Because in every head-to-head comparison — from reviewers to audiophile forums — the Move 2 outclasses its competition in clarity, stereo image, battery, and build quality. My issue isn’t that someone has critiques. It’s that the critiques chosen are absurdly weak: no Google Assistant (a deprecated platform), not lightweight (because it’s tuned for performance, not portability), not enough accessories (what?), and ‘sound is decent’… These aren’t meaningful knocks. They read like filler complaints in search of a hot take. If you’re going to write a teardown, at least challenge the parts that actually matter. Otherwise, yeah — it looks like someone’s stretching just to justify a contrarian stance

Hey, I'm moving soon, I love good sound but moving from a house into a apartment and looking for a speaker that does it all, indoor/outdoor. Coming from a Nubert 5.1 System and in my pc room I got Yamaha HS7 in a stereo setup. I will keep the Yamaha but need something mostly for the living room and garden. Max db is not important, just good neutral sound with decent bass. I'd love me a solution like the Sonos Move 2, you just put it on the wireless charger to use as a normal speaker but can grab it anytime and go. Not a necessity but thats a neat function. I got a small Sonos smart speaker and it sounds decent for what it is. Not sure about the Move 2. I looked into speakers like Diamondboxx or Devialet Phantom. From what I read the Devialet is best in marketing (and I dig the design), but seems like it's just a overprices fancy one. Diamondboxx seems to offer good value, but some say the mids are a bit sloppy. It would be nice if it also looks cool, like the devialet or Bowers&Wilkens, but looks are secondary. Also pairing it for stereo would be nice. I'm wondering, if you're looking for the best sounding one that kinda does it all in the compact package, which ones are standing out?

Can’t respond on the Marshall but loving my Move 2 so far. I don’t turn up the volume that loud so not sure about bass loss. Overall sound quality is excellent

This...the Move 2 is a really good portable speaker and can also be used as Bluetooth as well without having to touch the Sonos app. Don't listen to the other person bashing the app. Sure, it had a long rough spell but it's been very stable for a while now. I have more than 2 dozen speakers around the house. Works great!

Buy the Move 2. You can take it anywhere, and it's bluetooth compatible. I usually have it in my family room, but it goes outside when we're having a BBQ, or I use it bluetooted with my laptop when we're watching a movie in the spa pool - it sits behind us, and the movie is projected on to a sheet. Surround sound luxury!! We've even used it as a speaker on a body corp meeting on a teams call. It was better sound than the conference centres built in speaker. Very versatile. I DO wish you could bluetooth daisy chain to roams when offline. That would make it perfect

I have a Bose Revolve+ - it's the best I could find in its size. But my Sonos Move 2 has better sound quality.

I have two Move 2s set up as a stereo pair, and I find them to be excellent. Absolutely no complaints. Also have a couple of original Move set up the same way and the Move 2s are a step up.

Brane X or Sonos Move 2. I have the Move 2 and i can say after testing many bluetooth speakers that it sounds very very good in all frequencies.

Get a Move 2.

Same. Move 2 is an excellent product. Great stereo pair anywhere.

I have KEF Q150 with a 150 euro amp. They sound drastically better than a Sonos Move 2. They're different products but for the same price you have way better sound, it's not even close. - KEF set-up cost me 450 euro - Sonos was 320 euro but they're usually sold for 450 euro around here

I realize that. Was more so related to the fact that it'll only get 5% better starting from a Move 2.

Move 2 is probably the highest quality speaker in this price range. Brane X might surpass it though. And if you want to save some money, the UBoom X with a decent EQ is a nice and loud budget option.

> Yep. Not price-to-performance. Not Bluetooth codec limitations. But: > “It’s missing Google Assistant” > “It’s not lightweight” > “There aren’t enough accessories” I promise you 99% of users care way more about the physical size, accessories, and access to their smart home assistant of choice than the Bluetooth codec. I love my Move 2. I think it’s outstanding. But you seem way too bent out of shape about a review you disagree with. Did the author kick your puppy or something? If you love your Move 2 too, this review doesn’t stop you from doing that. So why does it get you so worked up?

get a used sonos move 2

We seem to have the same problem with too much Sonos gear. I’ll see if I can talk you out of the Move 2 anyway! I have 2 Arc Ultras, an Arc, a Beam 2 and every current/recent-model Sonos smart speaker, subwoofer and portable. My absolute favorite of all this gear is the Move 2. I have two and they live in my office in stereo pair, but do double duty in my woodworking shop and travel with us to Air B&Bs. I never tire of listening to them. I had a Beam 2 and a Sub Mini that were “spare parts” from another upgrade so I moved them into my office and grouped them with the M2s. That accidentally became my favorite music listening spot. So if a speaker with a little too much versatility is a setback, M2s probably aren’t for you. I’ve compared M2s head-to-head with era 100s, era 300s, and Fives. They held their own beautifully! I personally think they sound better than the 100s but not quite as good as Fives. They are sort of a robust sounding era 100 with better bass (and a battery). As far as the M2 comparison with Era 300s, the latter have their own thing going on sound wise and I have a love/hate relationship with them depending on how they are configured. If I had to choose between 300s and M2s it would definitely be the M2s. So if you’re looking for something with mediocre soundstage performance there are better choices. Seriously, there are two “annoyances” to Move 2s that keep me from having even more of them in place of 300s and possibly 100s: 1.) Sonos has not enabled them to work as surrounds. It’s such an obvious “pro” that the engineers surely had to think it too. I would almost bet it’s already engineered into them but Sonos hasn’t rolled it out because of overlapping marketing/sales with their smart speaker product line. 2.) You can’t add a subwoofer to stereo paired M2s. If you still want the M2, I tried to talk you out of it. Good luck!

This! I recently got the [Move 2](https://tr.ee/mmSc4o) on sale for $350. I was very surprised by its sound. And its portable!

You’re no audiophile if you’re bitching about a $450 speaker. A true audiophile spends 10x that much and gets maybe 5% better sound quality.

Nah, I’m good with my Sonos. I’m not an audiophile, and they’re close enough for my old ears.

Move 2 I reckon? If so.... do it. One of my favorite speakers!

Like others have mentioned if you’re planning on moving it around go with the Move 2. For the money it’s my favorite Sonos speaker. I also have the Era 300 setup in my office and love that one too, but sounds like you’re better suited for a portable option.

Sonos move 2. Long battery life and loud.

I tested both side by side. Sonos move 2 and Bose Soundlink Max both have just as deep of the bass. But the Sonos does have a bass that hits cleaner while the Bose has the “muddy” kind of bass but not in a bad way. Either way, both have impressive and deep bass. I still however like the cleaner bass of the Sonos. Surprisingly the Bose has a wider soundstage even though the Sonos has 2 tweeters which is a huge disappointment for me on the Sonos. The Bose only has 1 tweeter but the music still felt more stereo and wide than the Sonos. Regarding portability, Bose is way more portable and with the handle, makes it a pleasure to carry anywhere. So Sonos for cleaner bass and apple airplay(though I didn’t care about it) and Bose for wider soundstage, 3.5 audio jack and far better portability.

What makes the Move 2 better than others isn’t just the fact that you get audiophile performance in a portable speaker if you care about that and not just Junk But Loud (JBL). It is that you can get a portable 5g router, set the wifi name and password the same as your one at home and your Move 2(s) and/or Roam(s) or regular Sonos speakers (optionally running on those cool micro inverters you can get that run on drill batteries like Ryobi/Ego etc) all work like they do at home, eg you can group them for playback. It’s bloody fantastic if you set up in a bbq area or somewhere else remote and want to party.

You can’t pair them using Bluetooth because they are not using the crappy Qualcomm Bluetooth chipset to do the stereo pairing, there is a full computer inside each speaker that runs an embedded Linux based operating system which is responsible for the synchronised playback. It does that over ethernet at high resolution lossless bitrates, not massively compressed Bluetooth. You need a network of some kind, it does not need internet access as you can use airplay off your phone for off-grid playback. You just need a portable wifi of some kind that supports wifi 5/6 and has a decent radio in it so there is good coverage and performance. If you set up your portable network to have the same wifi name and password as your one at home, the speakers roam onto it fairly seamlessly - sometimes you need to go to the add new system and then it picks it up. The point is, the sound quality you get doing high resolution playback over a network vs Bluetooth is not worth debating at all, that is what you paid $450 for :-)

I need a portable smart (Wi-Fi) speaker to use while entertaining at my pool and would love your recommendations.  So far, I’ve identified Bose Portable Smart Speaker, Brane X, Sonos Roam 2, and Sonos Move 2 as contenders.  Which of these would be the best choice for my requirements?  Any other waterproof, Wi-Fi, smart speakers I should consider? My requirements for the speaker are: * Waterproof to be near pool (small pool parties) and withstand splashes from people doing “cannonball” jumps into the pool.  (I will store it indoors when not in use.) * Wi-Fi connectivity so that I can connect it to my home/yard WiFi and have it play music without connecting it to a phone * Voice-controlled so I can tell it to play a certain Spotify or Pandora playlist, skip to next song, increase volume, etc.  (Alexa compatible?  Google Assistant?) * Can run on battery for at least 7 hours * Portable so I can move it around the yard and house.  * Easy set-up * Dependable app (iOS iPhone / iPad) and device -- not buggy * I’m not picky about sound quality or max volume; the requirements listed above are more important to me than the sound quality, bass, etc. So far, these are the contenders I’ve heard about: |**Product**|**Waterproof Rating**|**Battery Life (Per Charge)**|**Wi-Fi & Voice Tech**| Bose Portable Smart Speaker   ($350 USD) IPX4 water rating Up to 12 hours battery Wi-Fi, Built-In Alexa, Google Assistant, Chromecast, AirPlay 2, play Spotify, Pandora Sonos Roam 2 ($180 USD) IP67 water rating Up to 10 hours battery Wi-Fi, Built-In Alexa, Sonos Voice Control? Sonos Move 2 ($450 USD) IP56 water rating Up to 24 hours battery Wi-Fi, Built-In Alexa, Sonos Voice Control? Brane X ($450 USD) IP57 water rating Up to 12 hours battery Wi-Fi, Built-In Alexa, play Spotify Connect, Pandora Update: TL;DR … Going with the Sonos Move 2 + Roam 2. Returning the Brane X. See comment below for more details.

I’m the OP and wanted to give an update. Thank you to everyone who gave me advice and recommendations, especially SVLibertine. I tested the Sonos Roam 2, the Brane X, and the Sonos Move 2. I eliminated the Bose Smart Speaker because I was worried about it having a lower level of water resistance and do not think it could withstand the degree of splashing my speaker will endure poolside. (I have a very aggressive water slide which is a crowd pleaser that creates huge splashes) The Sonos Roam 2 was fairly easy to set up. Once i got my Alexa account signed in and working with the Sonos app, I was able to use voice commands such as “Alexa, play Poolside Lounge Playlist on Spotify”, and it responded well to my voice and played the correct music. Unfortunately, I felt that the sound was pretty weak from the Roam 2. I say that as someone who really isn’t picky about sound. I am definitely not an audiophile. Yet I thought the sound was weak and I am not sure who the target market is for this device. I really wanted to LOVE the Brane X. But I didn’t. Setup was a bit difficult. Walking through the app, it struggled to connect the speaker to my wi-fi. After the 5th try, it finally worked. I don’t know why it failed on the first 4 attempts yet worked on the 5th. The most disappointing discovery was that the Brane X does not seem to support voice commands to control Spotify via Alexa. When I vocally commanded Alexa to “ play jazz on Spotify” or play anything on Spotify, it responded with “I’m sorry. This device does not support that feature.” In this regard, I think that Brane’s marketing messages are deceptive. The words in their website lead me to believe that I could voice-control Alexa to perform functions on Spotify, but apparently it does not do that. I called Brane Audio’s tech support to ask about it. I left a voice mail and have not heard back 3 days later. Also, the Brane X constantly has a very faint noise … it sounds like a very old car’s engine sputtering. The Brane X did indeed sound nice and loud when playing ACDC’s Thunderstruck. But when it was idle not playing music, it sounded faintly like an old jalopy car. And it didn’t support voice control of Spotify, so did not meet my requirements. I then tried the Sonos Move 2. It checks all my requirements but I am a little worried about how it’s water resistance can hold up against big pool splashes. Sounds great. The voice control to play certain Spotify playlists works well, voice control to turn volume up/down, etc works well after I connected Alexa into the Sonos app. I am a little worried about it surviving big water splashes. However, it is really easy to pair the Move 2 (great sound) with the Roam 2 (very weak sound but good waterproofing). So my solution is that I will put the Roam 2 at the edge of my pool (big splash zone), and I will put the Move 2 near my BBQ (not in splash zone but also where party goers are located), and the music plays through both speakers seamlessly for a cohesive party vibe. So I am keeping the Sonos Move 2 and Sonos Roam 2, and will be returning the Brane X.

Generally all of the neutral speakers are well known and documented in the [over 1000 upvotes pinned post at the top of this sub](https://www.reddit.com/r/WirelessSpeakers/comments/16zs2ol/ranking_all_battery_powered_wireless_speakers/) which includes descriptions and sound samples of all of the speakers you mentioned. You'd generally be best off with an Earfun Uboom X, or if contemporary looks matter a lot to you and you're willing to give up waterproofing and battery life then the Harmon Kardon Go+ Play 3. If those are too big, the Soundcore Boom 2 with Oluv's EQ will be the most neutral in the size below. The Diamondboxx and Devialet speakers generally aren't worth your time and are far from neutral. The Move 2 is reasonable but warm tuned, but overly expensive for what it does

Yup. I just bought 2 Move2s.. well worth it, for the stereo pairing alone. Just do it. I already have the Move1, and was looking to buy another to pair..but was convinced to get the Move2.. i can directly compare.. and I dont regret getting 2 Move2s! I keep my pair of M2 on wifi, and my single M1 on blutooth and take it around pairing to my phone, my computer my bedroom Tv and camping

Not cheaper, twice the price, but 3 times the enjoyment ;) (disclaimer: had a friend who worked for Sonos, so got employee discount - half off)

If you’re limited to one speaker to move from room to room, consider the Sonos Move 2. It has both BT to take on the road and WiFi for home use and moving from room to room. You can move from room to room with your phone without disconnecting.

Mine is 11 years old. Still sounds good, and rugged. No idea how long the battery lasts though. Maybe 4 hours? Cost $300 back then. Just got a Sonos Move 2. Sounds much better, connects via WiFi, battery rated for 24 hours, and can charge a phone. Got it on sale for $330.

Have both the Era 300 as a pair & the Move 2, can't go wrong with either. I'd recommend the Move 2, especially if you're going to put it in the bathroom while you shower

What JBL are you talking about? I’ve listened to a few in that range and didn’t notice any real noticeable difference from the Move 2 in sound quality, esp considering that 90% of the time I’m playing Spotify through the speakers for parties in a backyard or on trips.

The reviewer isn't wrong. You can get 2 sub-$100 bluetooth speakers in stereo pair and they will sound 10x better than a single Move 2. Only reason I'd buy the Move 2 is so for whole home audio if you already have multiple Sonos products.

Let me get this straight, you're suggesting a $4500 speaker is maybe 5% better than a $450 speaker?

Forget the downvotes, I knew exactly what you were getting at ... read the previous comments to really get a picture on what you're replying to because apparently a $4500 speaker is maybe 5% better than a $450 speaker ... who knew, well the Sonos fanboys sure know. All these decades selling B&W, Focal, Dynaudio, Paradigm, Martin Logan .... clearly I was living a delusion.

"The sound quality is decent” ..... not sure what got your goat on this comment, it is a decent speaker.

I just bought 2 move 2s to use around the house, take out to the pool, use in the garage, or use with other sonos speakers (like Arc soundbars), to fortify the sound when we have people over. They are great for this. You can pair two as a stereo and put them wherever. The era will probably sound better so if you don't want the portability then the Eras would be a better choice.

Either get a pair of era 100s for the bedroom and a roam for the shower or a move 2 to tote around your place. The era 300 really shine as a pair or for Atmos music.

2nd this. You can get some lightly used or "like new" (open box) Sonos Move/Move2 speakers for around $300. They are going to be better (in terms of sound quality) than most portable Bluetooth speakers unless you need/want something smaller (and the Move/Move2 still has Bluetooth connectivity). The Move2 also has a separate line-in adapter if needed (incompatible with Move1). I've had 3 Move1 speakers since 2019 and they've been rock-solid (and sound great). I just bought 3 more a few weeks ago for some other rooms because they've been getting cheaper on used markets lately. The Trueplay feature (room tuning) can be a little fiddly sometimes (if you have objects placed next to the speaker, for instance), but that's really been my only complaint (and this isn't an issue anyways if you're using the app on an iOS device because you can use your phone's microphone for calibration instead).

If you like the Sonos 5, why not explore other Sonos options? I have a pair of Move 2s (love them), Era 300, Beam Gen. 2 soundbar, Roam 2, and Sub Mini. They're nothing short of awesome-sounding, and since I only stream via Apple TV (AirPlay2), I don't have to deal with Sonos app issues. But, I also have a Bose Smart Speaker (very good sounding), Apple HomePod, and a pair of Bowers-Wilkins Formation Wedges hooked into the same sound system, and the Wedges are superior in sound to any one of the other speakers. BUT...I also have my eyes on the Brane X BT/WiFi speaker, as well as the Naim Mu-So QB 2. I heard the Phantom in person, and was pleased with its sound, but not blown away. I think the Brane X sounded more detailed and had a wider soundstage. Better bass as well. So, you have plenty of options...

Bird's post about the Uboom X and Soundcore Boom 2 are spot on, and for the money are a damned good deal. I had the Uboom X for a minute and ultimately returned it because it was too big, too "boombox-looking," and wasn't WiFi/AirPlay 2. But with Oluv's tuning, it was a bargain if you need a wall of detailed sound that goes LOUD. I have a pair of Sonos Move 2s (and more) hooked up to my AppleTV ecosystem, along with a number of other WiFi speakers. The Move 2s on their own are terrific, and paired, they are dynamite. If you want to go that route, you can't go wrong. I love the portability of my Move 2s, and you can't beat their sound signature (warm, not clinical). The EQ is only "okay" in the Sonos app, but...at least there is an EQ. I listened to the Devialet, and it was very good...but not as good as the Brane X, which costs much less. The Brane X is next on my list of purchases.

I'm like you and think the Sonos Move 2s put out WAY more sound than their dimensions suggest. Not only louder...but also more detailed, better separation of instruments, lower bass, improved treble thanks to the two tweeters, and longer battery life. I typically get 30+ hours of listening at 15-25% volume. The Beosound speakers are an interesting lot. VERY high-end design, along with technology. I've had the Beosound Emerge (single unit), and REALLY liked it. Ultimately, though, I decided to invest in my Bowers-Wilkins Formation Wedges because their sound was far more expansive. And each was a factory refurb for 1/2 the price of the Emerge. Regarding how a Uboom X compares, though...that's Cheese & Chalk. They are very different speakers for very different buyers. I'm not a fan of the design of cheaper (but still good) Bluetooth speakers, and I need mine to be WiFi/AirPlay capable. My use case is also different in that I'm on a boat, and not a traditional house/condo/flat.

A single Flex 2 is superior to the Micro 2 on its own. But a pair of Micro 2s (for under $100) is a great option since the sound stage becomes larger and the volume is better. But if your budget is under $300, find a refurb or used Sonos Move 2 and prepare to be delighted. It's very loud, very detailed, and very spacious. I love mine both indoors and out.

Oh, right on! I'm an SEO and deal with theoretical situations like this almost daily (running my own LLM on my MacBook Pro with Python), and I love what you've done here. The results aren't surprising and match what I thought might be the Top Five most loved/commented-on speakers. I've owned several of the speakers on the list and only kept a few, particularly Bose Flex 2s and Tribit Stormbox Micro 2s. I also own a number of high-end WiFi-capable speakers (my entire setup is Apple TV/AirPlay 2 hybrid ecosystem), and I consider my Sonos Move 2s to be among the very best for portable speakers. For the same money, they blow away the Bose Smart Speaker. I've got a Stormbox Lava coming this week, though...along with a Brane X. It'll be interesting to see how those rank in 12 months, considering how new they are.

OK, we have your budget. That's a good start. What's your use case? Where do you listen? What types of music? How portable do you want the speaker? How big is TOO big? I own several Tribit speakers (a pair of Stormbox Micro 2s and a new Lava), as well as Bose (a Smart Speaker and a pair of Flex 2s). I've owned JBLs in the past (Charge 5, Charge 5 WiFi, Flips 2-4) and have nothing against them, but my use case precluded keeping any of the JBLs. I have the paired Micro 2s attached to my sailboat's lifelines in the cockpit for good stereo sound, and down below in the cabins I switch out my pair of Bose Flex 2s with Sony XG300s depending on my mood. If I need loud, it's the Sony's. If I need detail and am playing "quieter" tunes, it's the Flex 2s. On the dock when I'm gardening, washing boats, or entertaining, I pull out the Tribit Lava...or sometimes grab my pair of Sonos Move 2s if I have a group of more than 20 people on the back deck or foredeck (Sea Ranger 52 Trawler) so we can cover both areas.

I’ve found the Move 2s to be exceptionally detailed, with a terrific soundstage when paired. Bass, mids, highs…all balanced and clear. I like them a lot. The B-W speakers are stationary, and are powered. But, they can be moved around easily enough. Brane X, in person, was a revelation for portability and hi-res output. Ordering it later tonight. Can’t wait!

All good, my dude. We like what we like, and I mostly listen to my music across the WiFi speakers I own. Apple TV, Sonos speakers, HomePods, Bose, B&O and B&W. I do prefer my Move 2s to my Brane X, to be honest, either single or paired up. I haven’t heard the JBL BBs in person since they’re not WiFi, but I probably should just for fun!✌️

Austin is such a killer town! I heard it in person here in SF. Since it’s WiFi, I’ll probably keep it. The Move 2s are portable, but don’t travel well off the boat or the docks. And my Roam 2 is only “okay.” But it was free…

I have a pair of Move 2s, and cranking past 85% is deafening…but the bass is still reasonably controlled. No experience with the Kilburn. Love my Move 2s, though…

If you thought the A1 (I have a pair) was too thin (*can you be more specific?*), you may prefer the warmer sound of the Bose Flex 2, or other Bose speakers in that line. I have a pair of Flex 2s that really shine, have wonderful presence and detail, and good bass impact. I also have a bunch of Sonos speakers, and liked the 100s I had. Upgraded to the 300s, and there's a WORLD of difference there. I also have Move 2s, Beam 2, Sub Mini, The Five from Sonos. They all sound great. Since you're okay with used gear, you may find my other speakers even more interesting, and they were all bought Open Box or off eBarf. Bowers-Wilkins Formation Wedges paired with Formation Flexes. Insanely great speakers. Truly. B&O A6 - My holy grail for sound in an all-in-one speaker. Nothing I've had in the last ten years compares. Brane X WiFi portable speakers (I have a pair)...they are superb. Paired, they're louder than the A6, but their bass excursion at louder levels gets...boomy. I just put the Bass EQ at "Low." That is definitely a speaker I'd recommend, albeit it's around $400-500.

My Brain X will be here this weekend, and I'm thrilled about it. I heard it in person here in San Francisco, and was utterly blown away by the dimension of sound the little box produced. I told the Brane X crew in Austin about my audition, and they were nice enough to send me a coupon for $50 off and free shipping. I've had a number of high-end WiFi/BT speakers, and I'm sorry to hear your A5 was a bust. I have a pair of A1 Gen. 2s, and I love them. I also have a mix of Bowers-Wilkins Formation Wedges and Flex, Sonos Move 2s, Era 300, Beam 2, HomePods, and a Bose Smart Speaker in my bathroom. NO issues with any of them, including the Sonos. I only use the app for setup and tuning, and it's been perfectly fine. That's weird about your Move 2 experience...mine has been just the opposite. Very open, very clear and detailed sound, with very good bass and great mids. Battery life is also excellent. I'm really impressed with my Move 2s (paired up). As for good mid-drivers, I'm with you. I'd like to see more high-end (portable) speaker makers dive into 3-way setups with good crossovers like many of our bookshelf and standard speakers have.

Since you identified the speakers you’re interested in, I’ll comment on them since I currently own all of them but the Brane. I’ve heard it in person, though, and have one ordered. I run Apple TV and WiFi speakers on my boat (we live on a 52-foot trawler), with a healthy mix of WiFi speakers including Bang & Olufson and Bowers & Wilkins. Bose Smart Speaker is very “Bose,” with a warm sound, good bass, and nice details. Goes Loud. Sonos Roam 2: Meh. Mine was free, so I kept it. Gathering dust right now. Sonos Move 2: Brilliant speaker, with excellent sound and clarity. Very good bass. Goes loud. I have mine paired, and love them. The JBL I haven’t heard, but it gets recommended here quite a bit by knowledgeable owners. I had the Charge 5 WiFi, but decided to send it back and replaced it with the Bose. I prefer the Bose, but it’s also pricier.

Yeah, the Libratone have been around for a while, but for me, their premium quality and feature set still puts so many speakers to shame, so not as technically challenged as you'd think🤔....plus I managed to get mine brand new for £100 each due to a fire sale...the Mini's were even cheaper!🥳🤩👍🏽🍾 Still nicely supported by Libratone too👍🏽 I think you've answered your own question with regards the speaker you're leaning towards with the boom 2 ...mind you, the Move 2 is rather good! Glad you found the input helpful👍🏽

Sonos move 2. Portable is a nice feature. Sounds much better than my Google nest audio pair and Marshall acton 1.

Sonos move 2, makes my bose soundlink flex sound muddled. Good tight bass. I was surprised by how well it filled the room. Wifi streaming sealed the deal. Not having to worry about notifications or clicking a link from a friend while streaming music for family is nice. IP56

By AC, you mean you can plug it in when at home? Sonos move 2 if you can find it on marketplace is good, of a. Move for even cheaper. I have it the move 2. Makes my bose soundflex sound muddled and weak Wifi steaming has spoiled me, playing music for myself or family but still able to use my phone is nice (games, notifications, browsing social media videos) JBL Authentics 300 also has a battery and wifi streaming. Harder to find on sale, and not as rugged with a shorter battery life. I haven't heard it in person though

Nope, everything else works great. Just the move 2 I may try to do a warranty replacement. It’s only about nine months old.

Sonos move 2 would be my choice

Love the Move 2. Thought about getting a second and replacing the 2 Fives in the living room for flexibility. 😂 (But I love my Fives)

This or two 100s in pairs they are just better. I have a pair of 300s and several 100s. I would take two 100s over one 300 - particularly on Spotify. That said - the move 2 is excellent - I have one I take outside. If music in the bathroom is important that that is your solution. I have a 100 up on the wall in my bathroom. Zero issue with the humidity.

Can I pair these?  My OG works fine. I sit it on its cradle (didn't get one until Xmas so unsure of firmware made it better than at launch) and moves with me to the BR and bedroom and kitchen.  Move 2 was too big to move around.  I'm in an urban apartment so not a big enough space to have Sonos everywhere (LR has Beam and rears and mini)

2x Move 2s are the best.l Stereo and double the sound.