Sonos not often misses, and its first ruggedized, weather-resistant good speaker, the Sonos Transfer, was no exception. This yr, it launched the Sonos Transfer 2, a sequel that appears, on the surface, just about an identical to its predecessor, however that has enhancements beneath the hood that make an already glorious speaker even higher.
The Fundamentals
This can be a direct follow-up to the Sonos Transfer that was initially launched in 2019. It supply the identical sturdy exterior case as the unique, plus IP56 water resistance, in addition to Wifi connectivity for integration into your Sonos system, in addition to Bluetooth connectivity for flexibility on the go. There’s AirPlay 2 built-in, and computerized Trueplay for getting the most effective sound out of the speaker no matter your setting. Voice management is included, with choices for voice assistants together with Sonos’ personal, in addition to Alexa (Google Assistant will not be accessible her, although it was for the primary technology).
There’s a USB-C port on the again that works for each charging, in addition to for line-in (new to this model, works with Sonos’ USB-C to three.5mm aux adapter) and it could actually additionally cost utilizing the included charging base, which additionally will get an replace to assist a brand new detachable USB-C primarily based finish on the facet of the cable that goes into the included charging brick.
Sonos has improved the internals of the Transfer 2 with two tweeters as a substitute of 1, separated by a good quantity of distance contained in the case, and there’s additionally a greater battery – providing as much as 24 hours of steady playback on only one cost, which is greater than double the anticipated battery lifetime of the primary technology.
Design
Picture Credit: Darrell
The Transfer 2 resembles the unique nearly solely, although there’s a new Olive colour possibility along with black (extra black then the unique) and white, and all of the colorways apply to even particulars just like the raised Sonos emblem, which pop in white within the older model. It includes a ruggedized, matte end exterior paint and rubberized base and prime, with stable metallic development for the body and exterior wraparound grill. A big, weighted base helps it keep firmly anchored the place you relaxation it no matter climate, and it’s drop-resistant in case you do handle to topple it over, possibly whereas dancing gin the rain.
Picture Credit: Darrell
Contact controls are on prime, together with play/pause, again, ahead, and a quantity slider in a recessed groove. There’s additionally a mute/unmute management if in case you have the microphone and voice assistants energetic. One tip from expertise on the contact controls – it’s finest to disable them for those who’re utilizing it within the rain or the place it might get splashed with water, since these will activate them every so often. My neighbors all found this at three within the morning one summer time when Christmas music began blaring at full quantity, utilizing the unique Transfer.
There’s a built-in deal with on the again of the Transfer 2, which doubles as a mount level to be used with Sonos’ first-party wall mounts. The load is similar as the primary model at 6.61 lbs, which is particularly spectacular given the much-improved battery life. It’s a giant, comparatively heavy transportable speaker, but it surely makes use of all that extra area and weight to supply a lot, significantly better sound than you possibly can count on out of any smaller rugged outside Bluetooth speaker you may decide up, even at comparable costs.
Picture Credit: Darrell
Efficiency
Talking of sound, the Transfer 2 sounds unbelievable. It’s a terrific improve within the auditory division, and the unique Transfer continues to be a terrific-sounding speaker in its personal proper. The most important distinction right here is the extra depth and high quality that outcomes from including that second tweeter and getting some vital bodily distance between the 2 within the case, which offers a sound stage separation that simply wasn’t potential on the primary model.
For context, I’ve been utilizing two unique Transfer audio system as outside audio system for the previous two years (extra on that later re: sturdiness) and so they sound excellent when arrange as a stereo pair. I additionally used every of those in a separate location as outside and indoor audio system at our wedding ceremony on their very own. The sound was nice and space-filling in each instances, however they excel in stereo. The brand new Transfer 2 can get a lot nearer to the standard of the unique Transfer configured in a stereo pair than earlier than – although there’s nonetheless nothing like precise vital area between tweeters for true stereo separation, so for those who’re trying to maximize that, it’s price contemplating choosing up two of this technology as properly.
Picture Credit: Darrell
The truth that Transfer 2 is the most effective outside speaker you should purchase by way of pure sound high quality, whereas additionally retaining glorious sturdiness and battery life, is likely to be sufficient to persuade most consumers, however the sturdiness level needs to be emphasised. As talked about, I’ve used the unique Transfer outdoor for greater than two years now – and I’ve been utilizing them constantly like that, in Toronto. Meaning they’ve sat outdoors with partial cowl (an overhang that also permits loads of precipitation to hit them) by way of at the least two winter/spring/summer time/fall cycles, in temperatures starting from round 0 F to round 100 F, in all totally different sorts of snow, sleet, rain and hail.
Each the audio system nonetheless work completely, with comparatively little exterior weathering. The USB-C port on one sadly failed a couple of months in the past, however I simply place it on its charging primarily based on a desk (once more, outdoors) and it continues to work precisely as designed. That failure will not be a failure of the product, I ought to word: That is instantly in opposition to how Sonos says these needs to be used, since they’re designed for infrequent outside use, not steady, plugged in outside publicity to the weather.
Picture Credit: Darrell
The Transfer 2 carries over the identical exterior design and IP56 score, so I might count on it to climate the outside at the least as properly – which is to say it properly exceeds all posted producer specs in observe.
Sonos Transfer 2 additionally packs in some glorious nice-to-have upgrades, just like the line-in performance, and the removable USB-C charging base, which makes it far more handy to maneuver it round and cost it with the charging {hardware} you might have with you wherever you find yourself. Connectivity is flawless, which is one other space the place Sonos persistently delivers.
Backside Line
The Sonos Transfer already arguably had no peer, even 4 years in. The Sonos Transfer 2 extends that bar even larger, principally lapping the competitors with stable upgrades in all of the areas that matter most. When you’ve got $449 to spare and are in search of a speaker that delivers glorious, space-filling sound with high quality and depth each indoors and out, positively decide up one in all these – you gained’t remorse it.