8.3
Sonos Transfer 2
Like
Improved sound and battery life
Waterproof and dustproof
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Hyperlinks with different Sonos speaker for multi-room audio
Autotuning system calibrates to any setting
Battery is replaceable
Do not like
Pretty expensive
Regardless of having a sturdy design, it may get broken should you drop it
Sonos’ Transfer 2 moveable speaker is a reasonably easy product to evaluate. That is as a result of it improves upon its already superb predecessor in a few key methods. Along with providing extra spacious sound due to a brand new dual-tweeter acoustic structure, it additionally delivers a lot improved battery life (as much as 24 hours). Sonos additionally tossed is a few modest design updates, together with new contact controls. Alas, these upgrades include the next worth — the Transfer 2 with an included a wi-fi charging dock prices $449 (£449, AU$799), or $50 greater than the unique. However should you can afford it, it is a wonderful moveable speaker that makes for a pleasant addition to your property’s Sonos lineup, with the flexibility to journey extra extensively due to its Bluetooth help.
Learn extra: Greatest Bluetooth audio system of 2023
Design
The Transfer 2 is available in three shade choices — white, black and a brand new olive shade that I requested for my evaluate pattern (it is a smart-looking shade). From the entrance, the speaker seems to be basically the identical as its predecessor. Nonetheless, like Sonos’ new wired Period 100 and Period 300 audio system that have been launched in June, the Transfer 2 options the identical new contact management system on its topside. You should utilize the contact controls to play, pause or skip a monitor, and swipe your finger alongside the quantity slider to regulate the quantity ranges. As earlier than, you possibly can management the speaker together with your voice, with each Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Management supported, although not Google Voice Assistant. The built-in microphone array can be used when organising the speaker with Sonos’ TruePlay sound calibration system that customizes the sound for a specific area, whether or not it is indoors or outdoors.
In some methods, the Transfer 2 seems to be too good for use as an out of doors speaker. However an built-in deal with on the again helps you to tote the Transfer 2 round the home, out to the patio and even to the seaside. (It weighs in at 6.61 kilos, or 3 kg, so it is acquired some heft it and looks like a premium-priced speaker ought to.)
The speaker is each water- and dust-resistant with IP56 score.
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With the speaker’s IP56 score, Sonos says the speaker’s sturdy exterior permits it to face up to falls, bumps, rain and moisture, mud and dust, UV gentle, and excessive temperatures. Whereas I used the speaker within the rain, I did not drop it. With its rubberized base, I do suppose it might be fantastic if it fell straight down. Nonetheless, I believe the speaker’s grill would get dinged up ought to the speaker fall on its facet and hit one thing like a rock or gravel.
For a speaker that one would predominantly use outdoors, that would not be a giant deal. However greater than doubtless, you will be utilizing this round the home as a part of a Sonos multi-room audio arrange, and most of the people would like to have their $450 indoor audio system freed from any blemishes. In different phrases, the speaker is certainly sturdy — it ought to proceed working simply fantastic after a fall — however you need to nonetheless keep away from dropping it. Which will sound apparent, however simply because a product is asserted sturdy, doesn’t suggest it is impervious to wreck (or will nonetheless look pristine within the aftermath of a spill).
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Each the Transfer and Sonos’ smaller and extra moveable Roam ($179) speaker are designed for use as Bluetooth audio system if you’re open air away out of your residence however in your Wi-Fi community and built-in into your Sonos multi-room audio system if you’re at house. Nonetheless, it was beforehand a bit of difficult to maneuver from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth. With the Transfer 2, Sonos has addressed that situation and I had no bother pairing the speaker with Bluetooth (there is a Bluetooth button on again on the speaker) after I was out of vary from my house Wi-Fi community. As soon as I returned to my house community, the speaker reverted to a Wi-Fi connection and not using a drawback.
Apple customers may also immediately stream audio from their units to the speaker utilizing AirPlay 2 by way of Wi-Fi. It is also value noting that the speaker makes use of the AAC audio codec for wirelessly Bluetooth audio streaming, nevertheless it would not help any of the so-called high-res audio codecs like AptX and LDAC which are accessible with many Android units. I do not know if it might matter a lot, however simply noting it.
There is a Bluetooth pairing button on again for if you’re away from your property Wi-Fi community.
David Carnoy/CNET
Large battery life enhancements
As I stated, the opposite huge enchancment is to its battery life. The speaker is now rated for as much as 24 hours of use at average quantity ranges, based on Sonos. That is up from the unique Transfer’s 11-hour battery life score.
Like its predecessor, the Transfer 2’s built-in rechargeable battery is person replaceable. Sonos stated the unique Transfer’s battery was good for about 900 costs or about three years of use. It would most likely last more than that until you employ the speaker consistently, however it’s reassuring that you may substitute the battery — the substitute prices $79.
Whereas the speaker comes with a wi-fi charging dock, you can too cost by way of the USB-C port, which doubles as charge-out port for charging your units. On prime of that, Sonos confirmed that you simply use the USB-C port as an audio enter utilizing Sonos’ Line-In Adapter accent, which it sells individually for $19.
Improved sound
As famous within the intro, Sonos says the Transfer 2 is provided with a brand new dual-tweeter acoustic structure that enables for extra spacious stereo sound. And sure, the soundstage is extra spacious, however the factor you actually discover is that sound has extra depth and readability. The unique Transfer was on on the hotter facet, however the Transfer 2’s sound feels tightened up and extra detailed. You do get a little bit of stereo separation, however there’s solely a lot you may get from a pair of tweeters spaced a couple of inches aside. The brand new driver design is extra about creating wider, broader sound — should you’re actually searching for stereo separation, wirelessly linking a pair of Transfer 2s in stereo mode is the transfer, excuse the pun.
The Sonos Transfer 2 subsequent to Final Ears’ Epicboom Blueotooth speaker, which prices $100 much less however is across the similar measurement and form.
David Carnoy/CNET
I in contrast the Transfer 2 to Final Ears equally formed Epicboom speaker, which prices $100 much less and in addition weighs much less (4.36 kilos, or simply underneath 2 kg). The Epicboom sounds superb for a Bluetooth speaker, however the Transfer 2 clearly sounds higher, with tighter, deeper bass and cleaner, extra detailed sound that holds up properly at the same time as you push the quantity up. The Transfer 2 has a really nice tonal stability and comes throughout as pretty pure sounding and correct.
Each audio system have an out of doors mode (on the Sonos you interact “Loudness” within the settings) that helps the audio system sound larger in open environments. On the Sonos, you will need to flip off loudness when utilizing the speaker indoors (and earlier than utilizing the Trueplay automated tuning characteristic to customized tune the speaker for no matter room you may have it in).
Sonos Transfer 2 last ideas
On the subject of moveable audio system, Sonos would not offer you a complete lot of alternative. The smaller Roam does sound superb for its compact measurement (I believe a Roam 2 is within the works that corrects a few of that speaker’s small downsides), however should you’re searching for a Sonos speaker that delivers the form of audio you count on from the Period 100, the Transfer 2 is a no brainer.
Whereas it would not ship the much more voluminous sound of the Period 300, which additionally price $449, it could actually fill a small- to medium-size room with sound and is straightforward to hold out to the patio or pool, the place it makes for a wonderful outside wi-fi speaker that delivers nearly as a lot quantity and bass as among the bigger boombox-style Bluetooth audio system. It is a formidable moveable speaker.
Sonos Transfer 2 key specs, based on Sonos
6.61 kilos (3 kg)Overhauled dual-tweeter acoustic structure permits Transfer 2 to ship stereo sound24 hours of playback on a single cost.Costs by way of USB-C or included Wi-fi Charging BaseIP56 score (water- and dust-resistant)Constructed to face up to unintended falls, bumps, rain and moisture, mud, UV rays and excessive temperaturesAutomatic Trueplay tuning frequently optimizes the Transfer 2’s sound for its surroundingsTouch controlsStream by way of Bluetooth to a stereo pair of Transfer 2 audio system when related to Wi-Fi or seamlessly group Transfer 2 with the remainder of your Sonos systemRemovable and replaceable battery Worth: $449/£449/499 euros/AU$799