Microphone! Sonos Roam SL is a cheaper portable speaker for Alexa averse

Sonos has released a version of its popular battery Sonos Roam a speaker that seems ideal for audio lovers who don’t need a voice assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant.

The £ 159 Sonos Roam SL is identical to the existing Roam model, but has abandoned microphones that allow voice services and the Auto TruePlay room layout feature.

However, for those who use the speaker at home and on the road, the ability to save £ 20 on the £ 179 RRP of the original Sonos Roam can make it attractive.

Elsewhere, the Sonos Roam SL retains all the features associated with the original battery-powered Roam, including the rich sound and clarity that challenge the portable build.

The SL retains the ability to automatically switch between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth depending on where you are, while 10 hours of continuous playback is available from the battery.

It is also prepared for the serious world beyond home security, thanks to the water and dust protection class IP67 and tactile buttons that can reduce accidental pressure in your backpack.

Indeed, the Sonos Roam remains one of our absolute favorite Bluetooth speakers on the market. He received five stars Reliable reviews when he arrived last spring.

Our TV and audio editor Cob Mani appreciated the beautiful and natural sound, excellent build quality and ease of use. He was also thrilled with the reduction in area compared to giant Sonos Move speakerwhich turned out to be some kind of oxymoron

In his review, he concluded: “Sonos Roam is a portable speaker that we thought might be Move. As a cheaper and smaller alternative to bigger speakers, it boasts excellent sound quality, an impressive list of features and build quality that will help it survive on the street. ”

Sonos Roam SL is available for pre-order at Sonos.com.