Sonos Move Review: Heavy but good
24.9.2019
Translation: machine translated
Sonos is launching an outdoor speaker, even though summer is already over: the Move is the first speaker from Sonos that can do more than just multiroom. I have tested it.
The Sonos Move is not the portable speaker I would have expected from Sonos, because it's not really portable. Technically speaking, you can carry the Move: after all, it has a rechargeable battery and doesn't need to be plugged in. It's also suitable for outdoor use. But it weighs three kilos. You don't want to carry it far.
But the Move can keep up well with almost everything else.
In addition to Bluetooth, the Move can do everything else that Sonos speakers can do: Wi-Fi streaming in the comprehensive Sonos app and Apple's Airplay 2 are included. The Move can be integrated into your Sonos system as usual. If you treat yourself to two of the speakers, you can also play them in stereo. Otherwise, the Move can be assigned to a room in the Sonos app as normal and played together with your other speakers or individually - in other words, multiroom. You can't connect the Move to a sub alone. But that also makes sense.
Looks almost the same, new functions
The Move is a lot bigger than the Sonos One. The shape is similar, with the difference that the Move is slightly rounded at the bottom.
The Move has a silicone cover in the lower quarter of the box, which makes it a little more robust - it is IP56 certified, which means it has no problems with water and dust. It is also supposed to be drop-proof. I haven't tried this out because I have to return the speaker.
From the top, you can see the microphone button, play/pause and the small squares to change the volume. With the Move you can swipe from these squares to the right for the next track and to the left for the previous one.
Play and pause also work if you have the speaker in Bluetooth mode. I just can't skip to the previous song with the Bluetooth connection. But forward works. For whatever reason.
On the back is the carrying recess. This is actually quite practical and you could carry the Move very well with it - if it wasn't so heavy. However, my fingers hurt after a short time. I wouldn't carry the Move as far as the lake. Only to the balcony, terrace or garden.
In addition to the carrying handle, there is a power button on the back, a button to switch from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth mode and back and the usual pairing button. There is no LAN port. Instead, there is a USB-C port that can be used to charge the Move without a docking station. The docking station is supplied by Sonos with the Move.
Bluetooth, but not in the app
Once paired, the Move connects to your phone as soon as you press the button on the back of the speaker. However, if you have the Move in Bluetooth mode, you can no longer control the speaker with the Sonos Controller app.
Unfortunately, you can't transfer the Bluetooth connection to other Sonos speakers either - as soon as you take the Move out of the WLAN, it's just like any other Bluetooth speaker. Only heavier.
The voice assistant would also switch off in Bluetooth mode - if Alexa or Google Assistant were available in Switzerland. The microphone switches off in Bluetooth mode, and so does Trueplay, the sound customisation system from Sonos.
What can the sound do?
The first time I tried out the Move at home, I was a little shocked. The sound was far too powerful for me. Logical in hindsight, because my living room isn't the biggest and the Move is also supposed to perform outdoors. Sonos Trueplay - the automatic sound calibration system provides a remedy here. Previously, Trueplay only worked with iOS devices and you had to walk around the room with your mobile to measure the sound. This is no longer necessary with Move.
In my case, the Trueplay function from Sonos aligns the sound very well. You have to switch the function on in the app first. And it switches off automatically as soon as you use the Move with Bluetooth and doesn't switch on again afterwards. In my case, this led me to ask myself a few times why the bass was booming - until I realised that the microphone was off and the Sonos sound adjustment system wasn't working.
When the function is on, I like the sound quite a bit. I first listen to Burn The Witch by Radiohead. I like the mids, the vocals come across nice and warm. Only sometimes I have the feeling that the upper bass sticks out a bit. Otherwise, however, the Move sounds balanced to me.
Next, I listen to Crystallize by Lindsey Stirling. The American composer and stage artist mixes a classical violin with electronic dubstep components in her songs. It sounds really powerful on the Move. In my opinion, the speaker hits the highs well and the mids also come across clearly. The bass is strong, but the woofer is a little overpowered in my ears with very deep bass. Because the bass bothers me so much, I turn it down a little in the Sonos app. You can also adjust the treble there.
The Moves' sound distributors extend into the sides of the speaker. This results in an almost uniform sound distribution in all directions. It's only at the back of the Move that you shouldn't listen too closely, as the Move doesn't have an all-round sound.
Strong and with a souvenir
Outdoors, the Move scores with its powerful sound. I briefly turned it up all the way on my balcony and was afraid that my neighbours would come to me with a noise complaint. The Move is loud when turned up all the way, but it's not pretty.
To put even more strain on my neighbours' nerves, I quickly compared the Move with a UE Megaboom. The Move has a lot more oomph and the bass comes out better. For me, it sounds rounder, warmer and brighter than the Megaboom. To be fair, however, it has to be said that the Megaboom doesn't even cost half as much.
Back in the flat, I notice that the silicone cover leaves black marks on my white chest of drawers. I don't think that's so cool. But it goes away with warm water and a little soap.
Conclusion: Good, but doesn't knock my socks off
The Move works well, just as you would expect from Sonos. The sound is also good. It's great for taking to the garden, the terrace or the pool. But the Move is not a Bluetooth speaker that I would take with me to the Letten or to the open air.
I think that's a bit of a shame. If the Move had the mass of a Sonos One, for example, it would have worked - as it is, I see the Move more as an extension of Multiroom into the garden.
I think the Move is good, but it's not what I was waiting for.
Testing devices and gadgets is my thing. Some experiments lead to interesting insights, others to demolished phones. I’m hooked on series and can’t imagine life without Netflix. In summer, you’ll find me soaking up the sun by the lake or at a music festival.
