Longer battery life, higher audio

Verdict

With its redesigned audio system, the Sonos Transfer 2 provides two tweeters into the combination to ship stereo, in addition to a wider, much less positional soundscape than its predecessor. There’s no escaping that that is an costly speaker, however there’s nothing else that may fairly do what the Transfer 2 can: it’s a correct, absolutely built-in Sonos speaker that works as nicely in and out, able to working on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. And with greater than double the battery lifetime of the unique, it is a speaker that retains going

Introduction

When Sonos entered the transportable speaker market in 2019, the Transfer differed to its competitors. Relatively than designed to slide in a bag and be carried in every single place, the Transfer was constructed like a standard indoor Sonos speaker, solely it had a battery and was sealed in opposition to the weather. Now, the corporate is again for extra with the Sonos Transfer 2.

A redesigned speaker system, with stereo tweeters, and all-day battery life, the brand new speaker is for people who need high quality audio in and out.

Design

• 3kg weight
• Built-in carry deal with
• IP56 rated

There’s not lots of distinction from the skin between the previous Transfer and the Transfer 2, extra of a tweak in design. That’s alright with me, as the unique already seemed trendy, so there’s not a lot level in ranging from recent.

As soon as once more, the speaker is on the market in three colors. I actually just like the inexperienced mannequin, however I’ve obtained the white on overview, and there’s additionally a black model.

One of many fundamental variations is the management panel on high. The previous Transfer had the old-style contact buttons, which weren’t clearly labelled, and also you needed to lookup learn how to skip a monitor. Right here, the controls are significantly better. There’s a slider for quantity management, plus devoted play/pause and monitor skip buttons. It’s far simpler to make use of this speaker than the previous one.

Flip the Transfer 2 round, and there’s a slight distinction. The facility and Bluetooth buttons stay the identical, however right here, there’s no Be a part of button (that’s not wanted, because the connection course of has been streamlined) and a devoted swap to show the built-in microphone off.

USB-C is offered on the again. This can be utilized for charging the inner battery for those who don’t need to carry the docking station round with you, or it may be used to recharge a tool (useful for those who want a fast energy enhance to your cellphone whilst you’re away from an influence socket).

The USB-C port additionally doubles up as an enter, though you’ll want to purchase the Line-In Adapter to attach 3.5mm audio gadgets. Nonetheless, it’s good that Sonos has dedicated to a number of bodily inputs, outdoors of streaming providers solely.

To be used at house, there’s the identical docking station as final 12 months. Drop the Transfer 2 into this and it’ll cost the battery and sit there on standby in order that the speaker can be utilized inside identical to every other Sonos speaker.

While you’re prepared, seize the built-in deal with and take the speaker the place you need it, inside or out. At 3kg, the Transfer 2 does push the bounds of what may be thought-about a conveyable speaker. Consider this extra as a speaker you could both come out into the backyard or take within the automotive moderately than a slimline speaker for dropping in a backpack, and also you’ll get the thought. For individuals who journey extra, the Sonos Roam is what you’re after.

An IP56 score signifies that the Transfer 2 is protected in opposition to mud, water, mud and, nicely, no matter else it might encounter outdoors. The one factor it’s not rated in opposition to is submersion in water. Have a celebration and depart this speaker outdoors, and also you’ll not have to fret about it being ruined within the morning.

As with the unique, the battery may be changed by buying a equipment from Sonos. Excellent news for longevity and good for the setting, too.

Sonos sells a number of equipment for this product, together with a £79 carry case and a extra reasonably priced £29 wall hook so the speaker may be frolicked of the way in which. I’m tempted by one of many hooks for my backyard to make use of when I’ve company.

Options

• Auto Trueplay configuration
• Works with S2 methods
• Could be put right into a stereo pair

As soon as the Transfer 2 is related to its charging base, you’ll be able to be a part of it to an current S2 system over Wi-Fi. It’s a Wi-Fi 6 gadget, as are the newer Sonos audio system. I discovered it solely took a couple of minutes to attach the speaker to my system, at which level it seems identical to every other Sonos speaker. Any streaming providers configured, together with Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, Qobuz and TuneIn, can merely be streamed to the speaker, and it might participate in multi-room music, too.

There’s additionally Spotify Join and AirPlay 2 built-in, so you’ll be able to skip the Sonos app and stream audio on to the speaker.

Inside, related to Wi-Fi, the Transfer 2 may also work as a wise speaker. Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Management are each choices. The latter’s benefit is that it processes instructions regionally on the speaker and is designed particularly for music playback.

It’s doable to play particular music from Sonos Radio, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer and Pandora; for different streaming providers, comparable to Spotify, it’s essential to choose the music from the app. Nevertheless, as soon as music is queued up, Sonos Voice Management does allow you to pause, play and skip tracks, in addition to alter quantity.

Automated Trueplay is on the market on this speaker, tuning the output each time the speaker is moved. The one requirement is that the microphone is switched on. Automated Trueplay is much like the system within the HomePod and HomePod mini.

It’s a very helpful system on a conveyable speaker, which may be positioned in an enormous vary of areas, from extensive, open outside areas to small rooms inside. Transferring from a kitchen counter to a bookshelf, then to my backyard, I discovered that Automated Trueplay did a terrific job balancing the audio output in order that the Transfer 2 all the time sounded good.

In addition to working as a standalone speaker, you need to use two Transfer 2 audio system in a stereo pair for those who actually need to.

While you’re away from Wi-Fi (otherwise you simply need to play from a unique supply), you’ll be able to faucet the Bluetooth button on the again. This may robotically join the speaker to the final Bluetooth gadget you used; a long-press places the Transfer 2 into pairing mode.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported on this mannequin, moderately than the older Bluetooth 4.2. Bluetooth 5 permits for high-quality streams, makes use of much less energy and will increase vary. For all efficient makes use of, for those who can see the Transfer 2, you’ll be able to connect with it by way of Bluetooth.

Battery life is now rated for as much as 24 hours, a staggering 13-hour enchancment over the Transfer’s battery. This determine relies on the speaker being set to a ‘average’ stage.

In actual use, endurance is determined by what you’re doing. I sat my speaker outdoors for an eight-hour session, which nonetheless had 54% battery life the following day. Based mostly on my listening quantity, I’d simply get to 15-hours+ on increased volumes. In different phrases, any size of get together may be catered for with this speaker.

Faucet the ability button on the again, and the speaker goes into sleep mode, conserving power till it’s used, whereas a protracted press will flip it off. As with its predecessor, the Transfer 2 will robotically swap to sleep mode after being idle for half-hour. If you wish to push battery life additional, there’s a Battery Saver possibility within the Sonos app that can robotically energy the Transfer 2 off after 10 minutes of sitting idle.

Sound high quality

• Stereo audio
• Can fill massive outside areas
• Good, boomy bass

The previous Transfer had a single tweeter and one mid-woofer, however the Transfer 2 has two angled tweeters (stereo sound) and a mid-woofer, all powered by three Class-D digital amplifiers. As all the time, Sonos is a little bit cagey on the specs, however the speaker structure is much like that of the Period 100.

Transferring to stereo audio system moderately than mono does make a distinction, significantly whenever you’re not utilizing a stereo pair. For starters, the speaker has a wider presence. Its audio sounds much less directional and higher fills the area, in and out.

Because the tweeters are comparatively shut collectively, you don’t get the stereo separation {that a} pair of audio system delivers. Fireplace up Foo Fighter’s Sufficient Area, and the opening guitar is designed to swirl between the left and proper audio system. With separate audio system, you get the total impact of the guitars shifting round you; with the Transfer 2, the impact shouldn’t be as pronounced however the soundscape is wider than on a mono speaker.

There’s extra subtlety to this speaker than the unique Transfer. Hearken to John Williams’ Imperial March, and the center, quieter part is resolved in all its element. With Simon and Garfunkel’s Sound of Silence, the harmonies are delivered fantastically, bringing the monitor to life because it ought to sound.

Pump in one thing extra aggressive, comparable to Rage Towards the Machine’s Bombtrack, and the Transfer 2 reveals its functionality. Its mid-woofer throws out bass with spectacular weight and punch, nevertheless it by no means threatens to destroy stability; Zach de la Rocha’s hard-hitting vocals are completely clear.

That stability is obvious listening to the Whiplash soundtrack, with the title tune bouncing between the bass line and brighter trumpets and saxophones that the Transfer 2 handles nicely. If I’m being choosy, I discovered the speaker a contact mild within the midrange.

Flip up the quantity because the DSP steps in to regulate the sound in order that bass doesn’t get distorted or overwhelming. Inside, I discovered that as much as quantity 40 was ok; outdoors, I may go louder, though I by no means wanted to get anyplace close to the utmost quantity.

Switching between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, I couldn’t hear any discernible variations. After all, it’s simpler to make use of Wi-Fi the place it’s accessible, resorting to Bluetooth when that’s not an possibility.

It’s price enjoying round with the equaliser settings, adjusting bass and treble to fit your listening preferences.

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