Ottawa tech enthusiasts looking to upgrade their portable audio setup have a well-timed opportunity this weekend, as the Sonos Roam 2 has dropped to $139, a solid $40 off its regular $179 price tag, at Amazon, Walmart, and Sonos' own online store.
The deal lands the compact Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speaker just $5 above its all-time low, making it one of the better buying windows you're likely to see outside of Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day.
What's New With the Roam 2?
If you passed on the original Sonos Roam, the second-generation model fixes the biggest frustration most users had: Bluetooth pairing. The first-gen required you to hold down the power button for a precise number of seconds just to enter pairing mode, a small but genuinely annoying quirk. The Roam 2 solves this with a dedicated pairing button on the back, making it fast and painless to connect to a new phone or switch between devices.
Beyond that quality-of-life improvement, the Roam 2 still connects to your home Wi-Fi network, letting it slot into a broader Sonos multi-room audio setup if you have one. So it's not just a standalone portable speaker. It can pull double duty as part of your living room or kitchen system when you're home, then head out to the park or a friend's place via Bluetooth.
Sound Quality: Still Best-in-Class
The audio profile hasn't changed from the first generation, which is fine news given how well-regarded the original Roam was. You're getting crisp, detailed vocal performance with enough low-end warmth to satisfy most listeners. Sonos's Trueplay tuning technology, which automatically optimizes the sound based on the room or environment you're in, is still on board and does a genuinely good job.
One caveat: the USB-C port is still limited to charging only, so don't expect to use it as an audio input.
Worth It for Ottawa Buyers?
For Ottawa residents who spend time outdoors, whether it's a weekend at Gatineau Park, a summer afternoon on the Rideau River, or just hanging out in the backyard, a compact, waterproof Bluetooth speaker with this kind of sound quality makes a lot of sense. The Roam 2 is IP67 rated, meaning it can handle full submersion, not just a bit of rain.
At $139 CAD (prices may vary slightly depending on retailer and currency conversion), this is competitive with other premium portable speakers in its class, and the added benefit of Wi-Fi and Sonos ecosystem integration gives it an edge over similarly priced options from JBL or Bose.
If you've been waiting for a good moment to pull the trigger on a portable Sonos speaker, this weekend is as good as it gets outside of the major shopping holidays.
Source: The Verge
