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Review: Mini-Baguette-Size Sonos Roam Speaker Can Really Boom

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A black semi-cylindrical Sonos Roam portable speaker.


Portable speakers can leave a lot to be desired, if you’re someone who likes to lose yourself in sound. That’s true whether you’re trying to overpower neighboring beachgoers’ music or seeking to hear your favorite podcast all throughout the house while you do chores. The Sonos Roam more than meets those challenges, and redefines what’s possible in a portable speaker.

 

 

What It Is and Why We Like It

The Roam features full sound; thumping bass; and rich, clear tones whether listening on a deck, dock, or deep in the woods. It’s also aesthetically pleasing, feels good to hold, and at 6.61x 2.44 x 2.36 inches, it’s truly portable. It’s able to handle the use and abuse of being tossed in with your camping gear or kept in the hold of your boat. The water-and-dust-resistant speaker is IP67 rated and clocks in under a pound with a rugged casing that can survive accidental spills. For this review, I took it canoe camping, and propped it on my tailgate gearing up for a day of downhill in the Killington Bike Park parking lot.

Sonos

The Roam’s sound packs a punch because of what’s inside: two Class-H digital amplifiers tuned to the drivers and speaker’s unique acoustic architecture, a tweeter for crisp high-frequency response, a mid-woofer for playback of mid-range frequencies that also maximizes low-end output, a far-field microphone array that uses advanced beamforming and multi-channel echo cancellation for quick voice assistant activation and automatic tuning, and a 18Wh battery that can power this speaker for up to 10 hours.

A lot of speakers lose the bass when you’re outdoors. This one doesn’t. But it also has superior sound in your living room, family room, and kitchen. Turns out it’s also stellar in a rental car with a busted radio. The bass boom as much as you want, and podcasts play clearly and crisply. Wherever you play music on Roam, it automatically tunes itself to your environment, whether you’re on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. So, when I hosted a big-screen outdoor movie in my backyard and streaming the sound over the Roam, It was like being in the theater, not like being inside a tin can. There was no straining to hear the soundtrack.

To play music, you need the Sonos app, which pairs with streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music, TuneIn, and Sonos Radio.

And if you already have a Sonos sound system at home, it connects and integrates. Once you’ve paired the speaker to the app, the speaker pairs automatically when you bring the Roam inside.

Roam’s form factor is as good as its sound. The rounded, baguette-shaped speaker can be positioned on one side or the end, so it fits into most spaces, it’s unobtrusive whether it’s home sitting on a coffee table or on a beach blanket.

A large image of the Sonos Roam showing the controls on the top.
Sonos

Nitpicks

The downsides to the Roam are minimal. Controls are few and they’re multifunctional, so there’s a learning curve around how long to hold buttons to get the unit to reset, pair, and throw sound to a different speaker. Buttons on Roam play, pause, adjust the volume, skip tracks, replay tracks, turn the mic on and off, and manually pair a Bluetooth device.

The Roam works with Google Assistant and Alexa. Send sound directly from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to Sonos using AirPlay 2, then ask Siri to turn it up or skip a song.

The Roam comes with a USB-C charging cable. Sonos also sells a magnetic charging base, which is a great option if you’ll plug this speaker in at home.

[$169, sonos.com]

Get it

 

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10 Best Porters to Drink Right Now

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A bottle of Deschutes Black Butte Porter




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Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength

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Barbell Back Squat


The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.

“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.

If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.

Directions

Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.

Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength

Circuit 1

Marius Bugge

A. Barbell Back Squat

Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts renegade row
Marius Bugge

B. Renegade Row

Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side

Circuit 2

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing renegade row Dumbbell Bentover Row in gym
Marius Bugge

A. Dumbbell Bentover Row

Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised 
Marius Bugge

B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised 

Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps

Circuit 3

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Marius Bugge

A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat

Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Marius Bugge

B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift

Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side

Circuit 4

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing pullup
Marius Bugge

A. Pullup

Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Marius Bugge

B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press

Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top.
Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps

Circuit 5

A. Dumbbell Pushup

Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop
once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps

B. Biceps Curl

Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps


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The Best Jump Ropes for a Killer Cardio Workout

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The Best Jump Ropes for a Killer Cardio Workout




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