In this video I'll compare the Sonos Roam to the JBL Flip 5 to help you figure out which portable Bluetooth speaker is right for you. Specifically I'll walk through looking at the build and form factor, button access, connection technologies, smart assistant integrations, a sound comparison, and more before sharing my final thoughts and recommendation.

Check out the speakers mentioned in this video on Amazon:
(affiliate) Sonos Roam: https://amzn.to/2T7ap24
(affiliate) JBL Flip 5: https://amzn.to/3ufRMpK

Timestamps:
Introduction: 0:00
Build and Form Factor: 0:45
Button Access: 3:31
Connecting to Other Speakers: 4:28
Smart Assistant Integration: 5:24
Sound Comparison: 6:03
Power and Ports: 9:19
Additional Considerations: 10:32
My Recommendation: 11:50
Conclusion: 13:26

Support this channel by becoming a member:    / @maxdalton  

Video Transcript:
First let's look at the build and form factor of each device.

We'll start with the similarities.

Both the Sonos Roam and the JBL Flip 5 have a cylindrical shape. The Flip 5 is slightly larger checking in at 7.1-inches wide, 2.7-inches tall, and 2.9-inches deep, and weighing almost two pounds. Alternatively, the Sonos Roam measures in at 6.61-inches tall, 2.44-inches wide, 2.36-inches deep and weighs just under one pound. Both speakers can easily be positioned either vertically or horizontally. The JBL Flip 5 can be stood up on either end cap, or you can position it horizontally so that it rests on the plastic bar that runs across the back of the speaker. Alternatively, the Sonos Roam be can stood upright with the volume controls visible on top, or you can sit the speaker horizontally on the rubber feet on the corners of the bottom. Finally for the things the speakers have in common in this section, they are both rated IP67, which means they are both waterproof and dustproof. The waterproof rating means they can be submerged in up to three feet of water for up to 30 minutes and continue operating just fine.

Now let's look at some of the exterior differences.

The biggest difference is probably the lack of a carrying strap attached to the Sonos Roam. The JBL Flip 5 has a strap that makes it easy to hang the speaker in places like the shower or on a bike, or to connect with a clip to something else. The Sonos Roam doesn't have anything built in that enables you to either hang or hook the speaker onto something. Next, the material used for the grill on each speaker is slightly different. The JBL Flip 5 grill is comprised of a wire and fabric mesh that makes it easy to hold, wraps around the majority of the speaker body, gives it a unique, clean look, and I would also assume adds to the durability a little bit. Alternatively, the Sonos Roam grill is metal and just faces front. The rest of the outer Roam shell is plastic. The metal face of the Sonos Roam feels sturdy, but I would have some concerns about the plastic part of the body not holding up under repeated drops. The Flip 5 does have the plastic bar that runs along the back, but it feels like it would hold up well under repeated drops. The final item I'll discuss is the end caps. The JBL Flip 5 has passive radiators on each end of the Bluetooth speaker that add to it visually and enable the speaker to generate deeper tones. Alternatively the Sonos Roam just has simple rubber end caps, where the right side serves as the base of the speaker when set upright, and the left side houses the buttons used to control the speaker.

Now let's look at the button access on each device.

The JBL Flip 5 has four buttons that sit across the top of it and are built into the wire fabric mesh grill: PartyBoost, Volume Down, Volume Up and Play/Pause. The Power and Bluetooth buttons are located in the center of a plastic bar that runs along the back of the device. All buttons on the Flip 5 have good clickiness and response. Alternatively, the majority of the buttons on the Sonos Roam are located on the rubber pad on the left side of the speaker. There is a Microphone button, Volume Up and Volume Down buttons, and a Play/Pause button. The Power button is located on the back of the device. It's worth noting that while the clickiness and response of the buttons on the side of the Sonos Roam were good, the Power button had neither and was terrible. I routinely found myself frustrated and pressing the button repeatedly trying to get it to either turn on or enter pairing mode.

Check out more in the video!

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This help support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!