Photograph: Sonos
Hi-Res Audio? Maybe Not
Despite Sonos’ efforts to maintain the Move 2’s technical specification underneath wraps, it’s potential to tease out a element or two through the course of an prolonged pay attention. For occasion, utilizing Apple gear to stream to the Sonos (an iPhone 14 Pro and a MacBook Pro working Colibri software program) means utilizing AirPlay 2—and the Move 2 is more than pleased to take receipt of lossless audio information. But there’s no means of realizing the decision they find yourself without delay the Sonos DAC has completed its factor, after all.
Switching to Bluetooth streaming from an Android Nothing Phone (2), although, reveals that the Move 2 is appropriate solely with the bog-standard SBC and AAC codecs—so regardless of the very fact the Phone (2) is able to hand over audio information utilizing the higher-resolution aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC codecs, the Sonos just isn’t ready to just accept them. So is that this, actually, a high-resolution audio machine? It appears unlikely, and Sonos simply isn’t saying.
Ultimately, although, the technical specification (or lack thereof) doesn’t let you know as a lot a couple of speaker’s efficiency as sitting down and listening to it does. And whereas Sonos has made issues tough for the Move 2 in a variety of methods (its measurement, its weight, and its price, to call a few of the extra important), there’s no query that it is a speaker that by no means sounds lower than good, and in the correct circumstances it will probably sound superb certainly.
Make certain loudness is switched off within the management app earlier than Trueplay does its factor (should you’re listening indoors, as a result of it makes the speaker sound muscle-bound and plodding—should you’re outdoors, the dearth of bodily boundaries makes loudness a good suggestion), and that’s concerning the extent of the preparation that’s required. After that, simply stream your favourite tunes utilizing your most popular technique, and the Move 2 has a number of pertinent observations to make about them.
Convincing, Unified Sound
From the antiquated charms of Fanny’s “Hey Bulldog” as a Bluetooth stream through TIDAL to the marginally extra modern attract of “Two Weeks” by FKA Twigs delivered as a hi-res file through the laptop computer, the Sonos is an observant, detailed, and periodically fairly insightful pay attention. It retains an in depth eye on the extra minor and extra transient occurrences in a recording, giving them applicable weighting and context—and consequently, you by no means really feel as should you’re lacking out on any important info.
Tonality is convincing from the highest of the frequency vary to the underside, with a pleasant evenhandedness that makes the Move 2 sound unified relatively than a group of a number of particular person elements. There’s substance to enhance the chew and shine on the high of the frequency vary, good management of the underside finish (so long as the loudness management guidelines have been noticed) in order that rhythmic expression is naturalistic and convincing, and a correct diploma of perception and understanding by means of the midrange. No matter how completed (or in any other case) a vocalist is likely to be, the Sonos grants them a stack of character and expression—so even FKA Twigs’ whispered and muttered imprecations are disclosed in full.
