Sonos’ second-gen Transfer is constructed for power and performance, but how does it fare against the company’s most transportable audio utility?
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Sonos Transfer 2
The easier-sounding one
The Sonos Transfer 2 more than doubles the battery life of the original Transfer, whereas adding a second tweeter to lift a better and bolder sound.
Pros
- Extra special sound quality
- Up to 24 hours of battery life
- Works with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Alexa, and Sonos
Cons
- Costly
- Now now not as light-weight as the Sonos Shuffle
- No Google Assistant red meat up
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Sonos Shuffle Portable Speaker
The ultra-transportable one
The Sonos Shuffle may perhaps presumably also no longer pack the identical general punch as the revamped Sonos Transfer 2, but whereas you happen to are taking a quiz for an cheap Bluetooth speaker that also supports Wi-Fi and say assistants and accurate so happens to comprise gargantuan sound quality, the Shuffle desires to be on the conclude of your checklist.
Pros
- Great imprint
- Impressive sound
- Wi-Fi, Alexa, Google Assistant, and AirPlay 2 red meat up
Cons
- Now now not as noteworthy as the Transfer 2
- No speakerphone capacity
When it comes to wireless audio, Sonos is one of many most effective audio corporations you may presumably well presumably aquire audio system from. Over time, the assign’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth peripherals comprise most effective gotten louder and stronger, and once battery power used to be launched to the original Sonos Transfer, we would also commence taking our favourite Sonos gear camping, too. Nonetheless now there’s a brand unique Sonos Transfer in city, billed as the Sonos Transfer 2, and it’s presupposed to rock even tougher and remaining even longer than its predecessor. Does this imply there’s no place within the world for Sonos’ smaller battery-powered speaker, the Sonos Shuffle? Absolutely no longer.
That being talked about, the Sonos Transfer 2 and Sonos Shuffle allotment some similarities but even comprise unparalleled differences, with the amount of dough you are going to comprise to fork over being one of many finest (next to the scale). Choosing between any two Sonos devices may perhaps presumably also furthermore be no longer easy, which is why we now comprise save together this side-by-side comparability of both products.
Trace, availability, and specs
The Sonos Transfer 2 currently sells for $450 and can furthermore be bought at Finest Purchase, B&H Photo-Video, and at once thru Sonos. As for the $180 Sonos Shuffle (and the $160 Shuffle SL), you are going to comprise to aquire both model of the transportable speaker thru Amazon and Sonos, as neatly as outlets relish Finest Purchase and Walmart.
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Sonos Transfer 2 Sonos Shuffle Portable Speaker Dimensions 9.53 x 6.29 x 4.96 inches 6.61 x 2.32 x 2.44 inches (168mm x 62mm x 59mm) Weight 6.61 pounds 0.93 pounds (0.42kg) Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Trace $449 $180 Colours Dim, White, Olive Dim, White Microphone Yes Yes Microphone change Yes Yes Energy source Built-in battery, USB-C 18Wh battery Battery life Up to 24 hours Up to 10 hours
The Sonos Transfer 2 stands 9.53 inches enormous, 6.29 inches vast, and 4.96 inches from front to relief. At 6.61 pounds, or no longer it is no longer the most light-weight speaker within the world, but whereas you happen to comprise got in thoughts that its housing holds a honest correct-sized mid-woofer, two side-firing tweeters, and three class-D digital amplifiers, the further pounds are absolutely forgivable. Available in matte Dim, White, and Olive finishes, the Transfer 2 also entails a constructed-in carrying deal with for straight forward snatch-and-traipse listening.
As for buttons and ports, the Transfer 2’s capacitive touch controls are located on the conclude of the speaker, with choices alongside with play/pause, replay, skip, volume up/down, say assistant soundless, and community/un-community Sonos devices. This is also the place you may presumably well also receive the speaker’s LED space light, which reflects the payment space, connection form, soundless space, mic standby, and any internal errors.
On the support of the Transfer 2 is its a ways-self-discipline extinguish change. When activated, it cuts all power to the rest microphone-associated; this implies no say aid or Automatic Trueplay calibrations. To boot to, there is a Bluetooth pairing button on the rear, alongside with a power button and the Transfer 2’s USB-C port, that will presumably also furthermore be worn as a line-in with the aquire of a separate 3.5mm audio adapter. Furthermore, the 2 metallic pinpoints on the support of the speaker enable the Transfer 2 to join to the included wireless charging corrupt that incorporates a 45W power adapter.
Being the more bite-sized risk of the bunch, the Sonos Shuffle measures 6.61 inches enormous, 2.44 inches vast, 2.36 inches from front to relief, and weighs a mere 0.95 pounds. Available in 5 matte finishes — Shadow Dim, Lunar White, Sundown, Wave, and Olive — the Shuffle speaker can lay horizontally or stand vertically.
When positioned correct, capacitive touch controls are located on the conclude of the speaker, with controls and the LED indicator mirroring that of the Transfer 2. The Shuffle also entails a button for manually switching over to Bluetooth, plus a USB-C port for charging. While you are going to earn a USB-A to USB-C charging cable within the sector, you are going to comprise to provide your beget 7.5W or higher power adapter (the USB-C port handles as much as 15W). And unlike the Transfer 2, the Shuffle supports line-in audio.
All sorts of wireless capabilities
When it comes to wireless profiles, both the Transfer 2 and Shuffle work over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, with the worn supporting the most contemporary Wi-Fi 6 fashioned and the latter being capped at Wi-Fi 5. Both audio system may perhaps presumably also furthermore join to 2.4GHz and 5GHz community bands. To this point as sound quality is anxious (more on this in a chunk), the Transfer 2’s Wi-Fi 6 capabilities may perhaps presumably comprise to imply better audio and sooner connectivity when streaming tune over Wi-Fi.
With ease, both the Transfer 2 and Shuffle are two of several latest-generation Sonos audio system that will presumably allotment Bluetooth audio to other Sonos devices without Wi-Fi. That you can comprise to first predicament the audio system up for your Wi-Fi community, but once the entire lot is configured, the Transfer 2 and Shuffle will seemingly be in a position to community with other Sonos hardware when Wi-Fi is disabled.
Concerning say assistants, the Shuffle basically comes out on high, with the smaller speaker supporting Alexa, Google Assistant, and Sonos Divulge Regulate. Nonetheless, the Transfer 2 nixes Google Assistant red meat up fully as a result of stupefied legalities between Sonos and Google. On one other display, iPhone and iPad house owners can even enjoy to know that Sonos’ inclusion of AirPlay 2 continues with the second-gen Transfer, and can furthermore be stumbled on on the Shuffle.
Higher construct, better sound
Let’s no longer beat spherical the bush here: The Sonos Transfer 2 delivers an even bigger general audio trip than the Sonos Shuffle. The Transfer 2 boasts a better chassis, which desires to be gargantuan in expose to win three class-D amps, two tweeters, and one extensive mid-woofer. This speaker is designed to earn admission to the deeper essential ingredients of your tune, and or no longer it is a ways continuously intended to venture those essential ingredients into whatever listening dwelling you are in, as a result of Automatic Trueplay (for iOS devices most effective) and the Transfer’s better structure.
After attempting out the Sonos Transfer 2, one of our finest takeaways used to be the extensive enhance in audio quality, accurate when put next with the previous generation. The unique Transfer delivers neat and sturdy mids, neatly to avoid losing but no longer overwhelming lows, and neat and crisp treble. Yes, or no longer it is a ways a chunk heavy to traipse spherical, but so much of the Transfer 2’s unparalleled audio is as a result of its heavy-accountability internal substances.
This is no longer to divulge Shuffle doesn’t lift some extraordinary sound. Truly, we would issue or no longer it is easy one of many most effective Bluetooth audio system out there, even with the general competitors from brands relish Final Ears and JBL. Even despite the indisputable reality that there’s most effective a single tweeter and a smaller mid-woofer than the one constructed into the Transfer 2, the Shuffle sounds crisp and obvious at low to moderate volume and does an distinctive job projecting sound into mid-sized indoor and initiate air areas. Nonetheless, being the smaller of the 2, the Shuffle does comprise its boundaries. Shall we issue, whereas you happen to aim cranking the amount the general manner up whereas taking note of some Metallica or heavy-accountability R&B, this may perhaps perhaps presumably sound cranky and distorted.
At the pool earn together
When comparing the 2 audio system, imagine a pool earn together scenario. At this shindig, the Shuffle is the smaller speaker that you simply are going to place upright by the pool because sitting it out on the patio (which is gradually a ways-off from the pool) would imply you are going to leave out out on about a of the sound. On the other hand, the Transfer 2 used to be dropped at your earn together by a talented DJ who doesn’t deem twice about constructing his workstation a ways-off from the pool merely because he is aware of the Transfer 2 can hit hard.
Hardware: The tried and beautiful Sonos controller
As with every latest Sonos hardware, one of the best manner to hear to your complete favourite artists and playlists with the Transfer 2 and Shuffle is over Wi-Fi thru the Sonos S2 app (out there for Apple and Android devices). Appearing as a tune-streaming negate heart — and an intuitive dashboard for controls and customizations, the S2 app will get you earn admission to to the general most effective platforms, alongside with Apple Song, Spotify, Tidal, Audible, and Sonos’ beget Radio HD and its many offshoots.
That it’s also possible to be in a position to make utilize of the S2 app to community quite so much of Sonos devices, favor which audio source plays on what speaker(s), and adjust various substances of every and every speaker’s EQ.
A battle against the substances
Source: Sonos
Both the Transfer 2 and Shuffle audio system are designed with portability in thoughts. Whether or no longer you relish to comprise to make utilize of them indoors or initiate air, there’s particular attention paid to the latter setting within the earn of some high-notch IP scores for each and every utility. The Transfer 2 is IP56-rated, which implies or no longer it is protected against grime and excessive-stress water streams. Nonetheless, because it is a ways one level away from tubby grime security, you are going to desire to be a minute cautious when rocking out with it spherical sandy and gravel-weighted down areas.
To this point as shielding goes, the Shuffle basically comes out on high with its IP67 rating. The “six” skill the speaker is fully dustproof, and the “seven” skill you desires to comprise the flexibility to submerge the Shuffle in three feet of water for as much as Half-hour. While both audio system are inconceivable for on-the-traipse utilization, the Shuffle’s improved grime and water security compose it further safe to make utilize of on the seaside, by the pool, or even as a shower speaker.
The battery laurel goes to the unique man
Being the better speaker of the 2, the Sonos Transfer 2 also rocks the heftier 44Wh battery, which the company claims will remaining as much as 24 hours when performed at a moderate volume. It is a foremost growth over the eight to ten hours dished out by the original Transfer, which save the O.G. mannequin within the identical battery camp as the a ways smaller Shuffle.
Speaking of the minute brother, Sonos claims the Shuffle may perhaps presumably comprise to remaining as much as 10 hours on a single payment, and we stumbled on this figure to be somewhat space-on in our beget attempting out of the speaker. Most continuously, the battery beneath no circumstances bought low sufficient to necessitate a tubby re-juicing, and our reviewer stumbled on it extremely convenient to toss the Shuffle on the wireless charger on every occasion it wasn’t being worn.
Which is upright for you?
That all relies on the form of audio trip you are taking a quiz for. Whenever you happen to care about general sound staging, volume, and sound quality, the Sonos Transfer 2 goes to be the upper risk. The Transfer 2 is also the upper of the 2 for battery life, but or no longer it is surely no longer as easy to tout spherical as the Sonos Shuffle.
Get you relish to comprise a tidy-light-weight Bluetooth associate that sounds somewhat gargantuan and lasts for a somewhat long timeframe? If that’s the case, the Sonos Shuffle may perhaps presumably also very neatly be the upper fit for you and yours. Plus, it may perhaps probably probably presumably well also furthermore be submerged in as much as a couple feet of water for as much as Half-hour.
