4 years after the unique Sonos Transfer made its debut, Sonos has formally unveiled its successor, the Sonos Transfer 2.
The revamped Transfer 2 boasts a number of notable enhancements and, given the unique remains to be on sale – for simply $50 / £50 much less, it’s important to look at the way it stacks up in opposition to its predecessor, in case you’re available in the market for a Transfer.
On this Transfer versus Transfer 2 head-to-head comparability, we’ll delve into varied elements of those two high-end moveable Sonos audio system, highlighting their design, playback choices, ease of use, battery life, sound high quality, worth and extra.
Learn on to search out out what’s completely different between the Sonos Transfer and the Sonos Transfer 2 and what speaker will be the proper match for you.
Be taught extra about Sonos:
The last word Sonos setup information
Sonos suggestions and methods – get extra out of your Sonos system
Sonos and Alexa information
Transfer v Transfer 2: Design and construct
There is a vital distinction between the Sonos Transfer 2 and the Sonos Transfer by way of appears to be like, albeit not at first look.
The Sonos Transfer 2 retains an analogous type issue to its predecessor, and the scale and weight are nearly actual; in reality the Transfer 2 solely provides 2mm to the general footprint at 241 x 160 x 127mm (in comparison with 240 x 160 x 126mm). Each generations of the Transfer weigh 3kg / 6.61lbs.
The large distinction is that the Transfer 2 options the capacitive quantity slider that Sonos launched on the Period 100 and 300.
Designed to be extra intuitive than the common faucet buttons you may discover on the unique Transfer, the slider makes it a lot simpler to attain a exact desired quantity.
In addition to the brand new slider you may discover the standard array of Sonos contact buttons; play/pause, monitor skip ahead/again and in addition a button to summon a voice assistant.
On the again of the Transfer 2, and new to the line-up, a USB-C port that is not simply used for charging, it may additionally function a charger in your different gadget.
You may as well hook up the Sonos combo adapter ($25 / £25) to that USB port for 3.5mm audio-in (assume hooking up your Sonos to a vinyl report participant) and Ethernet entry.
Each the brand new Transfer and the unique additionally each ship with a charging dock too. Being moveable audio system, the Transfer duo each characteristic a deal with on the again to hold them round and they’re each licensed IP56.
Each 1st and 2nd-gen Strikes is available in black and white however there’s additionally a brand new fancy trying olive inexperienced shade for the sequel.
Transfer v Transfer 2: Battery life
4 years is a very long time in tech and the Transfer 2’s battery is life is proof of that.
It’s up from 10 hours on the unique Transfer to a powerful 24 hours; and all that from a battery than might be eliminated and changed when it is beginning to fade.
Transfer v Transfer 2: Playback choices
Each the Sonos Transfer 2 and the Sonos Transfer are moveable Bluetooth audio system with Wi-Fi good speaker capabilities.
Nonetheless, the just like the Sonos Roam, the Transfer 2 surpasses the first-gen Transfer by way of Bluetooth performance.
The Transfer 2 can use each Bluetooth and Wi-Fi concurrently, enabling it to share music that it’s receiving through Bluetooth, over Wi-Fi to different grouped non-Bluetooth Sonos audio system.
You may even stream through Bluetooth to a stereo pair of Transfer 2 audio system when linked to Wi-Fi.
This characteristic will not be obtainable for the Transfer, which requires you to decide on between Bluetooth or Wi-Fi mode.
Transfer v Transfer 2: In use
Each the Sonos Transfer 2 and the Sonos Transfer supply a powerful characteristic often called Auto Trueplay.
This know-how adjusts the speaker’s sound profile dynamically to optimize audio high quality primarily based on the encompassing atmosphere, to make sure a wonderful listening expertise whether or not you are indoors or outdoor.
Each the Transfer and the Transfer 2 can play part of an AirPlay 2 multi-room system and boast Amazon Alexa and Sonos’ personal voice assistant in-built.
Solely the unique Sonos Transfer has the choice of the Google Assistant although; the autumn out from Google and Sonos’ authorized spat remains to be being felt with new Sonos launches.
Transfer v Transfer 2: Sound high quality
The Sonos Transfer 2 builds upon its predecessor with some notable enhancements in its sound high quality. One of many key enhancements lies in its amplifiers, that includes three class-D digital amplifiers precision-tuned for the speaker’s distinctive acoustic structure, in comparison with a pair of class-D amplifiers within the unique.
The Transfer 2 additionally boasts two angled tweeters, which play a vital position in producing a crisp and correct high-frequency response, contributing to superior stereo separation. It is a vital improve from the Transfer 1’s one downward firing tweeter.
The result’s the Transfer 2 is the primary moveable Sonos speaker to supply stereo sound.
What to purchase – Sonos Transfer or Transfer 2?
The Sonos Transfer 2 takes the already spectacular sound high quality of the Transfer 1 and refines it with enhanced amplifiers and improved tweeters, promising an much more immersive and satisfying audio expertise.
It provides stereo sound, line-in capabilities, enhanced Bluetooth playback choices and greater than double the battery life… all for not a substantial amount of further money.
Value clearly performs a vital position within the decision-making course of. The Sonos Transfer 2 is priced at $449 / £449, representing a $50 / £50 enhance over the unique Sonos Transfer, which stays obtainable for buy at $399 / £399.
If the Transfer’s worth dropped beneath $350 / £350 it might be a fairer pound-for-pound struggle however I actually cannot advocate not forking out for the Transfer 2 proper now when it affords fairly much more bang in your buck than the unique.
Sonos additionally states that the Transfer 2 reduces idle vitality consumption by over 40% too, in order that $50 / £50 may very well be chipped away at with a lowered electrical energy invoice.
Get the Transfer 2. Deal with your self.
And, if cash actually is an enormous consideration, check out the Sonos Roam that’s lower than half the value however nonetheless contains a heck of quite a lot of Sonos portability motion.
Take a look at our Sonos Roam v Sonos Transfer (and Transfer 2) information for more information on that.
