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Today’s best deals: Sonos speakers, Google Chromecast, and more

 1 year ago
source link: https://arstechnica.com/staff/2022/06/todays-best-deals-sonos-speakers-google-chromecast-and-more/
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Dealmaster —

Today’s best deals: Sonos speakers, Google Chromecast, and more

Dealmaster also includes noise-canceling earbuds and the best of GOG's Summer Sale.

Ars Staff - 6/8/2022, 6:19 PM

Today’s best deals: Sonos speakers, Google Chromecast, and more
Ars Technica

It's Wednesday, which means the time has come for another dispatch from the Dealmaster. Our latest roundup of the best tech deals from around the web includes a couple of rare discounts on Sonos speakers, with the Sonos Move and Sonos Roam currently down to $319 and $143, respectively. Both discounts mark the lowest price we've tracked for each portable speaker. Normally, the Move retails for $399, while the Roam goes for $179.

We do not see discounts from Sonos very often, especially outside of the holiday season. Typically, the best way to save on the company's devices has been to go through its certified refurbished shop, but these deals effectively match the prices you'd get for a pre-owned model. The offers are available through Sonos' own website and various third-party retailers. Sonos says they'll last through June 12.

We've recommended the Move in past buying guides, and of the two devices on sale, it's still the better option for most. It's bigger and pricier, but its beefier size allows it to pump out a fuller sound than most of its wireless peers—despite the fact that it's technically a mono speaker. Like most Sonos devices, it has a clean and well-balanced sound profile that's rich in detail. Bass response is strong for the category as well, though you won't get too much in the way of deep sub-bass by default. The speaker can connect over both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth—albeit not simultaneously—and has a convenient cutout on its back that makes it easier to carry around and outside of the house. It can charge over USB-C or an included charging dock, and its battery lasts about 10 hours per go. It's IP56-rated, too, so it can withstand splashes of water.

The Move is a big boy, though, weighing in at a hefty 6.6 pounds and measuring nearly 10 inches tall. If you want a Sonos speaker and prioritize actual portability, the Roam might be a better choice. Its far more compact frame means it doesn't sound nearly as impressive as the Move, and since it's another mono-only speaker, there are cheaper Bluetooth speakers that outperform it as well. But it still offers a neutral and pleasant sound on the whole, works over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and at less than 7 inches long and 0.95 lbs, it's far easier to pop in a bag and carry around than the Move. It's also fully waterproof, with an IP67 rating. Battery life is subpar, though, typically only lasting around five or six hours per charge.

The real reason to get the Move or Roam, though, is because it slots neatly into a connected Sonos system you either already have or plan to start. Both speakers have all the conveniences typically offered with Sonos devices: they can all easily pair with one another in a whole-home setup; they support a wide range of streaming services, all of which are (relatively) easy to access through the Sonos app; they support Apple's AirPlay 2 protocol and voice assistants like Alexa and the Google Assistant; they utilize Sonos' "TruePlay" feature to automatically balance and correct their sound for their current environment, and so on. Getting all of this comes at a premium—and the company has previously gotten flak for cutting off new features from its oldest devices—but if you're already on board and want a portable device to slot into an existing Sonos setup, the Move and Roam are your two choices. These deals should make that premium a little more manageable.

If you don't want to hop aboard the Sonos train, though, our roundup also has a $10 discount on the recommended Google Chromecast with Google TV, the best deals we could find from a recently launched Summer Sale at PC gaming storefront GOG, lower-than-usual prices on board games, SSDs, and Sony noise-canceling earphones we like, and much more. You can find our full curated list of deals below.

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Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.

Featured deals of the day

The Sonos Move is a full-sounding wireless speaker that works over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Enlarge / The Sonos Move is a full-sounding wireless speaker that works over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Jeff Dunn

Electronics deals

Sony's WF-1000XM4 offer <a href=exceptional active noise cancelation in a fully wireless design." />
Enlarge / Sony's WF-1000XM4 offer exceptional active noise cancelation in a fully wireless design.

Google's Nest Thermostat is a good smart thermostat for those on a budget, though it doesn't work with remote temperature sensors or learn your home's heating and cooling schedule like Nest's pricier model.
Enlarge / Google's Nest Thermostat is a good smart thermostat for those on a budget, though it doesn't work with remote temperature sensors or learn your home's heating and cooling schedule like Nest's pricier model.

<a href=Our guide names the Apple Watch Series 7 the best smartwatch you can buy." />
Enlarge / Our guide names the Apple Watch Series 7 the best smartwatch you can buy.
Corey Gaskin

Laptop and desktop PC deals

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The Mac Mini. Just note that a model using <a href=Apple's brand-new M2 chip will likely arrive at some point in the future." />
Enlarge / The Mac Mini. Just note that a model using Apple's brand-new M2 chip will likely arrive at some point in the future.
Samuel Axon

TV and home entertainment deals

The Google Chromecast with Google TV is <a href=our top pick among affordable 4K streamers." />
Enlarge / The Google Chromecast with Google TV is our top pick among affordable 4K streamers.
Jeff Dunn

Gaming deals

Microsoft's Xbox Series S (left) and Xbox Series X (right).
Enlarge / Microsoft's Xbox Series S (left) and Xbox Series X (right).

<em>Psychonauts 2</em> topped our list of the <a href=best games of 2021." />
Enlarge / Psychonauts 2 topped our list of the best games of 2021.

Video game deals

GOG's latest Summer Sale has brought genuine discounts on a number of classic games that still (mostly) hold up today, such as the original <em>Metal Gear Solid</em>.
Enlarge / GOG's latest Summer Sale has brought genuine discounts on a number of classic games that still (mostly) hold up today, such as the original Metal Gear Solid.
Konami

The popular farming sim <em>Stardew Valley</em>.
Enlarge / The popular farming sim Stardew Valley.
ConcernedApe

Apple's MagSafe wireless charger attached to an iPhone 12.
Enlarge / Apple's MagSafe wireless charger attached to an iPhone 12.
Samuel Axon

Accessories and miscellaneous deals


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