Turning the Addon range into a multi-room system may have been a no-brainer, but we’re thankful Audio Pro has done it so well. It's a combination of factors. Sonos has been in the game for a long time, so it's built up a reputation. Its ecosystem is one of the most comprehensive out there, with all the main streaming apps and services covered, and an 'everything just works' approach. The Echo (4th generation) is a solid cornerstone from which to build your smart home and easily betters its predecessor for expansiveness, subtlety and bass weight. And on a budget, too. The Addon C3 has a 9cm woofer, it measures 10cm on the Addon C5 and Addon C5A, while the Addon C10 has the largest at 13cm. The power output from the Class D digital amplification rises in similar increments: 15W, 40W and 80W respectively. In terms of features, both the Sonos One and the Audio Pro Addon C5A are fairly evenly matched. They both come with built-in voice controls via Alexa (the Sonos One also supports Google Assistant too), which definitely makes them a lot easier to use. Simply ask the speaker to start playing something, whether that's a song, playlist, or even an internet radio station, and it will- simple!

Audio Pro C5A vs. Sonos One: Which is Better? - liGo Blog Audio Pro C5A vs. Sonos One: Which is Better? - liGo Blog

Yes, I feel natural is a great way to describe the C5A. Bass can hit hard when required but is not overbearing, and it’s actually very clean in the response. This is a more refined tuning than I have seen from makers like Sony and Harmon Kardon, who tend to bloom the low end to compensate for the small size. Audio Pro refrained from that, and to myself, as a hobbyist, I felt it was very accurate and allowed more spacing to be shown in the midrange frequencies. In front of the handle is the control panel. The panel is well laid out and provides users with additional functionality beyond the App that we will discuss in the next section. Centrally located, you find the volume up and down toggle switch to the left power, source, play/pause, and pairing. On the right are buttons numbered 1-4, which can be used for presets. Generic settings for each Audio Pro device. Some settings may differ depending on what devices you have. Wireless music streaming: Yes - Support for Tidal, Spotify, and most other high-resolution streaming services via the Audio Pro Control app.Living with the app is a slightly different proposition, though. In some ways it’s simple –‘drag and drop’ to partner or separate speakers, either in stereo pairs or multi-room zones, and tweak the bass and treble at your leisure. But it can be a little buggy, and is certainly limited compared to most rival systems. What Hi-Fi? said:Sonos might be among the best in the business, but it isn't your only option if you want to go multi-room. Apps like this can range from a tad frustrating to absolutely infuriating, so we’re pleased to be able to report we find no such problems while playing around with the Addon C5. We have an inkling the Addon C5’s sound might be decent, so we set ourselves up for a party with The Rapture’s Echoes.

Audio Pro Control App - Audio Pro - Play Nice Audio Pro Control App - Audio Pro - Play Nice

On top of the sub is the second part of the Drumfire’s set-up, containing two 11cm woofers and a 25mm tweeter. This box has an RCA input for an external analogue source, as well as an ethernet port and 3.5mm input. The sound quality applied to Audio Pro can be felt in every tune played on the Addon C5A. Feel and hear every detail, with a consistently powerful performance and punchy delivery. Included in our initial test were the Award-winning and still class-leading Addon C5 speaker, its larger (and even more sonically talented) sibling the Addon C10– a wireless speaker Award-winner in its own right in 2018 – and the Link 1 (whose job it is to connect existing hi-fi components or wireless speakers into the chain). Removing a service requires that service's ID and passcode - yet the reason I want to remove a service is because it's outdated and I don't have the login info! Updating, sure. But removing???? Treble is present and done well via the two tweeters. They did a nice job of delivering a sparkle but not delving into the sibilant territory.Another Award for Audio Pro is barely news anymore, but the fact this year the Drumfire displaced the Naim Mu-so – a product almost double the price we once heralded as the nearest to hi-fi we’d heard from a wireless speaker – as our most expensive champion in 2018 is proof it is operating on a different level to anything else around it.

Audio Pro Addon C5A Multiroom Speaker With Alexa-Black

Over the years it's also built up a portfolio of products that covers every need, from portable speakers ( Sonos Roam), to soundbars ( Sonos Ray), and everything in between. So whatever kind of system you're building, there's a Sonos speaker (or three) for every room in the home.

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Audio Pro Addon C-Sub Multiroom Subwoofer - Black Audio Pro Addon C-Sub Multiroom Subwoofer - Black

Each comprises the 'koala bear' driver configuration that has become these speakers’ distinguishing feature, with a pair of 2cm soft dome tweeters and mid/bass drivers (and reflex ports, incidentally) growing in line with the cabinet. At What Hi-Fi? we comprehensively test and review every product we recommend, from soundbars to speakers, headphones and TVs. And it's no different for Sonos alternatives.You will need the Audio Pro Control App to have full functionality, linking your speakers, controlling where music is playing, and connecting them to a wireless streaming service. Unsurprisingly, that’s one of the first things that jumps out when we switch the A10 on. We love the directness of its siblings, but the versatility and sheer spread of sound here is to be admired. It doesn’t have quite the unwavering focus, nor the sheer weight in the low end, but we can move around our test room and still be treated to the same high quality sound. It is the use of a BMR, or Balanced Mode Radiator, tweeter that is most canny, however. Among its many benefits, this flatter-faced driver has the ability to offer wider dispersion than a traditional tweeter – up to 180º in fact – and so can make the most of the A10’s cylindrical form, making it far less fussy when it comes to positioning. The first of these new releases to receive the What Hi-Fi? treatment is the Addon C5. In effect, it’s an Addon T5 with internet and multi-room capacity. As the Addon C10 is to the Addon C3, similarly the Drumfire’s better-honed talents run further than the added power and bottom end over its family members – it is again a step up in terms of performance across the board.