Audio Pro A28 W review: Classy stereo speakers with AirPlay 2 for Apple devices

Macworld

At a glanceExpert's Rating

Pros

Excellent sound quality

Good build quality

Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 for wireless audio

Cons

Expensive

No 3.5mm or USB-C connectors

Our Verdict
These stereo speakers are more expensive than their one-piece rivals, but they product a powerful, expansive sound that is ideal for listening to music or upgrading the sound on your TV. They’re well connected too, with both Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 for wireless audio.

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Audio Pro recently updated its entire range of speakers with a new ‘W Generation’ that puts the emphasis on wireless connectivity and streaming. We liked its C10 MKII W, which provides Hi-Fi sound quality in a compact, one-piece design that makes it a good rival for Apple’s HomePod. But, of course, many people still prefer proper stereo speakers, and Audio Pro’s new range does include a number of stereo speakers of different sizes, starting with the new A28 W at $720/£500.

The A28 W is described as a set of ‘bookshelf’ speakers but they’re fairly large, with each speaker standing 238mm high, 150mm wide and 200mm deep. The two speakers just about fit onto my desk, sitting on either side of my trusty 27-inch iMac, but they’ll probably be more at home on a larger bookshelf or on a stand when connected to a TV.

The speaker cabinets are made of MDF, which feels very sturdy and also helps to reduce vibrations that might affect the sound quality. The A28 W is available in black or white, or with a walnut wood finish (although for some reason the walnut finish costs a little more in the UK, at £540). 




You can remove the front grilles for a retro look, or leave them on for a cleaner, more minimalist style.Audio Pro

Inside each cabinet you’ll find a 4.5-inch woofer for handling the mid-range and lower frequencies, along with a 1-inch tweeter for the higher frequencies. There are removable fabric grilles provided with each speaker, so you can decide whether you prefer a minimalist look with the grille covering the speaker drivers, or perhaps remove the grille for a more retro look with the drivers exposed.

The A28 W requires mains power, with a power socket on the left-hand speaker, which then uses a single cable to provide power and audio to the right-hand speaker. Each speaker provides 75W output – 150W total – so there’s more than enough power for the A28 W to act as your main music system or to beef up the sound on your TV.

As mentioned, the ‘W’ refers to the speakers’ emphasis on wireless connectivity, and the A28 W provides Bluetooth for a quick and easy connection to your mobile devices, with support for Apple’s AAC codec (although there’s no aptX for Android users). However, the speakers also provide dual-band Wi-Fi for connecting to your home network (2.4GHz and 5.0GHz), with support for AirPlay 2 for Apple devices, along with Google Cast.

Despite that focus on wireless audio, the A28 W provides some useful wired inputs too. The back panel of the left-hand speaker provides stereo RCA inputs and one digital optical input for use with other hi-fi equipment, and an HDMI-ARC interface for a TV. And, for Hi-Fi buffs who like to build their own system, there’s also one more RCA connector that allows you to connect to an external sub-woofer as well.

It’s a shame, though, that such an expensive speaker doesn’t include a standard 3.5mm or USB-C connector for wired audio too. There are no audio cables included either, so you’ll need to provide those for yourself if you want to use a wired connection. However, Audio Pro does include a handheld remote control for controlling playback and switching between different input options. We have more AirPlay speakers in our round up, see Best AirPlay speakers for iPhones and Apple Music.




As well as Bluetooth and wi-fi, the speakrs include a number of wired connections for use with a TV or hi-fi equipment.
Audio Pro

You can also control the various audio settings using the Audio Pro app, which includes a 10-band equaliser for fine-tuning the sound, along with a variety of presets, such as ‘bass booster’ and ‘gaming’. Support for AirPlay means that you can play audio from any apps or streaming services on your Apple devices, but the Audio Pro app also includes direct support for Amazon Music and Spotify, as well as services such as SoundCloud and BBC Radio in the UK.

But, of course, the main selling point for the A28 W is its ability to create an expansive stereo sound that is far more immersive and atmospheric than one-piece speakers such as Apple’s HomePod. It creates an airy cloud of sound when streaming Enya’s Orinoco Flow from Apple Music. Her multi-tracked vocals are silky smooth as they float through the air, and the A28 W is powerful enough to fill the room around me even on just 40% of maximum volume. The A28 W anchors the hazy sound with the weighty bass drum, but is still able to pick out lighter details such as the gentle cymbals and synth keyboards.

The A28 W has no trouble handling a change of mood as I turn the volume up a little and switch to the sinister dance groove of Prime Evil by The Orb. It digs deep for the track’s slinky bass riff, and there’s a nervous jangling energy to the ticking percussion that sounds like someone pulling their hair out. The percussion piles up as the song progresses, but the A28 W keeps the sound clear and precise as it builds into a kind of musical maelstrom that could fill the dance-floor at a house party. 

Should You Buy The A28 W?

Some people will prefer the more compact design of one-piece speakers such as the HomePod or Audio Pro’s C10 MKII W. But, if you want the more expansive, spacious sound provided by true stereo speakers then the A28 W is hard to beat. It’s fairly expensive, but the sound quality is excellent, with more than enough power to act as your main music system, or as part of a home cinema set-up. And, of course, its support for AirPlay 2 makes it ideal for use with Apple devices.