Audio Pro Addon C3 Portable Multiroom Speaker - Grey

Product Information

C10 is something you don’t move sound often. The large speaker is superior to the others in terms of sound quality and loudness. It is for audiophiles and enthusiasts. It will go well in a large room where it will fit perfectly. In the middle is the C5 with its all-around performance. It has a small enough footprint but also performs well and gives a good bass response. It is perfect for people who want a good speaker but don’t want to break the bank. 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. Wireless music in all your rooms with real HIFI sound quality. That’s what this multiroom addon lineup brings to you. Play whatever you want from your whole house. The Audio pro multiroom speakers deliver a full HIFI experience to enhance all your music. With great audio quality the Audio Pro Addon C3 vs C5 vs C10, and drumfire speakers deliver your music in style.

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. In this review, it’s even less of a surprise, given that the Audio Pro Addon C5A is almost identical to the Addon C5, which was our wireless speaker Product of the Year in 2017. The feeling that chaos was about to erupt was palpable": Thurston Moore's memoir Sonic Life is a fascinating insider account of life-changing outsider art, and one music geek's insatiable lust for the loudIt’s ostentatious and even maddening at times, but there’s no faulting the ambition”: XTC’s The Big Express Audio is really strong, too: bigger, punchier and louder than you’d expect from such a small box. Play Juiceby Lizzo and the Micro 2 does justice to the song’s upbeat tempo with the singer's vocals vibrantly portrayed. Midrange in particular is dealt with in a much more appealing manner than anything else we’ve seen at this price. The bugs are neither constant nor devastating, but the odd stutter and hang – particularly when pairing or splitting speakers – gets annoying in a short time. Bluetooth is like a short-range, low-powered, low-bandwidth version of wi-fi used to connect compatible devices together rather than to the internet. Bluetooth uses radio waves like wi-fi does but at a different scale. The increased power and driver and cabinet size predictably ushers a grander performance each step you take up the chain, with the Addon C10 particularly able to rattle trinkets from the mantelpiece or twist our insides with its low-end authority.

This includes a clever process where the speaker uses in-built sensors to optimise its sound settings for its position in the room. Testing the feature by moving it closer to a wall in our listening room, our reviewers could hear the HomePod 2 adjusting its sound in real-time. Very impressive. 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. B&O’s eye-catching compact speaker justifies its price with a refined performance and typically classy build. Sound, of course, should play a huge part in your decision, because there's absolutely no guarantee that two models of a similar price will end up sounding the same in terms of quality, audio presentation and general timbre. Some Bluetooth speakers will be peppy and exciting, while others will prioritise pulsating bass to get the party started. It works a treat, too, delivering a pleasingly comfortable yet authoritative performance that you'd be happy listening to all day. Throw in its classy, well-made design, easy-to-use operation and the bonus of Alexa, and you're looking at a Bluetooth speaker sequel that has very much been worth the wait.

This big-sounding, versatile speaker is too good to miss

Most importantly for this particular speaker, though, is the question of how well Audio Pro has integrated its voice control abilities, and whether there is enough reason to pay the extra over a regular Addon C5.

It has the same minimalist looks that the Scandinavian company is known for, complete with textured surfaces and an embossed leather carry handle, but the wireless tech adds a whole new dimension to your listening. It's all a moot point when we lose power, which is frequent, though if we run the generator, I can have all of my connected devices (and yes, the Lutrons and cheap wall outlet plugs still work manually if that outlet/circuit is connected to our generator (which they aren't). At What Hi-Fi? we review hundreds of products every year at our state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath. We have complete control over the testing process, and we also review products as a team as opposed to individually, ensuring no opinion goes unheard. Our team is filled with experts in the audio world with over 100 combined years of reviewing experience.If that doesn’t bother you, going for Audio Pro speakers that less price than Sonos speakers is a good deal to start with. However, when it comes to multiroom-audio speakers, Sonos is still on the top and enjoying its monopoly along with the quality it provides. What this all translates into is vastly improved sound, and while the Sonos One was mono only, the Era 100 distinguishes itself by providing a superb stereo experience. The bass is deeper and fuller, there's more clarity and detail throughout and even at higher volume, timing is excellent and the tonal balance is wonderfully even. It's predominantly a stationary, use-at-home type of product, but the Era 100's Bluetooth connectivity gives it more flexibility in use and makes it eligible for a spot on this list. For the ultimate in speaker control, each drive unit is driven by a dedicated digital amplifier. With 15 watts for the bass unit and 5 watts to each tweeter, a total power output of 25 watts is on hand to give generous, room-filling sound.