Audio Professional A28 W evaluate: Stylish stereo audio system with AirPlay 2 for Apple units

At a look

Skilled’s Score

Execs

• Glorious sound high quality
• Good construct high quality
• Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 for wi-fi audio

Cons

• Costly
• No 3.5mm or USB-C connectors

Our Verdict

These stereo audio system are costlier than their one-piece rivals, however they product a robust, expansive sound that’s excellent for listening to music or upgrading the sound in your TV. They’re properly linked too, with each Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 for wi-fi audio.

Worth When Reviewed

This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined

Greatest Pricing As we speak

Worth When Reviewed

$720

Greatest Costs As we speak: Audio Professional A28 W

$720

Audio Professional lately up to date its complete vary of audio system with a brand new ‘W Technology’ that places the emphasis on wi-fi connectivity and streaming. We favored its C10 MKII W, which gives Hello-Fi sound high quality in a compact, one-piece design that makes it rival for Apple’s HomePod. However, after all, many individuals nonetheless favor correct stereo audio system, and Audio Professional’s new vary does embrace quite a few stereo audio system of various sizes, beginning with the brand new A28 W at $720/£500.

The A28 W is described as a set of ‘bookshelf’ audio system however they’re pretty giant, with every speaker standing 238mm excessive, 150mm broad and 200mm deep. The 2 audio system nearly match onto my desk, sitting on both aspect of my trusty 27-inch iMac, however they’ll in all probability be extra at residence on a bigger bookshelf or on a stand when linked to a TV.

The speaker cupboards are made from MDF, which feels very sturdy and likewise helps to scale back vibrations that may have an effect on the sound high quality. The A28 W is on the market in black or white, or with a walnut wooden end (though for some motive the walnut end prices a bit of extra within the UK, at £540). 

Audio Professional

Inside every cupboard you’ll discover a 4.5-inch woofer for dealing with the mid-range and decrease frequencies, together with a 1-inch tweeter for the upper frequencies. There are detachable material grilles supplied with every speaker, so you’ll be able to determine whether or not you like a minimalist look with the grille overlaying the speaker drivers, or maybe take away the grille for a extra retro look with the drivers uncovered.

The A28 W requires mains energy, with an influence socket on the left-hand speaker, which then makes use of a single cable to supply energy and audio to the right-hand speaker. Every speaker gives 75W output – 150W whole – so there’s greater than sufficient energy for the A28 W to behave as your primary music system or to beef up the sound in your TV.

As talked about, the ‘W’ refers back to the audio system’ emphasis on wi-fi connectivity, and the A28 W gives Bluetooth for a fast and simple connection to your cellular units, with assist for Apple’s AAC codec (though there’s no aptX for Android customers). Nevertheless, the audio system additionally present dual-band Wi-Fi for connecting to your house community (2.4GHz and 5.0GHz), with assist for AirPlay 2 for Apple units, together with Google Forged.

Regardless of that concentrate on wi-fi audio, the A28 W gives some helpful wired inputs too. The again panel of the left-hand speaker gives stereo RCA inputs and one digital optical enter to be used with different hi-fi gear, and an HDMI-ARC interface for a TV. And, for Hello-Fi buffs who prefer to construct their very own system, there’s additionally yet one more RCA connector that lets you connect with an exterior sub-woofer as properly.

It’s a disgrace, although, that such an costly speaker doesn’t embrace a regular 3.5mm or USB-C connector for wired audio too. There aren’t any audio cables included both, so that you’ll want to supply these for your self if you wish to use a wired connection. Nevertheless, Audio Professional does embrace a handheld distant management for controlling playback and switching between totally different enter choices. We now have extra AirPlay audio system in our spherical up, see Greatest AirPlay audio system for iPhones and Apple Music.

Audio Professional

You too can management the assorted audio settings utilizing the Audio Professional app, which features a 10-band equaliser for fine-tuning the sound, together with a wide range of presets, similar to ‘bass booster’ and ‘gaming’. Help for AirPlay means you can play audio from any apps or streaming providers in your Apple units, however the Audio Professional app additionally consists of direct assist for Amazon Music and Spotify, in addition to providers similar to SoundCloud and BBC Radio within the UK.

However, after all, the primary promoting level for the A28 W is its capacity to create an expansive stereo sound that’s way more immersive and atmospheric than one-piece audio system similar to Apple’s HomePod. It creates an ethereal cloud of sound when streaming Enya’s Orinoco Circulate from Apple Music. Her multi-tracked vocals are silky clean as they float by way of the air, and the A28 W is highly effective sufficient to fill the room round me even on simply 40% of most quantity. The A28 W anchors the hazy sound with the weighty bass drum, however remains to be in a position to pick lighter particulars such because the mild cymbals and synth keyboards.

The A28 W has no hassle dealing with a change of temper as I flip the amount up a bit of and change to the sinister dance groove of Prime Evil by The Orb. It digs deep for the observe’s slinky bass riff, and there’s a nervous jangling power to the ticking percussion that appears like somebody pulling their hair out. The percussion piles up because the music progresses, however the A28 W retains the sound clear and exact because it builds right into a form of musical maelstrom that might fill the dance-floor at a home occasion. 

Ought to You Purchase The A28 W?

Some individuals will favor the extra compact design of one-piece audio system such because the HomePod or Audio Professional’s C10 MKII W. However, if you would like the extra expansive, spacious sound offered by true stereo audio system then the A28 W is difficult to beat. It’s pretty costly, however the sound high quality is great, with greater than sufficient energy to behave as your primary music system, or as a part of a house cinema set-up. And, after all, its assist for AirPlay 2 makes it excellent to be used with Apple units.