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

At a look

Skilled’s Ranking

Professionals

• Wonderful 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 very best for listening to music or upgrading the sound in your TV. They’re properly related 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 At present

Worth When Reviewed

$720

Greatest Costs At present: Audio Professional A28 W

$720

Audio Professional just lately up to date its total vary of audio system with a brand new ‘W Era’ that places the emphasis on wi-fi connectivity and streaming. We favored its C10 MKII W, which supplies Hello-Fi sound high quality in a compact, one-piece design that makes it a great rival for Apple’s HomePod. However, in fact, many individuals nonetheless desire correct stereo audio system, and Audio Professional’s new vary does embody numerous 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 massive, with every speaker standing 238mm excessive, 150mm extensive and 200mm deep. The 2 audio system nearly match onto my desk, sitting on both facet 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 related to a TV.

The speaker cupboards are made from MDF, which feels very sturdy and likewise helps to scale back vibrations which may have an effect on the sound high quality. The A28 W is accessible 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 cloth grilles supplied with every speaker, so you may 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 offer energy and audio to the right-hand speaker. Every speaker supplies 75W output – 150W complete – so there’s greater than sufficient energy for the A28 W to behave as your predominant 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 supplies Bluetooth for a fast and simple connection to your cellular units, with help 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 property community (2.4GHz and 5.0GHz), with help for AirPlay 2 for Apple units, together with Google Solid.

Regardless of that target wi-fi audio, the A28 W supplies some helpful wired inputs too. The again panel of the left-hand speaker supplies stereo RCA inputs and one digital optical enter to be used with different hi-fi tools, 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 hook up with an exterior sub-woofer as properly.

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

Audio Professional

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

However, in fact, the principle promoting level for the A28 W is its capability to create an expansive stereo sound that’s much 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 Stream from Apple Music. Her multi-tracked vocals are silky easy as they float by means 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 continues to be ready to select lighter particulars such because the light cymbals and synth keyboards.

The A28 W has no bother dealing with a change of temper as I flip the amount up a bit of and swap to the sinister dance groove of Prime Evil by The Orb. It digs deep for the monitor’s slinky bass riff, and there’s a nervous jangling power to the ticking percussion that seems 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 type of musical maelstrom that might fill the dance-floor at a home occasion. 

Ought to You Purchase The A28 W?

Some individuals will desire 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 superb, with greater than sufficient energy to behave as your predominant music system, or as a part of a house cinema set-up. And, in fact, its help for AirPlay 2 makes it very best to be used with Apple units.