Since Swedish audio company Audio Pro added new features to its Addon C10 speaker in 2021, it was only a matter of time before the smaller C5 got the same treatment.
Fans of the brand can now connect to music sources much more easily with the Addon C5 MkII, which now works with both Google Cast and AirPlay 2.
Still, they didn’t want to mess with a good thing too much, so the look and sound are mostly the same as the standard C5 speaker.
But since the price is still pretty high, it’s fair to wonder if the improvements made to this second version of the C5 are enough. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been giving the speaker tests to find out.
Design
- You can get them in black, gray, or white.
- 130 x 250 x 150mm; 2.5kg
The design of most Audio Pro speakers doesn’t have a lot of room for change, but that’s not a bad thing at all. From what we’ve seen, the simple, elegant design language works well in a number of situations.
The C5 MkII, in particular, looks like a smaller version of the C10 MkII, which we tested earlier this year. The only difference between the two is the small handle on top of the C5 MkII.
That’s pretty much what it is used for, too. This size has less weight and power, but it’s a lot easier to fit on a desk or a shallower bookshelf. It still has one woofer and two tweeters, though.
If you look closely, you’ll see that there is no magnetic speaker grille like on the C10. This makes us a little sad, especially considering how much Audio Pro is charging for the C5 MkII and how easily and drastically you can change the way it looks.
But that doesn’t change the fact that the speaker looks pretty good to us, at least. It has a brutalist feel to it, and the color choices are classy and subdued, so it won’t be too loud in the room you choose.
The speaker is also easy to move around because it is light and has a handle. But it’s still wired, so it’s not as flexible as you might think from the way it looks.
On the top of the speaker are some useful manual controls, such as play/pause/volume buttons, preset options, and connectivity keys (in a brassy finish for the grey colour option). These buttons click, and the metal materials feel high-end.
Overall, we’re very happy with how the C5 MkII looks. It’s a nice addition to any room we try it in, and it doesn’t draw too much attention to itself.
Sound Performance
Two 0.75-inch tweeters and one 4-inch woofer. The frequency range of 50 to 20,000 Hz.
The C5 MkII has done a great job with almost everything we’ve thrown at it. It makes a nice, balanced sound that is surprisingly delicate and detailed when it needs to be, and it does a great job of handling bass.
The subwoofer isn’t very big, which means you’ll get more thumping bass from a bigger speaker. However, we think it’s a good size for the size of the speaker since you don’t want things to get lost in the noise. If you put on a Run the Jewels song with a heavy beat, for example, the lyrics and high notes stay clear.
Alt-new J’s album sometimes mixes acoustic sounds with synths and electronica in the same song, but the C5 MkII didn’t get confused by these changes or coexistences. It changed as needed and showed a level of adjustability that we really like. Read more; Eargo 6 hearing aid review: A tiny taste Earbud
If you turn it all the way up, your neighbors might call the police, which is good news for both people who don’t like to talk to other people and people who want a speaker that can power a real party.
The Audio Pro app lets you customize six presets, which is nice because it lets you switch between your favorite radio stations, playlists, or albums so you can listen to what you want to listen to quickly without having to hold your phone.
Connectivity and Features
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, wired connections
- Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect support
- Multiroom support for AirPlay 2, Google Cast, and Audio Pro app
Setting up the C5 MkII is as simple as it gets. The Wi-Fi side of things is handled by Audio Pro’s own app, which connects it to the correct network in a couple of minutes. Then you’re good to go with Spotify Connect or Tidal Connect, whatever you like, which is as easy as it gets.
With AirPlay 2 and Google Cast support, both iOS and Android phones can simply send audio to it, and it can also be added to multi-room setups, which is a nice touch.
In our experience, the Wi-Fi was stable and reliable, but you have Bluetooth as a backup if you need it (or if you have a guest who doesn’t have a Wi-Fi connection, for example). It’s the perfect one-two punch, but the addition of wired choices makes things even better.
To connect, you’ll need a split-end cable, but that’s included in the box, so it won’t be a problem. You can virtually connect to any form of connection you want with this, which is ideal for a desktop or living room speaker.
Overall, the C5 MkII has a wonderful range of options, and the ease with which we were able to connect through each is a testament to Audio Pro – all of these things may appear simple in isolation, but they regularly hold up or glitch on other speakers, so the C5 MkII excels on the features front. Read also; Sony SRS-NB10, SRS-NS7 Wireless Neckband Speakers
Our Quick Take
The Audio Pro C5 MkII is a good upgrade to a speaker that was already very good. The soundstage can be as big or as small as you want. The most important thing is that it’s now easier than ever to connect to.
Even though the sound quality is full and great, this speaker is not a cheap one. For the same price, you could get two great speakers from Amazon’s Echo line, to name just one brand.
But that’s just one point of view. Value is in the eye of the beholder, after all, and we think many people will like how this speaker looks and how it can be used in almost any room. If you compare it to other high-end designs instead of speakers that are popular with most people, it does very well.
So, this is a great option for the right people, and it goes well with Audio Pro’s bigger option, the C10 MkII.
