With Swedish audio specialist Audio Pro updating its Addon C10 speaker with some added functionality back in 2021, it was only a matter of time until the smaller C5 received similar treatment.
With the Addon C5 MkII, fans of the brand now have the option to connect to music sources much more readily, with support for Google Cast and AirPlay 2 both arriving.
Not one to change a winning formula too much, though, the design and sound mostly remain the same as the standard C5 speaker.
With the asking price remaining pretty lofty, however, it’s fair to question whether the upgrades go far enough with this second iteration of the C5. We’ve been testing the speaker over the last few weeks in order to find out.
Our quick take
The Audio Pro C5 MkII is a solid upgrade to what was already a very good speaker, providing a soundstage that can go as big or as small as you like. Crucially, it’s now easier than ever to connect to, as well.
While the sound quality is full and excellent, though, this is a speaker that’s far from cheap. For the same price, you could pick up a couple of excellent speakers from Amazon’s Echo line, to name just one brand.
However, that’s just one perspective. Value is in the eye of the beholder, after all, and we suspect many will appreciate this speaker’s charming looks and versatility in just about every room setting. Placed against similarly high-end designs, rather than the speakers that appeal to the masses, this stands up extremely well.
For the right audience, then, this is a superb option that nicely complements Audio Pro’s bigger option, the C10 MkII.
Audio Pro’s speakers don’t generally allow for a huge amount of variation in design, but that’s by no means a bad thing. The elegant, spare design language works in a range of setups, from our experience.
The C5 MkII, specifically, looks for all the world like a smaller version of the C10 MkII that we tested earlier this year, with just the small handle on top differentiating the pair.
That’s essentially what it is in use, as well. There’s less heft and less oomph, but this is a size that’s a heck of a lot easier to fit onto a desk or shallower bookshelf – all with the same one-woofer, two-tweeter layout.
If you look a little closer, you’ll notice that the magnetic speaker grille present on the C10 misses out here. This is something we’re a little saddened by – especially with the price tag that Audio Pro has attached to the C5 MkII – since it lets you change the speaker’s look so easily and drastically.
Still, that doesn’t stop the speaker from looking pretty gorgeous – at least to our eyes. It’s got a brutalist edge to it, and the colour options are decidedly classy and muted, ensuring it isn’t too loud of a statement in your room of choice.
The speaker’s also easy to move around, thanks to that handle and its lightweight body. However, it’s still wired, so it’s not quite as adaptable as you might think based on the look alone.
The top of the speaker also features some handy manual controls, including preset options, connectivity keys and the standard play/pause/volume buttons (in a brassy finish for the grey colour option). These clicky buttons and metallic materials have a premium feel to them.
Overall, then, we’re hugely enamoured with the way the C5 MkII looks – it’s a welcome addition to whatever room we try it in, accenting things rather than drawing the eye too heavily.
