Audio Pro A10 MkII Speaker Review with Google Cast and AirPlay2

I have reviewed a few excellent speakers from Audio Pro now. As I have said in those reviews, I am impressed with the range of speakers Audio Pro has. Along with Sonos, Audio Pro are about the only brand out there that has a range of multi-room speakers that are suitable for all the rooms in your home.

The original A10 is one of the most affordable speakers Audio Pro, and the new A10 MkII improves the multi-room and smart home credentials with the addition of Google Cast and AirPlay2.

Specification

• Tweeter: 1 x 1.25″ BMR driver
• Woofer: 1 x 3″ long throw
• Frequency range: 55-20000 Hz
• Connectivity:
  • WiFi 2.5GHz/5GHz
  • AUX 3.5mm
  • Bluetooth 5.0
• Multiroom:
  • Audio Pro           
  • AirPlay2              
  • Google Cast       
• Dimensions: 193mm high x 140mm diameter
• Weight: 1.5kg

Audio Pro A10 MkII vs A10

The Audio Pro A10 MkII has the same upgrades we saw with the C5 MkII with the addition of AirPlay 2 and Google Cast.

This is quite a bit upgrade as it simplifies playing music from any phone and bypass the need to use Bluetooth (though you can do that too).

Design

The A10 skips the retro design that was used for the C5 speakers and instead uses a more understated design using the great fabric that we saw on the A15.  

It is a smart-looking speaker that is more inconspicuous than striking.

On the top of the speaker, you have the physical buttons that can be used to control the volume, switch source, play/pause and four presets.

The four preset buttons can be handy as these will allow you to assign a playlist to the preset, giving you quick access to your favourite playlists.

On the rear side of the speaker is a mounting point allowing you to mount this to a wall or ceiling easily. This is perhaps what differentiates this the most from the superior C5 speakers. It is designed for a discrete installation and will work well when paired up with a second A10 for stereo audio.

Hidden next to the power input on the base is a 3.5mm audio jack allowing you to wire this up to other sources.

Set Up & App

The app and overall set-up process are the same as the other Audio Pro speakers. To set up the speaker, you will need to connect to the speakers open WiFi, disconnect your mobile data, and pass over your credentials.

Within the app, you can pair up your speakers for multiroom audio or improved sound quality if you have a couple of these in the same room. Within the settings, you can tweak the bass and treble.

For streaming, you have a wide range of platforms, including Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal and TuneIn Radio. Spotify uses its own connect function, so you need to go into the Spotify app, play your music and select the source. Most of the other apps allow you to log in via the Audio Pro app itself.

TuneIn will allow you to access radio stations directly from the App without the need for an account.

Then with the A10 MkII, you can add the speaker to Google Home. For this, you need to go into the Google app and search for a new device. With this added, you can then use Google Cast on any compatible device.

In Use / Sound Quality

The overall sound profile is not dissimilar to the C5 MKII, it lacks the power to produce a great deal of bass, but Audio Pro seems to excel at producing a clean, neutral sound with a great deal of detail.

I enjoyed the vocals and midrange of this speaker, and the treble was detailed without becoming overly bright.

It can get quite loud, and the audio doesn’t seem to distort at higher volumes (whereas I have noticed my Sonos One Gen 1 does).

Much like the Sonos One, this is designed to have mono output, so the soundstage is lacking. If you have a couple of these on your network, the app should suggest pairing them up to create stereo audio.

Price and Alternative Options

The Audio Pro A10 MkII is available to buy from audiopro.com for £220.

The older Audio Pro is available on Amazon for just £140.

The Audio Pro C5A is £170

• 2 x 8 W + 25 W  Digital Class D Amps
• 2 x 0.75″ textile dome   
• 1 x 4″

The Audio Pro C5 MkII is £260, and this is basically the same speaker as the C5A without Alexa, but with Airplay2 and Google Cast.

With the A10 MkII and C5 MkII having a £80-90 price difference from the previous generation, it makes me wonder if a lot of that cost is associated with licensing for Airplay/Google Cast.

Audio Pro also has the G10, which is their full-fledged smart speaker that integrates Google Assistant and AirPlay 2. This is essentially the same speaker as the A10 MkII but it includes the benefits of voice control from Google Assistant. However, it lacks Audio Pro multiroom. This has the same £220 RRP as the A10 MkII.

The Sonos One Gen 2 has an RRP of £200 but is generally available for £180, or the SL model is £160.

The Sonos Era 100 is available for £249 and includes a mid-woofer with two angled tweeters for stereo separation vs the Sonos One.

Not quite the same, but the Amazon Echo Studio would make a good alternative. It has an RRP of £220 but was available for £165 during Prime Day

Overall

The Audio Pro A10 MkII is an excellent small streaming speaker. As always, Audio Pro are one of the best alternative options to Sonos, and this is a great alternative to the Sonos One.

My main issue would be which small Audio Pro speaker to recommend.  

The Audio Pro C5A is clearly much better value for money if you are just focusing on the sound, but it lacks the AirPlay 2 and Google Cast. The £90 jump in price for the C5 MKII seems disproportionate for adding those two features. However, I’d say that the £40 price difference between the C5 MKII and A10 MkII seems worth it.

I much prefer the look of the C5 speakers, but I think the A10 is a better design if you want stereo speakers, especially if you want to mount them to a wall.  

I think the main issue is that the Audio Pro A10 MkII is a bit overpriced. It would make more sense if it were priced at around £180 so it stands out a bit better from the other Audio Pro speakers and is priced the same as the Sonos One Gen 2.

Overall, though, it is still a fantastic little speaker, and it is easy to recommend for anyone that has already invested in the Audio Pro ecosystem.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.