Audio Pro A15 Water Resistant Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Multi-Room Speaker Review – How does it compare vs Sonos Move

I have previously reviewed the attractive Audio Pro C5 MKII and the superb Audio Pro A48 floor-standing speakers.

I have now been sent the Audio Pro A15. This is one of the few portable speakers on the market that uses both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It is also IP-rated, making it suitable for outdoor use. It is an attractive speaker, and it is a superb alternative to the popular Sonos Move.

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Audio Pro A15 Gris 40 W	4 Reviews	£349.99	Buy on Amazon

Specification

• Amplifier: Digital Class D – 10 W + 30 W
• Tweeter: 1″ textile dome
• Woofer : 1 x 4.5″
• Frequency: 45-22000 Hz
• Codecs: Apple Lossless, MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC
• Streaming Compatibility: Spotify & Tidal
• Multiroom: Audio Pro, AirPlay2, Google Cast
• Inputs:
  • Wi-Fi -2.4 & 5 GHz
  • Bluetooth
  • Aux 3.5mm
• Outputs: RCA Sub
• Battery Life: up to 11h
• Dimensions: 206mm (h) x 286mm (w) x 137 mm (d)
• Weight: 3.4kg
• IP rating: IPX2
• Colours: Dark grey, Light grey

Audio Pro A15 vs Sonos Move

As I have covered in my other Audio Pro reviews, they are competing directly against Sonos. The product range is a bit different, but Audio Pro seem to be one of the best alternative options to Sonos.

Audio Pro advertise this as a water-resistant speaker, and it, therefore, goes up against the excellent Sonos Move.

There is one significant difference in the specification that is in favour of Sonos. The Sonos Move has an IP rating of IP56. That means you can, in theory, spray the speaker with strong jets of water.

The Audio Pro A15 is on IPX2. It is protected against dripping water.

I am not the kind of person that is going to sit outside in the rain listening to my music, but if you take the Audio Pro A15 outside, I really wouldn’t recommend forgetting about it, leaving it exposed to the rain. You don’t really need to worry about this with the Sonos.

They are both rated for 11 hours of playback. The Sonos Move has a superior charging solution. It has a charging base which is much more convenient than the power lead of the A15. The Sonos also has a USB-C PC input, allowing you to extend the battery if needed with a PD power bank.

Like most Sonos products, the Move is ugly. It’s a bit black tube shape. And, like most Audio Pro products, the A15 is relatively attractive as far as a speaker can be.

The Sonos ecosystem is a bit better; you have a massive range of streaming services that is incomparable with any other brand. That being said, Audio Pro has everything I need, I mainly use Spotify, and I can use Chromecast for most other things. You also have options for Amazon Music, TuneIn, Deezer and more.

Many Sonos speakers lack Bluetooth, which gives Audio Pro an advantage, but the Sonos Move includes it. However, the A15 has a 3.5mm input port and an RCA sub-output. Sonos sells a subwoofer, but you are restricted to that sub, whereas an RCA out allows you to use any subwoofer (or one of the Audio Pro options).

Sonos doesn’t give much detail on the speaker arrangement. They just state that there are two class D amplifiers with one tweeter and one mid-woofer.

The Audio Pro A15 has a higher RRP than the Move, priced at £450 vs £399. However, most sites sell it well below this. If you shop around, you can get it for £299.

Design

Like all the Audio Pro speakers, this is more attractive than your average speaker.

It is still just a cuboid like most speakers, but they have spruced it up with an attractive grey or white colourway and mesh cover.

On the top of the speaker, you have the usual controls for pause, skip, power, Bluetooth etc. However, you also have preset buttons which allow you to program your favourite playlists, internet radio stations or other audio content.

This isn’t the smallest or lightest of portable speakers, but I think this is a good thing, small speakers are always underpowered for me to enjoy them properly.

There is a convenient carry handle built into the back of the speaker, and it is easy enough to carry around.

In Use / Sound Quality

The speaker has a 10W and 30W amplifier with a 1-inch textile dome tweeter and a 4.5-inch woofer.

The out of box performance is less bassy than the Sonos Move. I’d say the Sonos is a bit too much, but I wanted a bit more from this.

My kitchen acoustics are not the best and seemed to kill the bass quite a bit, but in my office, on a cushioned surface, the speaker was able to shine.

Within the app, there is an EQ which allows you to dial up the treble and bass. This made the speaker more enjoyable for me.

With the bass dialled all the way up, it does become quite bassy, and it avoids adding any significant distortion. With the bass at max on some tracks I find it a bit much, so I think most buyers will find a setting that suits them.

With the bass at 75% I was quite happy. Mids and vocals were still able to come through with plenty of clarity, and the additional bass took out the sharpness of the highs (I am sensitive to highs and generally don’t like natural speakers because of this).

The speaker goes quite loud, more than enough for my office and certainly loud enough to annoy any neighbours should I crack it up outdoors. It seems to handle higher volumes quite well; like most speakers, the sound quality tapers off the closer to the maximum volume you get, but it has more than enough power for my needs.

Battery

This should last about 11 hours with the volume at 50% or 8 hours with it at full. I haven’t drained the battery fully yet. I rarely use a portable speaker for extended periods, and I am a habitual charger of devices.

It annoys me that this uses a normal power lead with no USB-C options. It makes it much less flexible compared to other portable speakers.

Price and Alternative Options

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Audio Pro A15 Gris 40 W	4 Reviews	£349.99	Buy on Amazon

Audio Pro list the A15 at £450, but no other site on the Internet charge this, and they all seem to list the RRP as £350, making it £50 less than the Sonos Move.

At the time of writing, I can find the A15 for £279.20 vs Maze Living. Audio Affair has it for £295.

That’s significantly cheaper than the Sonos Move with an RRP of £350. Amazon has some marketplace listing with it priced at £349.

The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is one of the few alternative options that have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It looks like a good alternative option, priced at £329. It has a 12-hour battery life, USB-C charging (allowing you to extend the battery), and it has an IPX4 rating.

Overall

The Audio Pro A15 is an excellent portable speaker that has a basic IP rating allowing you to take it outdoors without too much concern.

Like all Audio Pro products, it is attractively designed, and I would say this is the main reason why I would buy this over the Sonos Move.

It will make a superb addition to any existing home using Audio Pro gear.

Personally, if I wasn’t committed to either brand and just wanted a good outdoor Wi-Fi speaker, I’d be inclined to get the Sonos Move. The IP rating and charging make it better as a portable speaker.

However, that ignores the price, at the time of writing, I can get the Audio Pro A15 for £100 less than the Move, which would likely swing my preference the other way.

I’d also say the Audio Pro A15 is an ideal option if you just want an excellent indoor speaker but want the flexibility to use it occasionally as a portable speaker.

Originally posted on Mighty Gadget

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.

Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API