This New Hi-Fi Speaker Can Replace Your TV’s Soundbar
You may not have heard of Audio Pro before. Admittedly, I hadn’t until just a short while ago. The 40-year-old Swedish audio maker is well regarded for making relatively small powered speakers and wireless multi-room speakers, all of which are reasonably affordable by hi-fi standards.
Its most recent speaker, the C20, was announced earlier this year at CES — where it was one of the show’s standout stars — but it has only recently become available. And it’s notable because it’s the most ambitious standalone wireless speaker that Audio Pro has ever made.
The Audio Pro C20 is roughly the size of a Sonos Five, but it’s considerably more versatile. It supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming, but, more interestingly, it also has a multitude of analog inputs for connecting a TV, turntable, CD player or subwoofer.
In a nutshell, you can use this “do-it-all” speaker however you want.
Audio Pro C20
Specs
| Drivers | 1-inch soft dome tweeter (2x), 6.5-inch coated paper mid-woofer |
| Power | 190 watts |
| Frequency Range | 41 – 23,500Hz |
Pros
- It’s an incredibly versatile wireless speaker that can just about “do it all”
- You can hook it up to your turntable or TV
- Sounds excellent and supports lossless audio
- Speaker is intuitive and easy to use
Cons
- It doesn’t come with a remote so you have to switch inputs on the actual speaker
- It’s a nit pick, but most people don’t need such a versatile speaker
- No built-in voice assistant
- $550 isn’t super cheap
A powerhouse of a tabletop speaker
If you strip away the Audio Pro C20’s versatility for a second, it’s, quite simply, a powerhouse of a tabletop speaker.
It has three drivers total — dual 1-inch tweeters and a central 6.5-inch woofer — each powered by its own Class D amplifier. The tweeters are driven by 30-watt amps, while the woofer has a 130-watt amp, for a grand total of 190 watts. In the back, there’s a large slot-shaped reflex port to reinforce the bass.
Source: www.gearpatrol.com
