About.com Rating



Back when I was young and still considered cute by people other than my mom, I had an uncle who loved to build his own speaker boxes. At the time Apple’s “AirPlay” technology for streaming music didn’t exist, though, my uncle did use the speakers to listen to Air Supply. A lot. Yes, my kingdom for selective amnesia.

Fast forward to today and you now have speaker boxes that not only serve as a happy medium for your tunes but also have wireless capabilities to boot.

One such option is the Wren V5AP, an AirPlay-capable speaker for iOS devices. Positioned as an alternative to streaming speakers such as Sonos, the V5AP has several things going for it. At the top of the list is a cool design featuring nice curves and either a rosewood or bamboo trim that’s more pleasing than Sonos’ offerings. You definitely won’t have to hide this speaker as its nice clean look makes it a viable addition to anybody’s mantle or shelf. Audio quality is also just as good as the Sonos Play 5 from its more established competitor. It provides pretty good bass without drowning out the mids and the highs. The volume levels on this speaker also can be pushed pretty hard and still sound good, provided you have a quality source. It’s not quite as powerful as, say, an iBoom Nuke Junior. But as with Sonos’ speakers, the V5AP’s audio profile should be fine with most consumers who aren’t hardcore audiophiles.

Setup with an iOS device like an iPhone, iPad or iPod is quick and easy. Just toggle the source switch to WiFi, push and hold the Setup button at the back and connect your iOS device.

Once setup is done, you can unplug your Apple gadget and start streaming your music via AirPlay. You also get a remote with the speaker which gives you extra control options for convenience. Mac or PC owners can stream music wirelessly with the speaker as well. In addition to AirPlay streaming, the V5AP can play music from an iOS device via USB and non-Apple players through a line-in connection in the back.

One issue I have with the speaker is that it’s too Apple-centric, particularly when it comes to its wireless functionality. Granted Wren has an Android version and is cooking up a Bluetooth one as well though it would have been nice to have the same universal flexibility seen in Sonos’ speakers without having to resort to various versions. At $399, the price tag may be high for some folks, though it’s certainly within the same range as its competitors for this type of speaker. The device I tested also came with an older Apple 30-pin connector but you can still use your own Lightning cable for newer devices. The USB connector itself is a bit too snug but that’s pretty much nitpicking at this point. Lastly, the V5AP definitely has some sound processing going on which is great for typical consumers but may not fly as well with audiophiles who prefer a speaker with a flat or more neutral sound profile.

Overall, though, Wren’s V5AP a solid speaker for folks looking for an alternative to Sonos’ Play 5 or other other competitors. If you’re interested in an Airplay speaker that offers good design and good audio as well, then this one’s worth adding to your list of speakers to check out.

Final rating: 4 stars out of 5

For more about speakers and other audio-related gadgets, make sure to check out our Headphones & Speakers hub.