Bowers & Wilkins A5 review

The A5 also comes with a small remote control that includes volume and media controls. If you’re playing music from iTunes on a desktop or from an app on iOS (including Spotify), it’s possibly to pause and skip tracks using the remote control through the A5. The remote also lets you swap sources between AirPlay streaming and auxiliary.

The A5 uses two 1in aluminium tweeters that uses Bowers & Wilkins own Nautilus design. This uses a tube-loaded design to reduce sound reflecting within the speaker cabinet, ensuring better sound coming out of the front. These are supported by two 4in drivers for the mid and low range. The back of the A5’s cabinet has Bowers and Wilkins’ Flowport, a golf ball-like dimpled surface improving airflow and resulting in tighter bass response.

We were particularly impressed by the bass of the A5. It was warm and had a luxurious quality. We actually preferred certain elements of the sound from the A5 over the larger and more powerful A7. Mids and trebles were incredible detailed and it was easy to pick out individual instruments in Stevie Wonder’s Another Star. Instrument layers were nicely separated and some of the more subtle vocals came through and weren’t muddied or lost. Its soundstage was surprisingly wide and the A5 filled the room with ease.

The A5 sounds wonderful and looks great, but AirPlay means that it’s a bit limited as a proper multiroom audio system. As a standalone player for Apple devices, it’s a great choice, but AirPlay is a little limited if you want multiroom audio, so go with Sonos instead, such as the Sonos Play:1.