Audio Pro Drumfire II wireless speaker review

The Audio Pro Drumfire II is the second iteration of the brand's popular room-filling multiroom speaker. The Scandinavian company has gained a steady following in recent years; mostly for releasing some of the best speakers, thanks to its innovations in multiroom technology. Edging towards the audiophile market in the design department, the Drumfire II is clearly a reassuringly solid piece of kit. And I couldn't wait to unpack this suitcase-sized pillar of sound.

The main speaker and large subwoofer underneath weigh in at 41 lbs - this thing is heavy. And that’s good. You’ll want this sizable chunk of sophisticated home decor to stay put - especially when it comes to bass response, which I pushed to see if I could rattle the nails out of the floorboards. More on that later.

I decided to test the Drumfire II using various inputs: a USB stick for high-bitrate MP3s and lossless formats; Bluetooth from my phone, tablet and television; plus of course the default WiFi connection. In wireless testing, I piped in tunes from Spotify Premium, Apple Music and internet radio stations. I even connected a CD player and a vintage Dual 501 record deck to the auxiliary input.

* This review has been revised from the first version, posted on 01 June 2023, after receiving a replacement model for testing due to possible damage in transit. It was retested for two weeks in late July / early August 2023.

On balance, upon retesting the Audio Pro Drumfire II, this is an audio product that pushes two capable units together with enough midrange to knit the two together. There's no doubt that the subwoofer is a true bass beast, it's a brilliant piece of kit that could handle anything I threw into it. The top section is the brains of the setup. On its own, it's a perfectly capable self-contained speaker. Tested without the subwoofer turned on, I found that the upper speaker unit is well-rounded enough to stand on its own, but adding the sub really brings extra depth - and with a surprising definition in the midrange that I didn't expect after my initial impressions.

Verdict: Top quality build, super solid bass, crisp high-end, good midrange - but its looks may not be for everyone.

What's good?

The sub really kicks out a weighty, satisfying depth of bass - almost like being stood next to AC/DC’s drummer or Barry White's vocal cords. It resonates through the floor and hits you in the chest if you turn the sub up to even halfway on the dial. Bass guitars of rock (or their electronic equivalent courtesy of The Prodigy) are also deep and resonant through this unit. Somehow it never sounds like it’s in danger of breaking any cones.

The build is also nothing less than stunning. There's a rugged amplifier-inspired feel to it - but also a sophistication that will make the Drumfire II sit extremely well with any decor. The brushed steel top control panel is high-end, and the controls on the rear look and feel like those on professional audio gear.

For a wifi and Bluetooth speaker the Drumfire II is extremely easy to set up. The connection was fast and reliable too -another big difference I found during this retest.

What's okay?

The subwoofer (which is really the star performer here) has crossover control too - although I found this needed tweaking to suit my taste a little too often from band to band, or even track to track. Not that this isn’t an issue with most subs - but not everyone will want to fine-tune like this. While the app lets you remotely adjust bass and treble, you can’t remotely set the subwoofer volume or crossover. But I get why - these are much better pieces of equipment when they have proper mechanical rotary controls attached to analogue potentiometers and such.

The top section of the setup sounds fine on its own. The controls on top are easy to use and responsive, with six useful custom preset buttons. However, I found the font used to label the input selection indicator LEDs to be extremely thin and small at about 2mm high. Fair enough, my eyes are not 18 years old any more, but set against polished steel it was very hard to see at a glance as you cycle through them. I ended up using the manual to remind me what order they were in.

Any negatives?

This is very minor for such a well-connected speaker, but there's no remote control. To avoid being glued to my smartphone, I would have liked a small dedicated remote for the basic functions. Also, using the app while seated, I had to get up to see if commands to change input were working. An indicator LED behind the front fabric would be a great feature for a potential Drumfire III, without affecting the look and feel.

Final verdict

Audio Pro have a great track record, after all just look at the Audio Pro A48 floor-standing speakers we reviewed. Those addicted to serious bass will love the Drumfire II. I can only imagine that the next version might add to the stack in some way. If there was an optional manual EQ or artwork display unit too I'd be first in line. Yes, I know that might fly in the face of the design aesthetic of the Drumfire II, but designed well enough and I think it could turn the current version into something to walk up to and interact with, rather than being too app-reliant. The design itself is a little Marmite - you'll either appreciate its amplifier-like stance with minimal controls, or you won't.

All in all, sending your music to the Drumfire II will be a totally satisfying experience if you appreciate deep yet refined bass power.

More items to consider:

How the Audio Pro Drumfire II wireless speaker was tested

The Audio Pro Drumfire II wireless speaker was received in April and tested for 12 days in May 2023. It was connected via wifi, and Bluetooth, to a tablet and a mobile phone. Sources included Spotify Premium, Youtube and internet radio. Analogue connections were made to a Dual record deck with preamp, and a CD player. Analogue music tested included Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Holst's Planet Suite, Prince, and James Brown. The August re-test included revisiting some of the previous tracks, plus Russ Green, Van Halen, and Lita Ford.

Chris Duffill is a Tech Product Writer for What's The Best. He specialises in audiovisual, computing, and gadgets. He also writes for Yours.

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