At a glance
Expert's Rating
Pros
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming
- Clear, precise sound
- Powerful 100W amplification
Cons
- Wired input is RCA only
- Expensive
- Heavy and not very portable
Our Verdict
We’d like to see more wired input options, but the sound quality of the updated Drumfire D-2 W speaks for itself. The size and power of the speaker allows it to create a bold, detailed sound, and it supports high-res audio for Apple Music and other streaming services. You can even buy it with an optional subwoofer too.
Price When Reviewed
This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined
Best Pricing Today
Best Prices Today: Audio Pro Drumfire D-2 W
- Who is the Drumfire D-2 W for? The Drumfire D-2 W is ideal for Apple users who stream high-resolution or lossless audio over AirPlay and want loud, room-filling sound with clarity and punch, but don’t mind limited connectivity and portability.
The Swedish company Audio Pro makes a range of attractive speakers that combine smart Nordic design with impressive sound quality. We’ve reviewed its new ‘W’ generation, which focuses on wireless audio, with AirPlay 2 and other streaming features that make it particularly well suited to Apple users.
What’s new in the Drumfire D-2 ‘W‘ model?
The ‘W’ model is a wireless-focused update rather than a full redesign, including the following features:
- AirPlay 2 support for Apple devices and multi-room audio
- Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) for improved streaming
- High-resolution audio up to 24-bit/96kHz over Wi-Fi
The company’s product names can be a bit confusing at times, often collapsing into a jumble of alphanumeric codenames that make it rather tricky to find the exact model that you need. For instance, the Drumfire D-2 W that we review here is the latest model, but the previous Drumfire D-2 model is still available, so you need to look out for that ‘W’ suffix to make sure you buy the latest model because they look the same.
And, just to complicate things even further, you can buy the Drumfire D-2 W on its own for $400/£350, and simply sit it on any convenient desk or shelf. However, you can also buy it as part of a larger two-piece system called the Drumfire II W (see what I mean about those names?) which costs $700/£600 and includes a big, fat floor-standing subwoofer to really pump up the bass. That’s a little over the top though, so we tested the D-2 W on its own, as it provides a good alternative to Apple’s HomePod.
In short: the D-2 is the older model, the D-2 W adds AirPlay and improved wireless streaming, and the Drumfire II W adds a separate subwoofer for deeper bass.
Drumfire D-2 W design and dimensions
The Drumfire is larger than rivals such as the Apple HomePod, but has a smart, minimalist design.
Even on its own, the D-2 W is a fairly beefy speaker, measuring a full 365mm wide, 155mm high and 190mm deep, and weighing in at a hefty 4.9kg (more than twice the weight of the HomePod).
It’s smartly designed, though, available in black, white or grey, and finished with a faux leather covering, with a fabric cover on the front panel and aluminium details on the top control panel.
The size of the speaker is due to the fact that it provides a true stereo system, with two 4.5-inch woofers handling the mid-range and bass, and two 1-inch tweeters for the higher frequencies. That combination provides a frequency range of 61Hz – 22KHz, backed up by 100W of amp output, so the D-2 W has got enough power to get the mood going at a party.
How it fits with an Apple setup
As mentioned, the ‘W’ suffix on this new model indicates an emphasis on wireless streaming, and the Drumfire supports both Bluetooth and dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), along with support for AirPlay and multi-room audio. That makes it an excellent option for use with Apple devices, and it supports audio formats up to 24-bit/96KHz when streaming music over Wi-Fi, so it can handle most of the high-res and lossless tracks on Apple Music and other streaming services.
The Drumfire provides Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for wireless audio, but its wired inputs are limited to just a set of RCA connectors.
The lack of wired inputs is a little disappointing, though, even if the Drumfire is clearly designed to focus on wireless connectivity. The only option provided for a wired connection is a single set of RCA stereo connectors, but at this price we’d like to see at least USB-C for digital audio as well.
How does it sound in real use?
When playing the bombastic rock of Queen’s Seven Seas Of Rhye on Apple Music, the Drumfire was loud enough for casual listening at just 25% of maximum volume, and loud enough to annoy my neighbours at barely 50%, so it’s got plenty of power if you want to have a party or BBQ. The Drumfire does require mains power though, so it’s not likely to go outside very often, unless you have a pretty long extension lead.
If you’re happy to stick with wireless streaming, then the Drumfire’s sound quality is undeniably impressive. I recently found a high-res version of Temple Of Love by The Sisters Of Mercy on Apple Music, and the Drumfire handles the song’s contrasts really well. It balances the crystal clear tones of Ofra Haza with the rumbling bass of lead singer Andrew Eldritch, while both voices are underpinned by the firm, precise bass drum that leads us through the opening section. The Sisters Of Mercy are often described as a goth band, but many of their songs have really catchy dance rhythms, and the Drumfire catches the bright, energetic sound of the electronic keyboards, and the chopping rhythm of the guitars.
The Audio Pro app has built-in support for a wide range of streaming music services.
Switching to something a little more soothing, the Drumfire shows a delicate touch on the ambient sound of Max Richter’s Shadow Journal. The size of the speaker and its stereo drivers allow it to create a hazy, ambient sound as the electronic loops shimmer through the air, and it captures the piercing tone of the violins and viola as they cut through and add a sense of melancholy to the piece. And, although the Drumfire D-2 W doesn’t include a subwoofer, it does a good job of digging deep for the electronic bass effects that rumble off into the distance like a storm passing overhead.
It sounds noticeably bigger and more powerful than Apple’s HomePod, with greater volume and room-filling presence.
Should You Buy The Audio Pro Drumfire D-2 W?
The Drumfire D-2 isn’t the cheapest AirPlay speaker currently available, but it provides a powerful, precise sound that few speakers in this price range can match. The lack of USB-C or 3.5mm inputs may deter some people who still like to use wired audio connections from time to time.
However, the Drumfire’s high-res wireless audio features work really well with the high-res tracks available on Apple Music and other streaming services, and leave Apple’s HomePod looking distinctly under-powered.
See our round up of the best AirPlay speakers.
Best Prices Today: Audio Pro Drumfire D-2 W
Author: Cliff Joseph, Contributor, Macworld
Cliff Joseph is a former editor of MacUser magazine and a freelance editor with 30(ish) years experience of Mac and PC technology. He first used a Mac working as a magazine sub-editor and found it so much better than using scissors and a pot of glue to make the words fit on the page that he become a convert to the Mac overnight. He has spent the rest of his career following the ups and downs of Apple (and is old enough to remember the time Apple came close to going bust). Cliff writes many of MacWorld’s games reviews - and is currently exploring options for getting Diablo IV to run on a Mac…