Sure, this speaker is portable, but it still takes two hands to safely tote it from place to place. It measures 16.75 x 4.25 x 6-inches, making it more ideal for entertainment centers, or elevated shelves for an optimal audio experience. It's mostly made of a ½-inch thick medium density fibreboard (MDF) that's been laminated and reinforced to eliminate resonance and discoloration.
The front grille makes sure to not restrict sound quality, featuring a diamond matrix and radius ribs that add stiffness without diffraction. On the side of the speaker you'll find many of the same buttons that are featured on its included remote: Power, Volume, and Source. The back provides a 2.5-inch opening, AC input for the detachable 9.8ft. power cord, bass EQ, USB input for firmware updates, auxiliary in, and reset/setup buttons. Underneath is a rubber padding that covers the entire surface, keeping the speaker from sliding around while rocking your favorite tunes.
The bass EQ on the back is a great addition to the V5US, allowing you to control how the speaker sounds depending on its surroundings. There are 3 settings you can toggle here, from left to right: Free from boundaries, near a wall, and in a corner. Each option adjusts how bass is best served for your setup, but isn't mandatory if you like the way it sounds otherwise. The 5-inch aluminum remote is powered by a single CR2025 3V lithium battery (included), and adds a couple extra buttons such as mute and play/pause.
Providing the sweet sounds inside the Wren V5US are two 3-inch throw drivers with 4-layer voice coils to manage long sessions at any level while dissipating heat. There's also a pair of edge-driven, wide dispersion 19mm soft dome tweeters positioned on the front baffle for realistic highs. Intersil's D2 Audio DSP-controlled digital amplifier powers the whole rig with an impressive 50 watts.
For occasional use, you'd be fine simply pairing via Bluetooth with AptX. For managing multiple V5US Wireless Speakers, however, you'll want to download the Wren App from the Play Store to set up speaker groups and play music over popular services such as Spotify, Pandora, Sirius XM, Deezer, and more. You can designate names to each speaker if you wish, making it easy to distinguish each one throughout your home. Using Play-Fi you can connect up to 8 speakers simultaneously — even into stereo pairs for each room.
The Wren V5US comes in two color options: Almond Creme Anigre and Espresso Wenge. I set up both under a group using the Wren App for stereo sound, cranking a mix of rock, jazz, and R&B. No matter how high I pushed these speakers, the quality only got better — never distorting or muddying the mix at any level. I also opted to take advantage of the built-in bass EQ, using the suggested settings for how I had each speaker positioned.
Our take
These wireless speakers are no doubt rich in features, sound quality, and design. They're a great addition for anyone seeking a unique audio experience for one room, or the entire house. Unfortunately, the Wren V5US isn't for those after an affordable audio experience. Their $499 price point puts them well above your standard wireless speaker, but make no mistake — their sound and functionality proves their worth.
