Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless Smart Speaker, Wifi Speaker, Hi-Res Sound, Bluetooth, Airplay 2, Spotify Connect, and Alexa Built-In - Midnight Grey

Product Information

The Zeppelin features the kind of high-end driver arrangement you’d expect from an esteemed audiophile brand and the results are marvellous. Voice control: Alexa | Hi-res audio: No | Spotify Connect: Yes | Apple AirPlay: Yes | Wi-Fi: Yes | Bluetooth: 4 And for good reason too. In terms of new features, the Era 100 boasts Bluetooth 5.0, a USB-C port, Ethernet connectivity, two tweeters angled away from each other to create a larger soundstage and a 25% larger woofer that gives it additional bass extension. But it mainly comes down to what devices you use – Android phones can't stream to AirPlay speakers by default (there are third-party options to enable this, but anything unofficial is always risky). And there tend to be more AirPlay 2 speaker options overall, especially from the more premium brands. How we test the best AirPlay speakers Don’t go expecting it to present a sound as separated and three-dimensional as a pair of stereo speakers, and as long as you don't need any physical inputs, it represents money well spent for a modern streaming speaker. Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin review: Also consider

Voice control: No | Hi-res audio: Yes (24bit/96kHz native) | Spotify Connect: Yes | Apple AirPlay: 2 | Bluetooth: 4.1 aptX HD | Wi-Fi: Yes | Dimensions: 254 x 281 x 260mmEach employs slightly different methodology when it comes to getting sound out – or, at least, the numbers involved are all quite different. It’s not a limitation that damages the Zeppelin’s appeal, however. This is, without doubt, one of the finest sounding wireless speakers around and I’m yet to find a genre that it fails to do justice to. I did the majority of my listening during testing via Qobuz, which can be integrated into the B&W Music app and supports high-resolution streaming. First and foremost, this is a high-resolution device. The onboard DAC is of 24bit/192kHz resolution, but is currently restricted to outputting at a maximum of 24bit/96kHz – although this is scheduled to change sooner rather than later, which will make the Zeppelin an even higher-res product than it already is. It comes will a full suite of connectivity options including aptX Bluetooth, Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2, which means it's easy to play to it in high quality, no matter what device you're using – and that's before we get to its wired options. But even if you don't have your phone in hand, this wireless speaker is still controllable using its sleek touchscreen which allows you to access internet radio stations, for example.It's got a premium price, but if you opt for the Qb then you won't be disappointed.

READ NEXT: Rugged and weather-resistance speakers for enjoying audio outside Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin review: Smart functionality and app You've also got AirPlay 2 and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth compatibility, so you'll be able to stream high quality music from your iPhone or your Android device. For Spotify users there's Spotify Connect, while the Bowers & Wilkins Music App gives you access to lots more music streaming services, such as Deezer, Tidal, and Qobuz. It depends on your needs. In terms of pure audio fidelity, Chromecast wins; it supports 24-bit / 96Hz streaming, whereas AirPlay 2 is limited to 16-bit / 44.1Hz streaming. So, if you're looking for hi-res audio support, Chromecast is your best bet. Form Follows FunctionLike all Bowers & Wilkins products, the design of the new Zeppelin is defined by its acoustics. The driver placement creates a beautiful and instantly recognisable design that has been its signature for over 15 years. Five, well-spaced and carefully positioned premium drive units bring your music to life with room-filling stereo sound.It really depends on what kind of speaker you're after. If you want multi-room connectivity and excellent sound, look for home speakers from Sonos. As for artifacts, there was some pumping and compression noted at high volumes. Sub-scores explained It sports a tactile lacquered wooden surface that lights up as you interact with it. We’ve seen for ourselves how these speakers are made, and we can tell you that plenty of care goes into selecting the wood and sanding it down by hand. You can tweak the Zeppelin’s treble and bass EQ levels too, should you want to, although for our testing proper we feel no need to do so and leave these at neutral.