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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 260mm It’s just as well that the Zeppelin sounds as good as it does, as audio customisation options are extremely limited. You can boost and reduce bass and treble by up to 6dB in the B&W Music app, but that’s your lot in terms of EQ tweaking. If you’re the kind of audiophile who prefers not to mess around with cables, and would like all of your favorite streaming services available at the touch of the button, there are a few wireless speakers that sound as good as the Sonus Faber Omnia. 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.
What you’re not getting is Chromecast or DLNA support – although B&W tells us an upgrade to add compatibility for the latter is in the pipeline. B&W has gone for Alexa and AirPlay 2 here, rather than Google Assistant and Chromecast – and if you’ve never used the last two before, you won’t miss them now. But if these features are important to you, it’s important to note that they’re unavailable here. During our testing, we decided it sounds better than ever, too. If your priority is finely balanced and full-range sound that has the kind of natural sound and attention to detail of hi-fi speakers, Bowers and Wilkins has you covered. And while it isn’t a substitute for an actual pair ofstereo speakers, the Zeppelin serves up a wide, well-defined and endlessly engaging sound, no matter the genre of music – though the Sonos Era 300 maybe has is slightly beaten on the stereo effect. It's not exactly cheap, but in this case the price seems absolutely justified.The number of Audio Pro speakers able to form part of a multiroom system seems to be increasingly daily - and yet the company has managed to ensure every new model upholds its hard-won reputation as a manufacturer of some of the best pound-for-pound wireless speakers on the market. No matter if it’s from the Addon ‘C’ range (see below), the smaller ‘A’ range or the mighty Drumfire (again, below), it will offer prodigious sound quality for the money. It will be as well made as anything else at a similar price. It will look and feel good. And it will make setting up a multiroom system about as straightforward as it ever can be.
Design is also important. Happily, most AirPlay speakers are simple and streamlined, meaning they'll fit into most homes discretely. However, it is worth considering whether a small portable speaker, like the Sonos Roam or HomePod mini, is better for you than a big B&W speaker. 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. 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.The Beauty of SoundThe new Zeppelin wireless speaker updates an iconic design for the streaming age, combining high-resolution sound with smart, connected features and services. Compatibility with AirPlay 2, aptX Adaptive, alongside Spotify Connect, all making a welcome return, plus, it now includes integrated Alexa voice control and streaming service support for a wide range of providers, all accessed by the Bowers & Wilkins Music App. With the new Zeppelin, you no longer have to choose between a speaker full of features and a beautiful design with room-filling sound. Now you can have it all. The most interesting aspect of the new Zeppelin is that it's built to last a long time. Its "digital brain" can be upgraded over time, with multi-room support being added in early 2022. That means you'll be able to fill your home with sound by pairing the new Zeppelin with other speakers in the Bowers & Wilkins Formation range - and it also means that the speaker should last you a long time. And you'll be glad of that when you find out how much it costs. The app has several useful controls, including a bass and treble fader, a dimmer for the LED that lights the speaker’s base, and Alexa-specific settings. The app can also function as a multi-room controller if you connect multiple Bower & Wilkins speakers. So ubiquitous is Sonos in the world of wireless speakers, it’s surely only a matter of time before, like Tannoy or Kleenex before it, the brand name becomes a generic. There are two good reasons for this: Sonos was first to democratise this technology, and because it continues to set standards where performance and usability are concerned.
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