Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin

design, size, reliability

usability

88% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Precise sound ; Plenty of streaming options ; Striking design ; Nice app

Rather large to accommodate ; No Chromecast ; Stereo ambitions overstated

The same odd shape but with more of a focus on streaming, the Zeppelin’s comeback is a worthy one with a terrific audio performance and slick streaming capabilities.

Rather than shy away from the digital music revolution, B&W has embraced it and created a product that brings hi-fi sound to the iPod generation. Despite the intrinsic limitations of compressed digital music, B&W has managed to produce an iPod speaker...

Revealing, expansive and convincing sound ; Ample streaming options ; Useful, usable control app

Doesn’t have the stereo separation it thinks it has ; A physical input or two wouldn’t go amiss ; Physically quite imposing

The new Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin in the best in an illustrious line of speakers, delivering natural and expressive audio from a single unit. As long as you’re not banking on it delivering the ‘true stereo’ sound it claims it can, it's a marvel.

Balanced, detailed, full-range sound ; Very acceptable control app ; All sorts of wireless streaming options

Not quite the stereo separation we were led to expect ; Would suit an HDMI input nicely

Expansive open presentation ; Agile weighty bass ; Capable at high volumes

Limited hi-res support ; No Chromecast or UPnP at the moment

B&W’s new Zeppelin is talented sonically, but notable holes in the feature set and overall usability issues leave it just a shade below excellent

Looks great ; Can fill a big room with surprisingly loud, extremely well-separated sound ; A very well put together iPod package indeed

Lacking in dynamic range (at any volume) ; iPod controls are too simplistic for an expensive dock-fi

Yes, this is style over substance, but the same could be said for the iPod itself. The sheer volume and room-filling scale of the sound is impressive. However, the sound lacks the subtlety of dynamic shading that good hi-fi can produce

Enduring allure of the looks ; hefty, detailed and invigorating sound

Loses a little composure at higher volumes ; lacks features ; excellent new rivals

Still shorthand for aspiration, but (finally) the Zeppelin can be bettered

Stunning stereo playback ; Deep and throaty bass response ; Beautiful aesthetics ; Simple to use ; Hi-Res Audio supported ; AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect too

Still waiting for Alexa to be enabled at time of review ; Setup a little trickier than the quick-start guide suggests ; We'd like at least one wired source input

The iconic speaker returns after a six-year absence - and it makes a very good case as to why it deserves to retake its throne. There are no wired connections, but you get wireless support of all kinds, including streaming service compatibility over...

Superb sound quality ; Iconic design ; Impressive companion app

No Chromecast ; Tricky to accommodate ; No physical inputs

The B&W Zeppelin is an excellent modernisation of an iconic piece of British audio engineering. It can’t match the stereo imaging of a premium pair of speakers but sounds superb nonetheless, looks striking and is well-equipped to meet most people’s...

Deft, hefty and enjoyable sound ; Good control app ; Quite a statement as an object

Seems to be crying out for an HDMI input ; Doesn’t have the stereo separation it thinks it has

Big speaker, big sound. Deeply impressive and enjoyable sound, yes, but also big.