Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless Smart Speaker Midnight Grey

The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin sits at the top of the company's wireless speaker range as its flagship single-unit system. Originally launched in 2007 as an iPod dock, the Zeppelin has been reimagined for the streaming era while retaining its distinctive curved enclosure — a shape chosen to minimise internal standing waves and cabinet resonances that would colour the output of a conventional rectangular box.

Drive Unit Configuration

Five custom drive units are arranged across the Zeppelin's width in a left-centre-right stereo array. Two 25mm double-dome tweeters handle high frequencies, two 90mm FST (Fixed Suspension Transducer) midrange drivers cover the vocal and instrument range, and a single 150mm subwoofer provides bass extension down to 35Hz. FST technology, developed for Bowers & Wilkins' flagship loudspeakers, uses a thin ring of foam to terminate the cone surround, reducing the colouration that a conventional rubber surround introduces at its resonant frequency.

Amplification and Processing

Total amplification output is 240W, distributed across the five drivers with individual amplifier channels for each. Digital Signal Processing with Dynamic EQ adjusts the tonal balance at different volume levels, compensating for the ear's reduced sensitivity to bass at low listening levels.

Streaming and Connectivity

The Zeppelin supports Spotify Connect for direct streaming from the Spotify app, Apple AirPlay 2 for integration with iOS devices (iOS 11.4 and later), and Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX Adaptive, AAC, and SBC codecs. Hi-resolution audio playback up to 24-bit is available through compatible streaming services including Deezer, Qobuz, TIDAL, and Amazon Music HD via the Bowers & Wilkins Music App.

Amazon Alexa is built in for voice control of music playback, smart home devices, and general queries. Multi-room capability through the Bowers & Wilkins Music App allows the Zeppelin to be grouped with other Bowers & Wilkins wireless speakers across the home.

Design

The seamless curved enclosure is wrapped in a knitted polyester fabric that is acoustically transparent across the grille area. The aluminium base provides a stable mounting point and houses the power input and a USB-C port (for service use only). At 650mm wide and 6.5kg, the Zeppelin is sized to serve as a room's primary music system rather than a portable or desktop unit.

What the Press Says

• "Expansive open presentation" with "agile weighty bass" — What Hi-Fi? ★★★★☆