Our quick take

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin (2021) - 5.0 / 5

Design and ease of use

  • Dimensions: 210mm (H) x 650mm (W) x 194mm (D) / Weight: 6.5kg Connections: No ports, USB-C for service only Setup through Music by Bowers & Wilkins app Finishes: Midnight Grey, Pearl Grey

Hardware and speaker units

  • Speakers: 2x 25mm dome tweeters, 2x 90mm mid-range drivers, 1x 150mm woofer Frequency response: 35 to 24,000Hz, Total power output: 240W Bluetooth 5.0 (aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC codecs), Wi-Fi Far-field microphones for Alexa voice assistant

App and services

  • Bowers & Wilkins Music app (iOS and Android) Services: Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, TuneIn, Last.fm, Soundcloud Apple Airplay 2, Spotify Connect

  • Services: Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, TuneIn, Last.fm, Soundcloud

Performance

  • Dynamic EQ in app Hi-Res Audio playback

To recap

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 Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and aptX Adaptive. You also get built-in Alexa support. It keeps things simple too, with a dedicated iOS and Android app to control playback, but most of all it presents an audiophile standard soundstage that one-box solutions can rarely match.