Reasons to buy Bowers & Wilkins launches the successor to its blimpishly unconventional 2007 iPod speaker dock. The titular “Air” component doesn’t relate to the weight (at more than 6kg, it’s unlikely to float away) but to its integration with iTunes AirPlay, which lets you stream music wirelessly from any recent iOS device (iPad, iPhone, iPod) or from iTunes on your home computer or laptop.
But if you think that the Zeppelin is all airy-fairy, design-leaden hoopla, then think again. The sound it produces is right up there next to “awesome”. The four mid-range and tweeter speakers produce a rich, colourful breadth of tone, while the 50W subwoofer delivers a hefty bass, which at higher volumes pounds harder than a chest defibrillator.
The iPod dock itself — which floats rather unnervingly on a chrome-plated strap — uses high-end digital-to-analogue converters, making your digital tracks sound almost as good as the vinyl that mama used to make. A USB port enables the Zeppelin to function as a speaker for your computer, and older digital players or analogue devices can be connected via the aux input.
Reasons not to The aesthetic won’t be to everyone’s taste: a big black misshapen rugby ball with a silver buckle might not sit well next to the Staffordshire pottery on your mantelpiece. It’s a shame that the iPod dock can’t be stowed when not in use, and that beefy bass will bring your neighbours a-knocking quicker than you can say “Hindenburg”.
Price £500 (bowers-wilkins.co.uk)
Advertisement
Verdict Performance that soars beyond its forerunner and, now with wireless streaming functionality, it’s hard not to get carried away by the new Zeppelin. An absolute cracker.