Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition Review
As early as 2007, the British audio specialist Bowers & Wilkins launched the first WLAN speaker named Zeppelin, which quickly achieved iconic status due to its design inspired by the legendary airship. Now, with the Zeppelin Pro Edition, a brand-new version of the 240-watt design speaker has been presented, offering several changes. What these are and how the stereo speaker, which supports music streaming via Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Deezer, Tidal, and Qobuz, as well as Bluetooth and AirPlay 2, fared in our practical test, you will find out on the review.
PROS: Sound quality, design, music streaming support, Spotify Connect, multiroom
CONS: No audio connectors, no remote control, no 5 GHz WLAN support, no voice control
The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition is available in the color variants Solar Gold and Space Grey. The zeppelin-shaped body stands on a curved aluminum stand that raises the speaker a few centimeters, making it appear to float in the air like its namesake. The stand also houses LED ambient lighting, which shines in white by default and can be adjusted in terms of brightness and light color to individual taste via the app. Besides the exceptional design, the craftsmanship, featuring fine acoustic fabric in addition to aluminum, is also thoroughly convincing.
Control Buttons: The five control buttons are located at the top on the back side. These include buttons for volume, Bluetooth, play/pause, and a multifunction button used to group multiple speakers or to switch between connected sources.
Unfortunately, the Zeppelin Pro Edition does not come with a remote control, so control is either via the five buttons on the top of the housing or via a smartphone with the “Bowers & Wilkins Music” app installed. The app is available for free for mobile devices running Android or iOS (Apple) and is mandatory for setting up the streaming speaker, as well as registering with a user account at Bowers & Wilkins. After it is installed and opened on a smartphone connected to the home network, the Zeppelin Pro Edition should be connected to the power supply. After a boot process lasting about 20 seconds, a readiness tone sounds, signaling to the user that they can now search for devices in the app.
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The Zeppelin is quickly found and then assigned a name, but the next step, which involves integrating the speaker into the WLAN network, can potentially lead to frustration. The Zeppelin Pro Edition only supports the 2.4 GHz frequency band; if the smartphone is connected to the network via the 5 GHz frequency band, integrating the speaker does not work. Since most users are likely to prioritize a 5 GHz connection if available, this problem could occur correspondingly often. Therefore, users should ensure before starting the initial setup that their smartphone uses the 2.4 GHz frequency band; if this is not selectable, restarting the WLAN router may help.
Bowers & Wilkins Music – Tablet PC and Smartphone
Version 2.8.1: Android 8.0+ or iOS 14.0+
The free “Bowers & Wilkins Music” app for Android and Apple devices is mandatory for setting up the WLAN speaker. Afterwards, it allows convenient control and offers numerous customization options like an equalizer. Additionally, music streaming services like Deezer or Amazon Music are integrated.
Speaker: The iconic shape not only provides an unmistakable design but also allows for the separate arrangement of the speakers, resulting in a broad stereo panorama.
Apart from that, the initial setup is self-explanatory, and the user can then use the “Bowers & Wilkins Music” app for control. Here, a change compared to the previous model immediately catches the eye, as Bowers & Wilkins has this time dispensed with support for the voice assistant Alexa.
Connections and Wireless Connections
“Brilliant: Iconic shape provides a broad stereo panorama”
Unfortunately, physical connection options have been completely omitted, so on the back, aside from the power connection, there is only a USB-C port intended exclusively for service purposes and a reset button. On the other hand, the Zeppelin offers numerous streaming functions that can be used via WLAN. As an alternative, Bluetooth is available, featuring version 5.0 with aptX Adaptive, AAC, and SBC on board, which worked flawlessly in our practical test up to a distance of about ten meters. Additionally, Apple’s streaming protocol AirPlay 2 is supported over the home network.
Connections: Unfortunately, the connection options on the back are extremely limited. Besides the power input, only a USB-C socket for service purposes and a reset button are provided.
LED Lighting: The stand houses an LED ambient lighting that shines in white by default and can be changed to another color or deactivated via the app, as in our example.
The “Bowers & Wilkins Music” app offers numerous ways to wirelessly play your favorite music from the Zeppelin Pro Edition. In addition to accessing music streaming services like Deezer, Amazon Music, Qobuz, and Tidal, various internet radio providers and podcasts are also available. The global market leader among music streaming services, Spotify, is not integrated into the “Bowers & Wilkins Music” app but can be connected directly to the Zeppelin Pro Edition via the Spotify app (Spotify Connect). Last but not least, via WLAN, there is the possibility to combine the Bowers & Wilkins speaker with other speakers into a multiroom system.
Sound Quality
Thermal Image: After two hours of continuous music playback, the highest heating was observed at the back of the Zeppelin. However, the maximum value measured here is moderate at 34.2 degrees Celsius.
Inside the Zeppelin, there are two 25-millimeter tweeters, two 90-millimeter mid-range drivers, and a 150-millimeter subwoofer, providing an impressive output power of 240 watts. Unlike the previous model, Bowers & Wilkins uses titanium domes instead of aluminum ones in the Pro Edition. The material used is slightly heavier than before but also harder, ensuring that the membrane deforms only at significantly higher frequencies. In our practical test, we could confirm this, as we did not notice any distortions even at high volumes. At these levels, the 3-way system also demonstrated enormous power, which is easily sufficient to acoustically fill large rooms or to provide sound for lively parties.
The unique design of the Zeppelin not only ensures high recognition value but also has a positive effect on sound quality. The distantly positioned tweeters at the extreme ends of the WLAN speaker, combined with the extended shape, result in a broad stereo soundstage that is impressive for a single speaker. Sounds that “travel” from left to right, as in U96’s electro classic “Das Boot,” were perfectly reproduced by the Zeppelin. In the factory setting, the bass was somewhat restrained for our taste, but fortunately, the speaker offers an equalizer in the app, allowing the highs and lows to be adjusted manually in 13 steps. After increasing the bass setting by +4 dB, basses were projected into the room with considerable punch, while playback remained consistently clean.
Specs
Technical Data
- Manufacturer: Bowers & Wilkins
- Model: Zeppelin Pro Edition
- Dimensions (W × H × D in mm): 650 × 210 × 194
- Weight (kg): 6.6
- Colors: Solar Gold, Space Grey
Connections
- Audio: ❌ (No audio input)
- Data: USB-C (for service only)
Hardware Features
- Type: 3-Way System
- Number and Size of Built-in Speakers per Unit:
- 2 × 25 mm tweeters
- 2 × 90 mm midrange drivers
- 1 × 150 mm subwoofer
- Output Power (Watts): 240
Functions
- Bluetooth / NFC / AirPlay / Wi-Fi: ✅ / ❌ / ✅ / ✅
- Multiroom Support: ✅
- Integrated Music Streaming Services:
- Spotify Connect
- Deezer
- Amazon Music
- Qobuz
- Tidal
Controls
- Remote Control: ❌ (No remote control)
- Physical Buttons: 5
- App: Bowers & Wilkins Music App (Android/iOS)
Conclusion
Review & Ratings
| Criteria | Weight (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound Quality | 50 | 9.6 / 10 |
| Features | 15 | 9.0 / 10 |
| Usability | 15 | 8.3 / 10 |
| Build Quality | 10 | 9.5 / 10 |
| Accessories | 10 | 8.8 / 10 |
- Overall Rating: 9.23 / 10 (“Very Good”)
- Price-Performance Index: 8.66
- Final Verdict: “Very Good” (92.3%)
The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition achieved 9.2 points in our practical test, earning the verdict “very good.” The WLAN speaker impressed during our test series with an equally finely tuned and powerful sound, making it a perfect choice for music enthusiasts. Additionally, with its unique design and high-quality craftsmanship, it is a visual delight. The streaming options leave little to be desired, while on the other hand, we would have liked physical connections and a remote control. The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition is offered in the color variants Solar Gold and Space Grey.
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