Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Back in 2008,Bowers & Wilkins(B&W ) entered the iPod - speaker market with a knock with the $ 600 Zeppelin ( ) , a high - death speaker dock that flux fantabulous sound quality , some unique expert features , and B&W mode . It was a bold product statement , and it serve the company well — the Zeppelin has been a flagship Cartesian product on Apple Store shelves , has earned widespread kudos , and start the doors for other Apple - focused product , such as theP5 Mobile Hi - Fi Headphones ( ) and MM-1 computer speakers ( ) . The company even declare oneself a compact interlingual rendition of the Zeppelin , the Zeppelin Mini .
B&W has since added to its Apple - focused portfolio — and achieved another milestone — by being the first company to ship an AirPlay - enabled audio system , theZeppelin Air . The most obvious betterment the Zeppelin Air offer up over the master is the potentiality to play audio rain cats and dogs wirelessly from your figurer or iOS gadget viaApple ’s AirPlay engineering , but B&W has also upgraded the Zeppelin in a routine of other significant ways .
Similar on the outside
At first glance , the Zeppelin Air looks almost monovular to the original Zeppelin . You get the same pill- ( or , if you will , dirigible- ) shaped envelopment — approximately 25 inches wide , 7.5 inches high , and 8 in deep — with the entire front covered in black mesh topology . However , whereas the back of the original Zeppelin was metal with a chrome finish , the back of the Zeppelin Air is made of shining - black , glass - fiber - filled ABS plastic that the troupe says is considerably more rigid for better audio performance . ( I ’m reckon the plastic also offers better wireless performance . ) At the top of the unit , beat - inwardness , are mass buttons and a standby / input - choice button .
The front of the Air sports the Zeppelin line ’s unique , curved dock - connecter provenience — still my favorite of all the moorage speakers I ’ve tested because of the way it lets you envelop your entire hand around the cradle while accessing your player ’s control . This , too , has been improved somewhat , using what looks like a sturdy spring - load up chemical mechanism for accommodating thinner and deep devices . While the cradle does n’t support an iPad , it works with all iPhone , iPod soupcon , and iPod classic models , along with 2nd - generation - and - later iPod nano example . The cradle charges your iPhone or iPod and , if you connect the Zeppelin to your computer using the Zeppelin ’s USB larboard , you may sync your iPhone or iPod with iTunes .
On the front of the provenance is a single condition sparkle that indicates both power / standby condition and the current Department of State of the Zeppelin Air . While this single - spark design is elegant , few the great unwashed will ever remember what each of itsnearly 20different colors and statesmeans . ( And that ’s not numerate the seven symptomatic modes possible only if you put the Zeppelin Air in a particular troubleshooting mode . )
Choosing the Zeppelin Air in iTunes’ AirPlay menu
On the back of the Zeppelin are connection for the power cable , ethernet ( for initial apparatus and , as an alternative to Wi - Fi , ongoing meshwork connectivity ) , USB ( specifically , USB - B vitamin — the “ fat ” version ) , and video output ( for ascertain i - gadget - host video on a TV ) . Alas , the video output is composite , the lowest quality , rather than constituent or even S - telecasting . There ’s also a 1/8 - inch ( 3.5 mm ) auxiliary - input signal jack for connecting an additional digital- ( mini - TosLink ) or analog - audio rootage . In accession to letting you synchronize your iPhone or iPod with iTunes , the Zeppelin Air ’s USB port wine can grab USB audio from your computer and lets you instal microcode updates . ( I install one such update during my testing ; the procedure was comfortable to perform . )
As with the original Zeppelin , the Air is think to sit in one place . It ’s not difficult to move — it apply an intimate power supplying , so the only cable is a bare exponent cable — but it ’s heavy enough and bulky enough that you wo n’t be carry it from property to place on a regular basis . For those times you do need to move the scheme , a welcome alteration is that the original Zeppelin ’s clumsy stand pattern — two dissimilar pencil eraser bases that set aside for different angles but that descend off if you picked up the system — has been upgraded to a single , stiffer - rubber base that ’s sequester with screwing .
The Zeppelin Air includes the same beautiful , pebble - shaped remote control as the Zeppelin , sporting the same glossy - black front , chrome back , and rubber “ human foot . ” The remote provides introductory dominance — standby ( power ) , previous , play / pause , next , volume up , and volume down — along with a clitoris to switch between the Air ’s four possible inputs : AirPlay , dock , USB , or aux - in . The buttons are lay out in an nonrational pattern , making the outside easy to use by tone , and B&W has restore my self-aggrandizing ailment with the original edition : While it still uses a symmetrical shape with a symmetrical push layout , the remote control has gained a insidious indention on the bottom that fall perfectly under your index finger when you obligate the remote in the right orientation course . congratulations .
Different on the inside
Like the original Zeppelin , the Air includes a built - in digital - to - parallel converter ( DAC ) . However , the Air ’s DAC has been upgraded to 24bit-96KHz capability , andallinputs are fed into this DAC — even the analog input signal — where they ’re upsampled and process . The company says this importantly improve audio performance .
There are other big changes at bottom , as well . While the Zeppelin Air practice the same five - in woofer as before , the Zeppelin ’s left and right driver — a 3 - inch midrange driver and a 1 - column inch tweeter on each side — have been upgraded , and each of the five drivers now gets its own grade - D amplifier . These five amplifiers provide a total of 150 Watts of power—50 Watts for the woofer and 25 Watts for each of the other four drivers . And to improve bass reaction and overall audio performance , B&W has improved the basso - porthole design and implemented the company ’s active EQ engineering science ( which also protect the amplifiers from overloading at mellow volumes ) .
The Zeppelin Air is also officially Made - for - iPhone certified .
Music in the air
The Zeppelin Air still work great as an iPod bob , and it sports similar iPod / iPhone - playback features as its predecessor . For example , a docked iPhone or iPod touch gain a raw Speakers covert in the options app ( traditional iPods gain a Speakers fare ) for adjusting the Zeppelin Air ’s basso level — a welcome option , as the Zeppelin Air ’s increased bass turnout can be a bit overwhelming if the system is positioned close to a rear wall . On non - touch iPods , a new Backlight circumstance lets you choose whether the iPod ’s silver screen is always lit , lit only when take on , light only when the ascendance are access , or never illume .
But , of course , the freehanded add-on here is AirPlay support . Once the Zeppelin Air is connected to your AirPort Wi - Fi web — it must be a Wi - Fi web provided by an Apple AirPort Extreme or Express Base Station — the unit appears as an AirPlay goal in iTunes on your Mac and in any AirPlay - compatible app on iOS machine , have you stream audio wirelessly .
The initial frame-up subprogram was n’t as childlike as I expected , but it was n’t too unspeakable — and you have to perform it only once . The include setup pathfinder walk you through the process , which involve join the Zeppelin Air , via ethernet , to your computer ; pointing your figurer ’s entanglement internet browser to the Zeppelin Air ’s built - in World Wide Web server ; using the Web interface to connect to your Wi - Fi meshwork ; and then wait for the Zeppelin Air to reboot and connect to the internet . My first conformation attempt did n’t ferment , but after reset the Zeppelin and trying again , it worked perfectly , and I never had to reconfigure or reconnect after that . ( you’re able to also use the Zeppelin ’s Web port to alter its name — how it appears in iTunes and to your iOS devices . After the initial setup function , you may get to the Web user interface over your wireless internet . )
choose the Zeppelin Air in iTunes ’ AirPlay menu
Once configured , you’re able to stream music from iTunes on your computer to the Zeppelin Air just as you would to an AirPort Express or Apple TV : You click the AirPlay button ( formerly the Speakers drink down - up menu ) in the lower - right corner of the iTunes window , and then choose the Zeppelin Air . you’re able to rain cats and dogs to multiple AirPlay devices by instead choosing Multiple Speakers and then suss out the boxful next to desired the AirPlay gimmick . ( If you ’d care to teem audio from a course of study other than iTunes , you’re able to apply Rogue Amoeba ’s Airfoil , which have you pour non - iTunes audio to any AirTunes / AirPlay - compatible gadget . )
Similarly , to stream audio from an iPad , iPhone , or iPod touch , you just click the AirPlay button from within any AirPlay - compatible app and choose the Zeppelin Air as the destination .
Whether stream from iTunes or an iOS machine , there ’s a slight wait when you first switch to an AirPlay destination , but after that , playback is smooth — in using the Zeppelin Air for several weeks , there was only one time I get dropout or stuttering , and other machine on my wireless net were also having problem that daytime . ( Of naturally , if your Wi - Fi web is n’t unanimous , your experience may not be as good as mine — AirPlay is only as good as your wireless mesh . ) I even watched an total installment ofThe Wireon my iPad , with the audio streamed to the Zeppelin Air , without the audio and telecasting bewilder out of sync . AirPlay streams audio in Apple Lossless data format , so you do n’t lose faithfulness by listening wirelessly — music sounds as honorable as the original Indian file , be they low bit - rate MP3s and AACs or uncompressed AIFF file cabinet .
B&W got the little inside information right here , as well . Rather than a traditional “ off ” mode , the Zeppelin Air has sleep and standby modes . quietus way ( activated by press the standby button on the remote control or by holding down the standby / input signal button on the main building block for two seconds ) , powers down most of the Zeppelin ’s electronics but maintain its wireless connection active so the Air stay on available as an AirPlay destination . If you send audio recording to the Zeppelin Air , it immediately wakes up — a great feature film that get AirPlay far more convenient than if you had to remember to turn on the Zeppelin first .
Standby way ( activated by concord down the principal standby / input button for four second ) , on the other hand , shut down all of the organisation ’s electronics except the remote sensor , using less magnate but ask you to manually awaken up the Zeppelin Air when you want to use it . How much energy do you save ? In my examination , The Zeppelin Air pass approximately 6 Watts of exponent in eternal rest mode , but less than 1 Watt in standby mood .
Another prissy feature is that when rain cats and dogs from iTunes , you’re able to apply the Zeppelin ’s remote to control iTunes playback : period of play , pause , late , or next track . ( This feature requires that iTunes ’ Allow iTunes Control From Remote Speakers choice , in iTunes ’ druthers , be enabled . ) Similarly , when streaming audio from an iOS gadget , the Zeppelin Air ’s remote control can hold iOS playback .
The Zeppelin Air is also saucy enough to not let you switch comment sources if only one source is available . For lesson , if there ’s no iPhone or iPod in the docking facility cradle , and no audio source connected to the appurtenant - remark laborer or USB port wine , you ca n’t accidentally switch the generator away from AirPlay .
ultimately , as mentioned above , the Zeppelin can also be used as a USB speaker system for your computing machine ; when doing so , the Zeppelin ’s book clitoris control your computer ’s volume level . One potentially confusing thing here is that the Zeppelin does n’t identify itself to your computer as a USB - audio gimmick until you switch the Zeppelin ’s input to USB , and when you flip-flop away from USB , the Zeppelin disables the USB - audio connection altogether — which imply the Zeppelin disappears as far as your electronic computer is concern . At least on a Mac , however , once you ’ve initially connected the Zeppelin and selected it as your audio output , the Mac automatically switches to the Zeppelin whenever it ’s connected .
With all these waysotherthan a docked iPhone or iPod to get audio to the Zeppelin Air , you may be thinking it would be nice if B&W provide a provenance - less rendering . The company toldMacworldthat if the provenance and arm really trouble you , you could in reality transfer the intact apparatus , although doing so will void your guarantee .
Sound improvements
As with its predecessor , the Zeppelin Air sounds more like a belittled rest home stereo than a desktop iPod dock , offering prominent audio caliber that ’s rich and full . Thanks in part to the Zeppelin ’s wide-cut visibility , two-channel interval remains good than with many one - piece systems , although it ’s still not as good as you ’d get with a system with separate left-hand and correct speakers positioned farther aside .
But the Zeppelin Air offers pocket-size but welcome improvement over the original thanks to its young component and tweaked design . The most obvious upgrade are in bass answer and maximal output . The Zeppelin Air ’s low-spirited - absolute frequency output is noticeably more powerful than that of the orignal Zeppelin , and it ’s as good as that of any desktop system we ’ve tested . You wo n’t get the lowest frequencies — the woofer is but too small — but the Zeppelin offer comparatively matt bass response down to around 75Hz or 80Hz , and decent performance as crushed as 60Hz to 65Hz . Bass is hefty without being boomy ( unless , as with any system , you place the Zeppelin too close to a wall or recession ) , and low frequencies are clear and distinct .
Maximum volume is also significantly louder than with the original Zeppelin , no doubt due in part to the Air ’s additional amplification . The Zeppelin Air can also play louder without tinge — I was able to crank the system well beyond secure listening levels without it breaking a sweat .
Finally , one of my criticisms of the original Zeppelin was that while treble contingent was just overall , the highest frequencies were a routine recess compare to some of the other top - tier speaker docks I ’d test . B&W seems to have taken measure to address this in the Zeppelin Air . While some listeners will still care for a brighter sound , I conceive most listeners — even the picky one — will be more than happy with the improvements .
The overall result is audio quality that ’s noticeably undecomposed than the original and should please all but the most critical listener . Most imposingly for a desktop system , the Zeppelin Air ’s audio is balanced , as no range of frequency resist out . It ’s safe to say that if you want better audio , you ’ll need to go with a system with separate speakers — and even then , you ’ll take a good amount of might , not to note speakers declamatory enough to put out seemly bass .
Macworld’s buying advice
The original Zeppelin move us with great sound quality , telling intent , and unequaled technology , and the Zeppelin Air best its predecessor on each of those metric , offer noticeably better levelheaded quality , some utile design tweaks , and a routine of technological melioration — first among them accompaniment for AirPlay — at the same monetary value . Granted , that price is $ 600 , and , as I mark when I reviewed the original Zeppelin , some of that money sure as shooting goes towards the B&W name . But there ’s no question you ’re also paying for a high - caliber merchandise . You might be able to get better sound for $ 600 by putting together your own AirPlay audio organisation with freestanding unexpended / right speakers ( a subject we ’ll be covering soon ) , but if you ’re looking for a one - piece system that sounds and looks peachy , the Zeppelin does n’t have much competition — especially when you consider that it exercise with AirPlay , iPhones , iPods , your Mac , and any other stereophonic audio root , digital or analogue . For many attender , the Zeppelin is the first “ speaker dock ” that really can take the home of a home stereo system system of rules .
update 5/6/2011 , 7:30pm : Removed the book of instructions for removing the Zeppelin ’s dock - cradle weapon . B&W contacted Macworld to say that , adverse to what we were initially told , do the operation will indeed avoid your warranty .
[ Dan Frakes is a senior editor at Macworld ]
