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Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless Smart Speaker, Wifi Speaker, Hi-Res Sound, Bluetooth, Airplay 2, Spotify Connect, and Alexa Built-In - Midnight Grey

£9.9£99Clearance
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It depends on your needs. In terms of pure audio fidelity, Chromecast wins; it supports 24-bit / 96Hz streaming, whereas AirPlay 2 is limited to 16-bit / 44.1Hz streaming. So, if you're looking for hi-res audio support, Chromecast is your best bet.

There’s great dynamic ability here, too, both where the basic ‘from dead quiet to bloody loud’ transitions are concerned and in the harmonic variances in, say, a solo piano. Fundamentally, the Zeppelin is an attentive and insightful device, and is able to pay attention to the secondary aspects of a recording without sounding remotely analytical or dispassionate. These small speakers have a pretty big price tag, but these aren't "just" a pair of bookshelf speakers. They're incredibly well-connected, with AirPlay 2, HDMI ARC and USB-C, Ethernet, analogue and digital inputs, a pre-out for a subwoofer and CAT 5 for wiring a pair together. If you do wire them up you get up to 24-bit/384KHz and DSD256; wireless connection downsamples to 24-bit/48kHz. Bowers & Wilkins, an exciting audio brand, made this appliance. Bowers and Wilkins is named among the UK's top audio companies. They not only create speakers, but also over head headphones like the [PX7.]https://www.idealo.co.uk/compare/6806020/bowers-wilkins-px7.html Their speakers retail at a rather high price tag, but the performance completely reflects that. Zeppelin (2021) is an active system. Therefore it comes with a built in amp. Normally, powered set ups are the better choice. Active Principle Speakers

Interface

It's important for us to compare the performance of these speakers against the specs claimed by their manufacturers too, which is why we take the time to make sure the claims are legit.

Taken in isolation, each area of the frequency range is handled deftly enough, and there’s pleasing coherence in the way the R5 moves down from the highest frequencies to the (nicely detailed, characterful) midrange. There’s a slight, but definite, disconnect when the forward-facing drivers hand over to the down-firing woofer, though – the Ruark’s even-handedness deserts it somewhat at this point in the frequency range.

Can the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin be used for phone calls?

Voice control: No | Hi-res audio: Yes (24bit/96kHz native) | Spotify Connect: Yes | Apple AirPlay: 2 | Bluetooth: 4.1 aptX HD | Wi-Fi: Yes | Dimensions: 254 x 281 x 260mm As for artifacts, there was some pumping and compression noted at high volumes. Sub-scores explained

Move onto Eminem’s rap vocal in Bad Guyand it almost sounds like an assault, the venom in his delivery and the dynamics of his quirky structure laid bare. There’s no shortage of clarity and insight for the price, but we would like a touch more solidity through the midrange to give the Zeppelin more authority.

Design

It sports a tactile lacquered wooden surface that lights up as you interact with it. We’ve seen for ourselves how these speakers are made, and we can tell you that plenty of care goes into selecting the wood and sanding it down by hand. Finally, think about sound quality. All of the best AirPlay speakers are on our list for a reason, but you might have specific things to consider. For example, do you like listening to hi-res audio? Only a few of the options below will give you the sound quality you're looking for.

Taken individually, each speaker in Bluesound’s burgeoning wireless multiroom range has its merits - the Node 2i is a particularly impressive music streamer, and the Powernode 2i amplified version is better still. But considered as a whole system, one that’s capable of handling fat 24bit/192kHz hi-res audio files without alarm, it becomes little short of compelling. The Beauty of SoundThe new Zeppelin wireless speaker updates an iconic design for the streaming age, combining high-resolution sound with smart, connected features and services. Compatibility with AirPlay 2, aptX Adaptive, alongside Spotify Connect, all making a welcome return, plus, it now includes integrated Alexa voice control and streaming service support for a wide range of providers, all accessed by the Bowers & Wilkins Music App. With the new Zeppelin, you no longer have to choose between a speaker full of features and a beautiful design with room-filling sound. Now you can have it all. If you’re the kind of audiophile who prefers not to mess around with cables, and would like all of your favorite streaming services available at the touch of the button, there are a few wireless speakers that sound as good as the Sonus Faber Omnia. Either side of that you’ll find a 90mm mid-range driver, using the same Fixed Suspension Transducer technology deployed by the company’s flagship – and super-expensive – 800-series speakers. This lineup is driven by a total of 240 watts of Class-D power. These speakers aren't made to fill massive rooms with sound, but if you want to turn your home office or study into a high-quality listening station then these speakers will excite and delight no matter what kind of music you're listening to –and with five very distinct finishes they'll look great with any kind of décor too.If your speakers are AirPlay 2, you should have no trouble using AirPlay to cast your music to more than one speaker at a time, using an easy list of them from your Apple device. Which is better, Google Chromecast or Apple AirPlay 2? It comes will a full suite of connectivity options including aptX Bluetooth, Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2, which means it's easy to play to it in high quality, no matter what device you're using – and that's before we get to its wired options. We cue up Can I Believe You by Fleet Foxes and the choral voices at the outset are nicely weighted, emotive and expansive. As the beat drops, strings are textured and drums feel three-dimensional in a surprisingly wide, spacious and, yes, room-filling soundstage.

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