The biggest names in hi-fi have all left their mark on their era and influenced the market with signature speakers. With the Zeppelin speaker, Bowers & Wilkins is among the companies to have rewritten the rule book to create an innovative design. It’s always risky to step outside the box, but sometimes, it pays off. In 2008, the fist B&W Zeppelin made an impact by being the first true high fidelity speaker for iPhone and iPod at a time when Apple players were the main audio sources. Fifteen years later, B&W is still reinventing itself. Its collaboration with the McLaren car manufacturer is part of this effort.
The first truly hi-fi iPod/iPhone speaker
The first generation Zeppelin speaker was truly eye-catching and left no one indifferent. Once the first sense had been awakened, this speaker had the difficult task of appealing to the ears. And it did: this pioneering high-end monobloc speaker delighted both eyes and ears. Above all, it was its highly sophisticated audio design that impressed users. Three amplifiers (50 watts for the lows and 2×25 watts for the mids/highs) to power five drivers: a 5” woofer, two midrange drivers and two tweeters. The sound was well spatialized, with an audible stereo effect, detailed and powerful enough in the bass for this type of all-in-one speaker.
“It offers such musicality that other manufacturers may spend sleepless nights trying to figure out how B&W achieved such great results.” What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision
Bowers & Wilkins succeeded in making a name for itself in a market dominated by Logitech and JBL speakers, which weren’t particularly appealing and were mainly aimed at PC owners. The B&W Zeppelin also conquered the land of traditional stereo hi-fi, offering a solution that was more compact, more stylish and easier to integrate than the two traditional speakers placed on opposite sides of the room and associated with the indispensable amplifier.
The first B&W soundbar
As well as being an elegant speaker to install in a living room, the Zeppelin was also an effective solution for improving the sound of a TV thanks to its optical digital input and video output. This speaker could not only diffuse the sound of the first digital flat screens, but also send images stored on the iPod or iPhone to the TV.
Several generations of an iconic speaker
The 2008 B&W Zeppelin speaker, specially designed for Apple products, was followed three years later by a WiFi and AirPlay-equipped version: the B&W Zeppelin Air. This wireless connected speaker could wirelessly stream music stored on an iPhone or any other Apple device. As the dock became more or less superfluous in this configuration, the charm of the speaker with its dedicated base waned, and it lost some of its splendor… In 2013, a new generation followed with a lightning connector, then in 2015 the dock disappeared for good with the B&W Zeppelin Wireless model.
The latest B&W Zeppelin connected speaker
The latest generation of the Zeppelin seems to be a worthy successor to its elders and continues to enrich the range. Despite its unchanged size, it now boasts a larger woofer (6” instead of 5”) and 240 watts of amplification (instead of 100W). Spotify Connect, Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth aptX: the Zeppelin speaker now relies exclusively on wireless connectivity. In 2023, a collaboration with car manufacturer McLaren resulted in a prestigious limited edition.
Fifteen years after its release, the B&W Zeppelin connected speaker continues to surprise audiophiles. Its design, but also its connectivity and performance, have been modernized. With this iconic model, the British manufacturer highlights its ability to continually reinvent itself and keep up with new trends.
