Review: B&W Zeppelin

It’s no wonder that the high-end audio community initially dismissed the MP3 revolution since highly compressed digital music files lose resolution, definition and clarity during the ripping process. However, you can’t ignore the popularity of the iPod and the acceptance of music downloads off the Internet. So, as the saying goes ­– if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em– Bowers & Wilkins, otherwise known as B&W, has decided to go with the flow and take a look in the direction of Apple and its wunderkind – the iPod.

The B&W Zeppelin is an audiophile-grade, one-piece, powered speaker system and iPod docking station designed for extremely high fidelity playback of digital music files. The 30-pin docking port accepts the latest-generation iPods without adapters or interchangeable bases due to its unique, spring-loaded design.

Zeppelin is certainly striking and is sure to be a sensation with its tapered shape that resembles…you guessed it…a Zeppelin. The tapered ends house the midrange and tweeter drivers. In the center is a five-inch subwoofer with twin rear-firing ports that significantly enhance bass performance. There are three channels of amplification, with 50 watts to the subwoofer and 25 watts for each two-way mid/high-frequency section. Each incorporates proprietary DSP (digital signal processing) tailored to fine-tune response of the five drivers.

Zeppelin takes advantage of B&W’s 40-year heritage by drawing from the designs and technologies found in their highly respected reference products. For instance, B&W tweeters are known for their sweet sound due to the patented tube loading design that eliminates redundant sounds from behind the driver. The minimal baffle area of Zeppelin’s enclosure reduces resonances and diffraction effects for a smoother response and surprisingly wide dispersion. The midrange drivers use glass-fiber cones with special resin-filled slots that reduce unwanted standing waves for clean, accurate reproduction. No other iPod/docking station that I know of has this level of engineering and acoustical expertise invested in its design.

Significantly larger than most speaker/docking systems, Zeppelin’s built-in powered subwoofer gives it some heft. While small enough to move around, it’s hardly a viable traveling companion though perfect for an office, den, bedroom or anywhere a simpler sound system is preferred.

A small oval remote is provided for volume, source select, mute, and seamless operation of the iPod for play/pause and track-selection functions. Unfortunately, it won’t allow you to scroll and pick your playlists, which you have to select directly on the iPod. When docked, you’ll notice a new menu item on your iPod called “Speaker” that accesses a five-position bass EQ for the Zeppelin for tuning response based on system placement and individual preference.

The back panel provides a combination analog/digital mini-jack input for playback of other sources such as a portable CD player or even your computer. S-video and composite outputs are provided for delivery of video content to a larger screen. A tilt-base is included to place Zeppelin at the most ideal angle for your listening position, whether seated or standing up. Now if you find you can’t leave home without your Zeppelin it’s world-ready, capable of automatically accepting any AC power standard from 100-240V.

Zeppelin is a far more serious playback system for the ubiquitous iPod than what’s been available. In addition to exceptional definition and clarity, I’ve yet to hear an iPod speaker/docking station with the bass response and imaging capabilities of Zeppelin. Sure it’s twice the price of the best products on the market but it’s more than twice the performance and well worth it.

While some might think B&W went low-end, there is brilliance in their marketing. By embracing the iPod, B&W gains access to an entirely new audience of music lovers. When they are ready to graduate beyond Zeppelin for a complete home theater sound system…hmmm…where might they look first?