The B&W Zeppelin returns with new Wireless speaker

The Zeppelin Wireless retains the same iconic design, but B&W says every aspect has been redesigned to “deliver superlative audio performance".

The biggest change is the use of five new driver units, comprising two double dome tweeters - taken from the CM Series of speakers - and two midrange drivers with FST (Fixed Suspension Transducer) technology. These are backed up by a 6.5in subwoofer with an ultra-long voice coil for deep bass.

The cabinet has been reinforced to help eliminate vibrations and the front fascia is now 50 per cent thicker. Bespoke glass fibre ribs have been used to help strengthen the cabinet in all the right places.

MORE: B&W Zeppelin Air review

B&W says the Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology in the speaker is twice as powerful as the previous model, and will help the speaker deliver a “more detailed and refined sound”.

What really sets this Zeppelin apart from its predecessors is the removal of the front-mounted iPod dock, to make it completely wireless. The Zeppelin Air offered AirPlay, but the Zeppelin Wireless adds aptX Bluetooth and Spotify Connect capabilities for the first time.

The B&W Control App has also been updated and is available for iOS, Android, Mac and PC.

The new Zeppelin Wireless joins the B&W T7, the company's first portable Bluetooth speaker, the A5, A7 and Z2 in a five-strong B&W wireless speaker range.

The Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless is available now for £499.

MORE: Best wireless speakers 2015

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Max is a staff writer for What Hi-Fi?'s sister site, TechRadar, in Australia. But being the wonderful English guy he is, he helps out with content across a number of Future sites, including What Hi-Fi?. It wouldn't be his first exposure to the world of all things hi-fi and home cinema, as his first role in technology journalism was with What Hi-Fi? in the UK. Clearly he pined to return after making the move to Australia and the team have welcomed him back with arms wide open.