Advanced audio
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin™ re-wrote the rules for iPod® speaker docks. Now Zeppelin Air provides another seismic shift in audio performance. It retains the original’s classic shape, but internally Zeppelin Air has been completely redesigned. The result is the best sounding iPod speaker ever produced. Compared to the original multi-award winning Zeppelin it has improved dynamics, punchier bass, and a more open, lifelike presentation with a highly detailed, room-filling sound.
Advanced audio video
Explore the best sounding iPod speaker ever
Sound dispersion
The original Zeppelin’s unique shape was designed to help sound dispersion. Zeppelin Air retains that shape, but now features smaller mid-range drive units to help the sound dispersion even further. This produces a more open, natural sound than has yet been heard on a dedicated iPod speaker. Combined with the same tweeters as the award-winning MM-1 computer speakers, Zeppelin Air delivers an incredibly detailed, wide, room filling performance.
Improved drive units video
Learn why Zeppelin Air sounds so good
Digital Signal Processing
Zeppelin Air’s proprietary Bowers & Wilkins Digital Signal Processing (DSP) using double-precision processing and in-house algorithms optimises drive unit control. Simply put, this means Zeppelin Air performs like a considerably larger loudspeaker and produces room filling, controlled bass no matter how loud you like your music.
Audiophile DAC
In the digital world, the Digital to Analogue Converters (DAC) are vital for getting the best from high-quality drive units. On Zeppelin Air all inputs are up-sampled through the audiophile-quality 96kHz/24bit DAC, including wireless music using AirPlay®. This has the effect of lowering distortion, creating a smoother sound. There’s also the option for studio quality 24bit audio via the optical input.
Active 2.1 System
Zeppelin Air is a fully active 2.1 design. All five drive units are individually driven by dedicated audiophile class D amplifiers, specially designed for Bowers & Wilkins. The up-rated 4x25 Watts 1 x 50 Watts output powers the improved drive units for increased precision, seamless integration and impressive levels of bass attack.
Digital Connection
Every track on your iPod® is made up of digital information. For your music to sound as good as it can be, you need to preserve as much of that information as possible. With most iPod speakers the music is taken in analogue format from the iPod. When that happens, you risk losing some of this precious data. Zeppelin Air has a USB digital connection, keeping the purity of the digital signal - and your music - intact, for the best possible performance.
Flowport™
Flowport is a feature of the flagship 800 Series Diamond. It minimises turbulence in the same way as a golf ball. Dimples on the surface generate tiny eddy currents over which air can flow smoothly, reducing turbulence, and improving performance. This is because if turbulence occurs as the air moves in and out of the port, you’ll hear extraneous noise and, as you turn the volume up, the bass won’t be as tight and well timed as it should be.
Dynamic Range
Zeppelin Air’s new curved black back panel is more than a design statement. Constructed from Glass fibre filled ABS, it is stiffer than the one found on the original Zeppelin. As with any loudspeaker, the stiffness and rigidity of the enclosure is vital to the performance. It provides the drive units with a solid platform to do their work, and combines with other key audio features such the up-rated amplification and advanced Digital Signal Processing to provide improved dynamic range.
More to explore
History of Bowers & Wilkins
Discover the five decades of innovation in audio excellence that goes into every Bowers & Wilkins product.
History
Abbey Road Studios
Read why the world's finest recording studio is a keen advocate of Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series loudspeakers.
Abbey Road Studios
Society of Sound
Offers a unique chance to hear music exactly as recorded: detailed, vibrantly alive, full of power and unhindered by speaker distortion.
Society of Sound
Innovation
Every discovery our scientists make influences how loudspeakers all over the world are designed and built.
Innovation