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360 reviews
Apr, 2025
alaTest has collected and analyzed 360 reviews of Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air. The average rating for this product is 3.9/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other products in the same category for all reviews. People really like the sound and size. The reliability and usability also get good feedback, whereas some have doubts about the connectivity and price.
design, usability, reliability, size, sound
price, connectivity
We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other products in the same category the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 92/100 = Excellent quality.
Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)
alaTest has collected and analyzed 95 user reviews of Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 3.7/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.4/5 for other products in the same category on Amazon.co.uk. Reviewers really like the reliability and size. The usability and design are also appreciated, but there are some mixed opinions about the price.
design, usability, size, reliability
73% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.
Consumer review (amazon.com)
alaTest has collected and analyzed 103 user reviews of Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 3.5/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other products in the same category on Amazon.com. Reviewers are impressed by the size and reliability. The design and usability are also appreciated, whereas there are some mixed views about the price.
usability, design, reliability, size
67% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.
Expert review by : Trent Wolbe (engadget.com)
What's that, an alien egg? Nope. Memory foam iPillow? No, silly, it's a Zeppelin, a Zeppelin Air more specifically. Bowers & Wilkins brought us
Huge, fulfilling sound ; Sparkly-clean design ; Easy to use
Overwhelming bass ; AirPlay is laggy ; Pricey
Expert review by : Will Greenwald (pcmag.com)
The striking B&W Zeppelin Air sounds as excellent as it did when the company first released the 30-pin version of this speaker in 2011, but it still has lingering AirPlay-related flaws.
Expert review by : David Carnoy and Steve Guttenbe (cnet.com)
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air
The ; is a sleek, high-end iPod/iPhone stereo speaker with built-in Apple AirPlay audio-streaming capabilities. Ample speaker drivers--two 1-inch tweeters, two 3-inch midrange drivers, and one 5-inch woofer--provide solid sound. AirPlay compatibility...
The Zeppelin Air is very expensive, and it offers little stereo separation unless you're sitting or standing near the speaker. AirPlay setup may be tough for first-timers, and there are some compromises when controlling via iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch.
While the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air is as pricey as the earlier Zeppelin, Apple AirPlay support and improved sound quality make it a better value.
Expert review by : David Carnoy and Steve Guttenbe (cnet.com)
Editors' note (March 2013): Bowers & Wilkins will begin shipping a version of this product with a Lightning-compatible dock (for iPhone 5 charging compatibility) in April 2013. It should be otherwise identical to the 30-pin model reviewed here. Read...
The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air is a sleek, high-end iPod/iPhone stereo speaker with built-in Apple AirPlay audio-streaming capabilities. Ample speaker drivers--two 1-inch tweeters, two 3-inch midrange drivers, and one 5-inch woofer--provide solid...
The Zeppelin Air is very expensive, and it offers little stereo separation unless you're sitting or standing near the speaker. AirPlay setup may be tough for first-timers, and there are some compromises when controlling via iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch.
While the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air is as pricey as the earlier Zeppelin, Apple AirPlay support and improved sound quality make it a better value.
Expert review by : Tim Gideon (pcmag.com)
With Bowers and Wilkins, you definitely pay for the name and visual design as much as the audio quality. But excellent-sounding Zeppelin Air iPod dock with wireless streaming via AirPlay does not disappoint.
Expert review by : Michael Calore (wired.com)
B&W has improved on the design of its original Zeppelin and added AirPlay support, while keeping the price the same.
Killer sound, period. Wireless AirPlay streaming adds convenience while maintaining HD audio quality. So many upgrades over the original, yet the price is the same. Consumes only 0.8 watts in standby mode. Oh, and it charges your iPhone, too
If you’re not an Apple person, you’re limited to USB use. Doesn’t work with iPods older than the Classic. AirPlay requires setup and maintenance smarts. Status indicator LED on the front will have you reaching for the manual to decode. Looks like a big...
Expert review by : Clint DeBoer (audioholics.com)
redefined what could be expected from an iPod speaker system. Now Zeppelin Air provides another seismic shift in audio performance, design and functionality with completely updated drive units, up-rated amplification and the latest in Digital Signal...
Expert review by : Michael Brown (maximumpc.com)
The original Zeppelin sounds fantastic, but the Zeppelin Air sounds even better. After performing blind listening tests comparing the sound quality of a docked iPod Touch to the same song (Steely Dan's “What a Shame About Me,” from the band's Two...
The most important of the Zeppelin Air’s many design improvements is the manner in which it interfaces with the iPod: The dock on the new model taps the iPod’s digital audio output (carried on one of the pins inside the iPod’s docking port). B&W’s...
Expert review by (consumersearch.com)
Best AirPlay speaker
Excellent sound quality ; Easy to use app ; Sleek design
Awkward controls ; Streaming can be unreliable ; Not truly portable
Expert review by : Andrew Robinson (hometheaterreview.com)
Bowers & Wilkins has added a new version of the Zeppelin to the company's offerings with the Zeppelin Air. The Zeppelin Air adds some fun new features, but does it stand up when it comes to performance?
The Zeppelin Air's fit and finish, much like all Bowers & Wilkins products, is simply beautiful. Within its class of iOS dock/speakers, it is among the more sculptural ; Unlike other Bowers & Wilkins' wireless loudspeaker setups, the Zeppelin Air...
Some have mentioned (or complained) about the Zeppelin Air's copious bass. If you're unwilling to experiment with placement and/or your iDevice's EQ setting, this issue may persist. Just because a loudspeaker is aimed at the lifestyle crowd doesn't...
While $599.95 may seem steep for a lifestyle-oriented loudspeaker that isn't a soundbar, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I can find instances where the Zeppelin Air's cost is justifiable. Years ago (10 plus), my mother spent over a grand on...