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Don’t let the primary colours fool you: for the money, the Ultimate Ears is a remarkably accomplished-sounding little device. It does manful low-frequency work without getting carried away, and it’s as detailed and balanced through the rest of the frequency range as anyone dare hope. Want to keep costs down without completely compromising performance? This is where your money should go. At 650x210x194mm and 6.5kg, the Zeppelin is one of the larger wireless speakers around – and, let’s not forget, it looks like a Zeppelin. So while its little metal stand doesn’t have all that much of a footprint, the speaker itself requires (demands, actually) quite a bit of breathing space. So ubiquitous is Sonos in the world of wireless speakers, it’s surely only a matter of time before, like Tannoy or Kleenex before it, the brand name becomes a generic. There are two good reasons for this: Sonos was first to democratise this technology, and because it continues to set standards where performance and usability are concerned. Taken in isolation, each area of the frequency range is handled deftly enough, and there’s pleasing coherence in the way the R5 moves down from the highest frequencies to the (nicely detailed, characterful) midrange. There’s a slight, but definite, disconnect when the forward-facing drivers hand over to the down-firing woofer, though – the Ruark’s even-handedness deserts it somewhat at this point in the frequency range.
Sonus Faber is well-known for its high-priced, luxury hi-fi equipment and its latest product, the Sonus Faber Omnia, is no exception. This is a sleek, sophisticated and fairly big all-in-one system that’s easy-to-use thanks to comprehensive wireless connectivity, with built-in support for the major streaming services, AirPlay, Chromecast, and Roon.Most important of all though, is the Sonos sound. There’s no hi-res support here (not even the ability to downscale hi-res music files), but the range’s forward, enthusiastic and energetic sound makes this the best pound-for-pound way to painlessly and reliably fill your home with music. And Sonos’s policy of constantly updating, finessing and improving its offering looks likely to make it so for the foreseeable. For starters, as you might expect, we wanted to ensure they have reliable AirPlay integration that works well and provides a reliable connection. Taken individually, each speaker in Bluesound’s burgeoning wireless multiroom range has its merits - the Node 2i is a particularly impressive music streamer, and the Powernode 2i amplified version is better still. But considered as a whole system, one that’s capable of handling fat 24bit/192kHz hi-res audio files without alarm, it becomes little short of compelling.
Voice control: Alexa | Hi-res audio: No | Spotify Connect: Yes | Apple AirPlay: Yes | Wi-Fi: Yes | Bluetooth: 4 The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin doesn’t quite reach the high mark set by its brand sibling, the B&W Formation Wedge, which has our top score in the premium category at 160. But it’s currently in third, just ahead of the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance and the Google Home Max. But even if you don't have your phone in hand, this wireless speaker is still controllable using its sleek touchscreen which allows you to access internet radio stations, for example.It's got a premium price, but if you opt for the Qb then you won't be disappointed.If you're Apple Music user, the HomePod 2 is perhaps the best-value speaker out there. It’s cheaper than what you get from the hardcore hi-fi brands (such as theNaim Mu-so Qb 2), but is crammed with luscious detail, crisp treble, and a rich mid-range. And you get the impressively easy setup and control you'd expect from Apple. Each employs slightly different methodology when it comes to getting sound out – or, at least, the numbers involved are all quite different. Given the amount of power it can call on, it’s hardly surprising to find the Zeppelin well capable of dealing with big dynamic variations in a recording. But it’s equally adept when it comes to the more nuanced harmonic discrepancies in, say, a solo piano or a steel guitar string, which makes it one of the more revealing and insightful wireless speakers you can buy for less than four figures. Following in the footsteps of theSonos Move, the Sonos Roam comes with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, which means it can work as aportable speakeras well as part of your wider multi-room Sonos system – and withGoogle Assistantand Alexa onboard, it doubles up as asmart speakertoo. Sonos nailed its multiroom experience some time ago, and has been improving it ever since. From the wide range of products (which now includes single speakers, a soundbar, a subwoofer, a surprisingly capable amplifier and more besides), to the smooth user experience (thanks to both a bespoke Wi-Fi mesh and the clarity and useability of Sonos’ control app), it’s an object lesson in giving people exactly what they want. Sometimes before they even realise they want it.
Once on board and DAC’d, the audio information is served up by a five-strong driver array powered by a total of 240 watts of Class D amplification. At each pointy end of the enclosure there’s a 25mm double-dome tweeter of the type Bowers & Wilkins debuted on its award-winning 600 Series range of loudspeakers. Don’t go expecting it to present a sound as separated and three-dimensional as a pair of stereo speakers, and as long as you don't need any physical inputs, it represents money well spent for a modern streaming speaker. Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin review: Also consider These small speakers have a pretty big price tag, but these aren't "just" a pair of bookshelf speakers. They're incredibly well-connected, with AirPlay 2, HDMI ARC and USB-C, Ethernet, analogue and digital inputs, a pre-out for a subwoofer and CAT 5 for wiring a pair together. If you do wire them up you get up to 24-bit/384KHz and DSD256; wireless connection downsamples to 24-bit/48kHz. The B&W, for example, has a 24bit/96kHz DAC to deal with digital files, and then a total of 240 watts of Class D power to make them audible. This is divided between a pair of decoupled double-dome aluminium tweeters (lifted from the company’s pricey 600 series loudspeakers), which get 40 watts each; a couple of FST drivers also get 40 watts each with which to handle the midrange; a single, central bass driver takes the other 80 watts.The 2021 Zeppelin gets just about everything right in the sound department and it scores well on the smart front, too. Pushing the volume northwards does result in the stage losing some of its definition, but it’s remarkable how composed the Naim remains at such hefty volumes – it simply gets louder without becoming coarse or shouty. The sound quality is spectacular, with rich mids, detailed highs and very punchy bass for speakers so small –and you can always use that subwoofer out if you need even more low-end thump. Unless your source material is poorly recorded or very low bitrate the sound here is immersive and incredibly enjoyable. It sports a tactile lacquered wooden surface that lights up as you interact with it. We’ve seen for ourselves how these speakers are made, and we can tell you that plenty of care goes into selecting the wood and sanding it down by hand.
Bowers & Wilkins revived its iconicZeppelin wireless speaker for 2021. Well, it was revived in terms of looks; the internal hardware in the B&W Zeppelin (2021) is all new and, it turns out, more than fit for purpose. As I’ve already mentioned, there’s no remote control for the Zeppelin but there are a few control buttons located on the rear of the speaker. A multifunction button can be used to reset the Zeppelin or put it into pairing mode, there’s a button via which you can manually hail Alexa and mute the mic, and you’ll also find play/pause, volume up and volume down buttons. They’re all raised slightly and each has a distinctive shape, which helps when trying to tell them apart by feel. Design is also important. Happily, most AirPlay speakers are simple and streamlined, meaning they'll fit into most homes discretely. However, it is worth considering whether a small portable speaker, like the Sonos Roam or HomePod mini, is better for you than a big B&W speaker. It depends on your needs. In terms of pure audio fidelity, Chromecast wins; it supports 24-bit / 96Hz streaming, whereas AirPlay 2 is limited to 16-bit / 44.1Hz streaming. So, if you're looking for hi-res audio support, Chromecast is your best bet.
Design
These speakers aren't made to fill massive rooms with sound, but if you want to turn your home office or study into a high-quality listening station then these speakers will excite and delight no matter what kind of music you're listening to –and with five very distinct finishes they'll look great with any kind of décor too. And for good reason too. In terms of new features, the Era 100 boasts Bluetooth 5.0, a USB-C port, Ethernet connectivity, two tweeters angled away from each other to create a larger soundstage and a 25% larger woofer that gives it additional bass extension. The only place I was able to accommodate my review sample without completely rejigging the decor of my flat was on my office desk. This proved a perfect location for testing but wouldn’t be ideal were I wanting to impress guests with a Hi-Res playlist over dinner.
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