Bowers & Wilkins on Thursday launched the Zeppelin Wireless, marking the now comparatively rare addition of another AirPlay device to the speaker market.
Unlike its predecessor, the Air, lacks a Lightning dock, making it completely reliant on wireless input beyond a 3.5-millimeter jack and an Ethernet port. Aside from AirPlay however, the speaker also supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, and Spotify Connect.
Bass is provided by a 50-watt, 6-inch subwoofer. This is flanked by two 1-inch tweeters and two 3.5-inch midrange drivers, all four of which are rated at 25 watts each. An upgraded digital signal processor automatically converts to 24-bit, 192-kilohertz sound.
In keeping with the wireless philosophy, setup and firmware updates are handled via the app, which can also be used to handle volume levels and playback. Basic volume and play/pause buttons are present on the speaker itself.
The Zeppelin Wireless is already on sale in the U.K. for £499. The U.S. version will cost $699, but is not yet ready to order online. The product should reach retail stores on Oct. 15.