B&W Zepplin, Arcam rCube or other?
Discussion
Hi,
I want to replace a very old Technics hi-fi running Tannoy profile speakers with a clean simple dock. It's just going to sit in an average size living room. I was looking at a Bose SoundDock series 3 (a friend has a series 1 and it's quite impressive for the price.) I was a little concerned about how it would fill my room so I've been looking at paying a bit more (around £500) and getting the zeppelin. It's a thing of beauty but after reading a few reports, the rCube is supposed to be just as good for the same price. Is one better from a sound quality point of view or are there other alternatives at that price that I should consider? Obviously, I'll have to test drive before buying but just wondering if anyone has any first hand experieces with either and what your thoughts were.
I want to replace a very old Technics hi-fi running Tannoy profile speakers with a clean simple dock. It's just going to sit in an average size living room. I was looking at a Bose SoundDock series 3 (a friend has a series 1 and it's quite impressive for the price.) I was a little concerned about how it would fill my room so I've been looking at paying a bit more (around £500) and getting the zeppelin. It's a thing of beauty but after reading a few reports, the rCube is supposed to be just as good for the same price. Is one better from a sound quality point of view or are there other alternatives at that price that I should consider? Obviously, I'll have to test drive before buying but just wondering if anyone has any first hand experieces with either and what your thoughts were.
Rick Cutler said:
I would suggest a sonos setup.
Play 5 for around £350
Or stretch to a playbar for £599
You don't even have to dock the phone then.
Thanks for the suggestion. Not a bad shout actually. Does the playbar suit music and TV or is it best to get a playbar and add a couple of Play 5's at a later date for more music performance? The thing that concerns me is what you need to get a decent setup out the box i.e. amp, bridge, 2 speakers and play bar or is it good enough to just start with one Play 5 and add the other stuff when finaces permit?Play 5 for around £350
Or stretch to a playbar for £599
You don't even have to dock the phone then.
If sound quality is what you want look at B&W, I have the A5, its brilliant, really sharp and clear no boom, go Z if you really need a physical dock.
I would only look at sonos (very popular on here) if multi-room is important, but you get that at the expense of sound quality - IMHO the Sonos sound quality is mediocre at best (Play 5).
I would only look at sonos (very popular on here) if multi-room is important, but you get that at the expense of sound quality - IMHO the Sonos sound quality is mediocre at best (Play 5).
I had a Bose Sound dock (series 1) and Arcam rcube (and r-wand) which I recently sold. The reason being I am moving to Sonos as I really like the simplicity of the "no dock necessary" and seamless way it can be linked. So far I have playbar, sub and 2 play ones in the lounge and 2 play ones in the kitchen. I have not yet decided what to do with the B+W A7 as the sound from that is so good. The sound from the Bose and the Rcube was good but not better than the paired Sonos play 1s (stereo seperation is alway a problem with 1 speaker). Having "cut free", I would be very wary in future of going back to a physical dock.. Apple have shown that their connectors are always going to change with the (recent) move to lightning port.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
Thanks for all the thoughts guys. I have a few options to test out. I like the idea of Sonos only I know if I start out with one speaker, I'll never add to it (the other half always has her eye on something when I have spare cash)! Multi-room doesn't bother me although I do like the idea of the soundbar, sub, and a couple of speakers to take care of my movies and music in the living room.
I was thinking of the B&W option as it will mainly be served by my iPhone 5S with the option of using air play too. I take the point about Apple changing the connecters! I have a lot of old expensive kit for the car, etc. still on the old connector which is useless to me now.
I need to take a wander around a few electrical outlets to test the sound of each unit out and see what I'm happy with.
I was thinking of the B&W option as it will mainly be served by my iPhone 5S with the option of using air play too. I take the point about Apple changing the connecters! I have a lot of old expensive kit for the car, etc. still on the old connector which is useless to me now.
I need to take a wander around a few electrical outlets to test the sound of each unit out and see what I'm happy with.
Sonos is an expensive route unless you plan on using its boundless connectivity both in house and external internet, which simply wipes the floor with everything else at the moment.
There are cheaper (and agueably better sounding) more suitable options that people have mentioned if you don't want to venture outside a single room.
There are cheaper (and agueably better sounding) more suitable options that people have mentioned if you don't want to venture outside a single room.
I heard the Bose Soundtouch 30 and 20 last week and was quite impressed, but again Sonos wipes the floor on connectivity. Bose doesn't even connect to a NAS and only has a few streaming services. The salesman mentioned NAS was coming (upgradable firmware) and one of the streaming services.
Its funny how music and television have changed in the last 12 months with smart tv's and streaming services, music also seems to be heading that way at an alarming pace. I was talking to a guy in Richer sounds who said Turntables had out sold CD players last year......and I don't think that is a statement on turntables, more a statement that CD's appear to be dieing very quickly.
Sonos have been around for a while, and everyone has suddenly 'got the message' due to streaming and access to cheap storage for lossless recordings. Now other manufacturers are playing catch up. Sonos have an excellent track record and their systems are the most flexible and backwards compatible (apple are you listening?). I'm not sure how future proof they are, but the signs are good.
My worry would be that the current crop of Sonos wannabies/alternatives are rushed halfway house products that get superceded very quickly in the pursuit of Sonos.
Its funny how music and television have changed in the last 12 months with smart tv's and streaming services, music also seems to be heading that way at an alarming pace. I was talking to a guy in Richer sounds who said Turntables had out sold CD players last year......and I don't think that is a statement on turntables, more a statement that CD's appear to be dieing very quickly.
Sonos have been around for a while, and everyone has suddenly 'got the message' due to streaming and access to cheap storage for lossless recordings. Now other manufacturers are playing catch up. Sonos have an excellent track record and their systems are the most flexible and backwards compatible (apple are you listening?). I'm not sure how future proof they are, but the signs are good.
My worry would be that the current crop of Sonos wannabies/alternatives are rushed halfway house products that get superceded very quickly in the pursuit of Sonos.
Just to throw another one into the equation & audition, if you haven't already made up your mind; the Marantz Consolette is a fine sounding iPod speaker dock (& like the Zeppelin Air and NAD Viso 1 AP, also has Airplay). Stunning sound & imaging considering the size constraints - clean & neutral (significantly more so than the Zeppelin), tight bass & very musical ( it's sound was apparently tuned by Ken Ishiwata). - you can get it for around the same price as the Zeppelin at £450-£499 if you shop around , it was originally £899), Fantastic engineering & build quality. You either love or hate the looks!
The best ones I listened to were the Zeppelin (excellent), the Viso 1 AP (also excellent), JBL OnBeat Xtreme (very good but christ it's ugly!) & the Marantz - I thought the Marantz, while it didn't have the most 'obvious' rock sound or tub-thumping bass, was the most musically engaging & tonally accurate for the type of music I listen to. (The only downside is the control 'App' for it which is s
t!)
The best ones I listened to were the Zeppelin (excellent), the Viso 1 AP (also excellent), JBL OnBeat Xtreme (very good but christ it's ugly!) & the Marantz - I thought the Marantz, while it didn't have the most 'obvious' rock sound or tub-thumping bass, was the most musically engaging & tonally accurate for the type of music I listen to. (The only downside is the control 'App' for it which is s
t!)maddog993 said:
Just to throw another one into the equation & audition, if you haven't already made up your mind; the Marantz Consolette is a fine sounding iPod speaker dock (& like the Zeppelin Air and NAD Viso 1 AP, also has Airplay). Stunning sound & imaging considering the size constraints - clean & neutral (significantly more so than the Zeppelin), tight bass & very musical ( it's sound was apparently tuned by Ken Ishiwata). - you can get it for around the same price as the Zeppelin at £450-£499 if you shop around , it was originally £899), Fantastic engineering & build quality. You either love or hate the looks!
The best ones I listened to were the Zeppelin (excellent), the Viso 1 AP (also excellent), JBL OnBeat Xtreme (very good but christ it's ugly!) & the Marantz - I thought the Marantz, while it didn't have the most 'obvious' rock sound or tub-thumping bass, was the most musically engaging & tonally accurate for the type of music I listen to. (The only downside is the control 'App' for it which is st!)
I've not totally made up my mind as I need to listen to the options first although I'm thinking along the B&W route. I might even stretch to the A7 but I'm told that it's better but not by £130. My partner has instructed me to hold off until my birthday (June) so I think plans are underway :-) At least I have time to do some investigating to make sure I'm happy with whatever I choose. The best ones I listened to were the Zeppelin (excellent), the Viso 1 AP (also excellent), JBL OnBeat Xtreme (very good but christ it's ugly!) & the Marantz - I thought the Marantz, while it didn't have the most 'obvious' rock sound or tub-thumping bass, was the most musically engaging & tonally accurate for the type of music I listen to. (The only downside is the control 'App' for it which is s
t!)I didn't realise Marantz had an option out there to be honest but they do make some nice gear. I'll add it to the list.
sparkyhx said:
I heard the Bose Soundtouch 30 and 20 last week and was quite impressed, but again Sonos wipes the floor on connectivity. Bose doesn't even connect to a NAS and only has a few streaming services. The salesman mentioned NAS was coming (upgradable firmware) and one of the streaming services.
Its funny how music and television have changed in the last 12 months with smart tv's and streaming services, music also seems to be heading that way at an alarming pace. I was talking to a guy in Richer sounds who said Turntables had out sold CD players last year......and I don't think that is a statement on turntables, more a statement that CD's appear to be dieing very quickly.
Sonos have been around for a while, and everyone has suddenly 'got the message' due to streaming and access to cheap storage for lossless recordings. Now other manufacturers are playing catch up. Sonos have an excellent track record and their systems are the most flexible and backwards compatible (apple are you listening?). I'm not sure how future proof they are, but the signs are good.
My worry would be that the current crop of Sonos wannabies/alternatives are rushed halfway house products that get superceded very quickly in the pursuit of Sonos.
This^Its funny how music and television have changed in the last 12 months with smart tv's and streaming services, music also seems to be heading that way at an alarming pace. I was talking to a guy in Richer sounds who said Turntables had out sold CD players last year......and I don't think that is a statement on turntables, more a statement that CD's appear to be dieing very quickly.
Sonos have been around for a while, and everyone has suddenly 'got the message' due to streaming and access to cheap storage for lossless recordings. Now other manufacturers are playing catch up. Sonos have an excellent track record and their systems are the most flexible and backwards compatible (apple are you listening?). I'm not sure how future proof they are, but the signs are good.
My worry would be that the current crop of Sonos wannabies/alternatives are rushed halfway house products that get superceded very quickly in the pursuit of Sonos.
I have just had to return a Bose SoundTouch 20 , looks good , sounds great, simple to use, just can't keep it connected for longer than 10mins.
Just replaced with Sonos 5 and Bridge, very happy with the quality.
Sonos is way better than the B&W.
My zeppelin's been fixed twice. Credit to them they're great to deal with when they go wrong, but I'd rather they'd just release products which don't break in the first place.
Since ditched it for a Sonos setup, started with a single Play 5 which sounded great. A pair of them with the sub sounds ace.
My zeppelin's been fixed twice. Credit to them they're great to deal with when they go wrong, but I'd rather they'd just release products which don't break in the first place.
Since ditched it for a Sonos setup, started with a single Play 5 which sounded great. A pair of them with the sub sounds ace.
Just a quick update. I went for the Zepplin in the end. After splashing out on a couple of expensive holidays, my budget was £500 and no more so I didn't test the more expensive options. I got a sample of the B&W in a sound room and was pretty blown away by the quality of the sound considering it was playing my iPhone tracks. I got it home last night and it was pretty easy to set up with AirPlay. I didn't notice any difference in sound quality between docking and using AirPlay to be honest which was a pleasant suprise.
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