BW Zeppelin or other?
Discussion
Soon to be moving into my first place (flat) and my old Panasonic surround system/hifi is knackered.
I had originally been looking at trying to get a complete system set up but then realised that it wouldn't be practical given cost and neighborly relations....(I like to play music loud when drunk....)
Thoughts moved to the above, airplay model specifically (sonos although nice is out of budget).
Its primarily for music and radio, the airplay seems to be the ticket and it looks good whilst the xbox/blueray would sort that side of it out - may add a soundbar at a later date for film use/when I upgrade the old Plasma
Other tech is:
iMac 27"
iPad (1st Gen)
iPhone 4
Google Chromebook (gf's)
So the airplay should work well with the apple stuff, I mainly listen to R&B/Kisstory type music with some Pop and Indie classics thrown in.
Am I missing any other options in terms of both functionality/audio quality, £300 top budget really?
I had originally been looking at trying to get a complete system set up but then realised that it wouldn't be practical given cost and neighborly relations....(I like to play music loud when drunk....)
Thoughts moved to the above, airplay model specifically (sonos although nice is out of budget).
Its primarily for music and radio, the airplay seems to be the ticket and it looks good whilst the xbox/blueray would sort that side of it out - may add a soundbar at a later date for film use/when I upgrade the old Plasma
Other tech is:
iMac 27"
iPad (1st Gen)
iPhone 4
Google Chromebook (gf's)
So the airplay should work well with the apple stuff, I mainly listen to R&B/Kisstory type music with some Pop and Indie classics thrown in.
Am I missing any other options in terms of both functionality/audio quality, £300 top budget really?
I got a Zeppelin a few years ago, and love it. Only thing I wish it had was airplay, that the later ones had - otherwise sound is superb for what it is. Set iPod to electronic EQ setting, and it seems to work best. for the price, unless you are going 2nd hand hifi, i think you would be hard pressed to beat it for sound quality and build.
Mine was a re-certified one from JL, £299 I think, but its the non-airplay, and was from a few years back now.
Service from B&W is great however, so buy with confidence. I had minor hissing from the unit when paused, and had it back to them under warranty. They actually just sent me a fresh unit, with a new warranty. Almost all my home audio great is now B&W.
Service from B&W is great however, so buy with confidence. I had minor hissing from the unit when paused, and had it back to them under warranty. They actually just sent me a fresh unit, with a new warranty. Almost all my home audio great is now B&W.
Bowers and Wilkins have a shop with re-certified products. You can get the Zeppelin Air for £399
http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/Shop/Special-Deals...
While the Zeppelins were indeed benchmark bits of kit & still look stunning, they're a bit long in the tooth now & are generally considered to have been sonically surpassed by quite a few others now. (For example, the NAD Viso 1 which is similarly priced), so might just worth having a look at some of the competition.
I've got a Zeppelin Air, having had my 1st Zeppelin upgraded by B&W when it needed a service.
Aurally, it's very good, and combined with its visual looks, I love it. It's got enough inputs to keep most devices connected, you just have to remember to circle through to the right source when turning it on as it only remembers how the last device connected to it.
Admittedly, its a bit long in the tooth and may not be the best on the market today, but it's still up there in my eyes. One other thing, the B&W support/tech team are excellent - always willing to help, and my experience of their aftercare service has been top notch.
Aurally, it's very good, and combined with its visual looks, I love it. It's got enough inputs to keep most devices connected, you just have to remember to circle through to the right source when turning it on as it only remembers how the last device connected to it.
Admittedly, its a bit long in the tooth and may not be the best on the market today, but it's still up there in my eyes. One other thing, the B&W support/tech team are excellent - always willing to help, and my experience of their aftercare service has been top notch.
Perfect, I'm really an audio Noob (I thought the standard speakers in Pug 206 sounded the biz at 17!)
All I had to base it on was the Panasonic £130 new, 7 year old 1000w 5.1 system I use currently (when its working) but the demo in JL when I stopped by on Monday was brilliant when they got it going, even sounded better than the £190 bose dock (little thing) they also had out.
I think I'd better get saving (or wait until I've cleared a little debt) - I was going to lump it on a CC at the weekend but after completing on the flat today I'm totally broke and may need to be a little more prudent
All I had to base it on was the Panasonic £130 new, 7 year old 1000w 5.1 system I use currently (when its working) but the demo in JL when I stopped by on Monday was brilliant when they got it going, even sounded better than the £190 bose dock (little thing) they also had out.
I think I'd better get saving (or wait until I've cleared a little debt) - I was going to lump it on a CC at the weekend but after completing on the flat today I'm totally broke and may need to be a little more prudent
Bookmarked...
I'm getting a system in June for my iPhone although I'd like an aux in for other devices. Sound quality is the most important thing for me. I tested a Zepplin out and it was good although I was a little dissapointed. It was in a large department store so I need to hear it in a normal sized room with no background noise.
I'd consider anything for with an iPhone 5S dock with airplay and an aux in for around the £500 mark.
I'm getting a system in June for my iPhone although I'd like an aux in for other devices. Sound quality is the most important thing for me. I tested a Zepplin out and it was good although I was a little dissapointed. It was in a large department store so I need to hear it in a normal sized room with no background noise.
I'd consider anything for with an iPhone 5S dock with airplay and an aux in for around the £500 mark.
BenM77 said:
Yeah it ticks all the boxes although I want a better test before I buy. Just wondering what else around that price fits the bill. I still think I'll end up with the Zeppelin but I'd hate to get one then find out a week later there's a better sounding device that fits the bill!If buying used is an option: Philips DS9800W Fidelio SoundSphere
Great sound and no problem with mines until now (got them around 18 months ago) despite some terminal failure stories I read about during my research ... Only used with Airplay and never had any issues with the connection.
Great sound and no problem with mines until now (got them around 18 months ago) despite some terminal failure stories I read about during my research ... Only used with Airplay and never had any issues with the connection.
toon10 said:
BenM77 said:
Yeah it ticks all the boxes although I want a better test before I buy. Just wondering what else around that price fits the bill. I still think I'll end up with the Zeppelin but I'd hate to get one then find out a week later there's a better sounding device that fits the bill!A nice trick if you have a mac is to set Airplay for your speakers. You can then look at music videos on vevo etc and it streams through the Zeppelin
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