Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition review: a classic, remastered

There aren't many audio products that you could call 'iconic'. But Bowers & Wilkins' Zeppelin – which I recall when it first came to market as the ultimate iPod dock, remember that from 15 years ago? – yet again impressed me upon its reimagined release back in 2021. Now one of the best wireless speakers returns as an established classic remastered, as the Zeppelin Pro Edition.

But what exactly is so 'Pro' about this new wireless speaker? The Zeppelin's looks certainly haven't changed since its previous release – save for the new Solar Gold finish and adjustable light colour to the front – but its internals have been given a re-rub for the better, making for a more mature and sophisticated audio offering.

I've been living with the Pro Edition for two months now – and it's evident to me that the expression 'once a classic, always a classic' remains true. The latest Zeppelin is a clear 5-star speaker through and through, so long as you're content without any voice control anyway...

B&W Zeppelin Pro Edition: Price & Availability

When the last-gen Zeppelin arrived, it was priced at £699 / $799 / AU$1,199 at launch. Well, guess what? The Zeppelin Pro Edition is priced the very same! No generational price increase is great to see, although the older model is available at a great discount right now.

In terms of availability, however, while the Pro Edition speaker is on general sale, I've not been able to obtain it from many retailers as yet due to stock and demand. Do keep an eye on the shopping widget embedded above, however, as that'll show you the latest and greatest deals.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro: What's New?

• Mid-range drivers add anti-resonance plug, have revised motor and damping
• New titanium dome tweeter (as per the 607 Series speakers)
• Front light colour can be adjusted from within the app
• No Alexa voice control on board
• New 'Solar Gold' finish

As you can see from my shots in this very review, the Zeppelin Pro Edition is a visual carbon copy of the previous Zeppelin. Both models are the exact same size (21cm high, 19cm deep, and 65cm long), with the same arrangement of ports and buttons – physical on/off, Bluetooth pairing and separate volume up/down buttons live on the curved rear surface – and only the Solar Gold finish indicating the Pro Edition's distinction.

It's what's inside where Bowers & Wilkins has really gone to work, though, boosting the audio platform and making it "more grown up". Within there are five speakers total – one 150mm woofer, two 90mm midrange drivers, and one 25mm tweeter – which, again, are an absolute echo of what was also in the original Zeppelin.

The changes are therefore subtle: it's out with the aluminium tweeter of old and in with a titanium dome tweeter instead (the same as found in the 607 Series floor-standing speakers from the brand), while the midrange drivers have a new anti-resonance plug, revised motor and damping systems – the goal to achieve even less distortion than before.

If you don't fancy the Solar Gold then there's also Midnight Sky – I'd call it 'black', really – which is likely to be popular. Oh, and the downlight at the front of the product can be adjusted to output different colours – as selected from the app. That might seem like a small thing, but the addition of colours can really change the mood and ambience.

As I mentioned in the intro of this review, those who rely on voice control might not be a fan of the Pro Edition either. That's because Amazon's Alexa has been banished – a feature that existed in the previous Zeppelin – and there's no voice assistant of any kind.

Apparently too few Zeppelin owners used voice, says Bowers & Wilkins. And while I should be upset by the feature's lacking here, I'm actually pleased – Alexa always interrupts my soundbar's output, so I'm glad it doesn't break up the listening experience here.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro review: Design & Setup

As per its name, the Zeppelin looks very much like an actual Zeppelin – only this one can't fly, isn't full of gas and there's no Goodyear logo to be seen anywhere. It's a visually far more arresting look than many of the current desk-like options available, from Cambridge Audio to Ruark.

I think of the Zeppelin Pro Edition as more of a higher-end Sonos competitor, as Bowers & Wilkins' more heavyweight build here – it's got a built-in metal stand, contributing to its overall 6.6kgs mass – sees it look more sophisticated compared to the largely plastic exterior of a Sonos Era 300. It's a beautifully made object, every bit worthy of its 'Pro' name.

Connectivity is all wireless, which I can completely understand, but do think a 3.5mm port or even HDMI input wouldn't have gone amiss here – especially in the 'Pro' model, where I think an even more diverse range of buyers could come into play. There is a USB-C port next to the fig-8 power port, but it's strictly for 'service only' – so you can't transmit any audio data that way.

I've already mentioned the physical controls, which you'll need when setting up the product, but a couple of taps here and there and you're good to go – it's very easy. The Bowers & Wilkins Music app is a handy part of the process, too, especially if you want to pool your various sources. The app is ready for linking your Qobuz, Tidal, Amazon Music, Soundcloud, Deezer and various stations (Pandora, TuneIn, Last.FM, Dash, NTS), is Roon Ready and Spotify Connect compatible, delivering aptX Adaptive quality.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro review: Sound & Performance

First and foremost, this is a high-resolution device capable of delivering quality up to 24-bit/96kHz (the onboard DAC is actually even better than that, at up to 192kHz, but is currently restricted – a future tweak, who knows?). So whether you're pushing tunes from your phone via Bluetooth, or cranking out the utmost quality from a Tidal connection via your Wi-Fi network, this Zeppelin is more than happy with the full range.

I first heard the speaker back in November of last year, getting samples of Heaven by The National, to Big Bw by Fat Freddy's Drop and A Foggy Day by Oscar Peterson to show the speaker's considerable breadth of range.

But while I first called the Zeppelin Pro "a dream for those who love clear, crisp vocals", now I've lived with the speaker for many weeks, I must also complement it on being a versatile all-rounder too. Sure, its mid-range delivery is really exemplary – and really sets it apart from its various competition. It's the attention to detail and impressive tonality that are a real selling point.

The big question on many people's lips, however, will be just how different the Pro Edition sounds versus the original? I've A-B tested the two, and think the original model actually gives the bass a little more room, while vocals have a marginally greater clearance in the mix, and, to my ears, the high-end actually being more rolled-off compared to the original speaker – despite the new aluminium tweeter delivering up to 24kHz.

But I've also been having a house music renaissance in 2025 so far, with many of Lane 8's seasonal mixes championing my musical timeline – and delivered superbly. The myriad of these 4/4 selections, whether it's Disclosure or various Anjunadeep artists, provides effortless bass (down to 35Hz) that attacks as you'd want it to, but doesn't linger – it's a taut and clean listen.

The Pro Edition does all of this up to rather considerable volume levels, too – the speakers combined are 200W, driven by 240W of amplification – whilst maintaining dynamic range and ability up into pretty considerable decibel levels. I think you can overcook it, but my office has been more than filled with sound at the 50-60% level during the day. And as there's no three-dimensional audio shenanigans the soundfield is sturdy and central – lacking a little in stereo separation given the design's make-up, but that's just fine by me, given its coherent performance.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro review: Verdict

A classic, remastered. That's the Zeppelin Pro Edition in a nutshell. It takes all that made one of the best wireless speakers great and tweaks it yet further. It's a far more interesting-looking product than a Sonos or wood-topped hi-fi too.

Sure, it's marginal, and I wouldn't see the Pro as an obvious 'upgrade' model for current owners – especially if you want voice control, which now lacks – but those seeking a distinctive wireless speaker with discerning sound, look no further.

Also consider

It's hard to ignore the older 'not Pro' Zeppelin, which is externally identical – save for the light colour change and new material colour option – as it's a fair chunk of change cheaper, still sounds excellent, and offers a voice assistant.

Elsewhere, the Cambridge Audio Evo One all-in-one looks entirely different, offers a wood-topped finish plus a display to the front, and sounds pretty great too. It's hard to find, given the demand, but could be your ideal match – if you've got some more cash to spend, anyway.

Looking to spend a little less? Sonos' Era 300 is undeniably impressive, with great multi-room potential, but doesn't have the scale, visual impact or finish of the Bowers. That'll be why it's less costly, too, though...