Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) Zeppelin iPod Speakers are easily the most interesting-looking iPod speakers I've ever tested. You may or may not agree, but in my humble opinion they look more like modern sculpture than iPod speakers. And while you definitely pay a premium for such a gorgeous design, they do sound better than you'd expect a one-piece speaker system this size to sound. (This size, to be precise, is 25.2 inches wide by 7.2 inches high by 8.2 inches deep, and weighing in at a whopping 16.5 pounds.)

As you can clearly see, they are aptly named for the famed airship, albeit clad in black grille cloth with sleek stainless steel highlights.

Front:

Back:

As for features and performance, as I said, this system sounds far better than any one-piece stereo speaker system has the right to sound. And its stereo separation is surprising given the proximity of the left and right speakers. It all adds up to excellent sound reproduction. Furthermore, it sounds really good at almost any listening level from whisper soft to headbanging loud. Highs are crystalline and crisply defined while the low notes may lead you to look around for its subwoofer. (Hint: There isn't one. Hey, didn't I just call it a, "one-piece stereo speaker system?)

The system includes a small black zeppelin-shaped wireless remote (visible in the photo) that has 7 buttons: power, play/pause, volume + and –, next track/fast forward, previous track/rewind, and source select.

Zeppelin offers several unique and interesting features. For one thing, the AUX input on the rear of the unit is a hybrid capable of accepting a standard mini stereo jack plug for analog audio or a TOSlink optical mini jack plug for digital signals. So Zeppelin can receive theoretically cleaner digital signal from devices like the AirPort Express or my Onkyo HTIB (Home Theatre in a Box).

Another uniqueness is the iPod dock, which is fabricated of stainless steel and seems to float in front of the unit. There are no little plastic inserts or other doohickeys; the dock connector is spring-loaded and supports all iPod models automatically when they're inserted.

Finally, when you dock your iPod to Zeppelin, a Speakers menu magically appears on the iPod as shown here:

B&W suggest you turn off any EQ on your iPod and try this adjustment first. Unlike the iPod's built-in equalizer, this adjustment actually alters the output of the Zeppelin itself. So if you use this control and then connect a device to the AUX input, it will use the bass setting you chose on your iPod. When I cranked it up to the +1 setting, bass response was thunderous but undistorted. Ultimately I decided, though, that the 0 or -1 settings sounded most natural to my ears, depending upon where I placed the system, . For what it's worth, I don't recall seeing this feature on any other speaker except the Apple iPod Hi-Fi.

Believe it or not, the photos don't really do this system justice... If you want to truly understand its beauty, you really should visit your local Apple store and see a Zeppelin up close.

By the way, if you're not familiar with Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), they're quite well known for innovative technologies and ultra high-end audiophile and reference loudspeaker systems such as their famous model 801, introduced in 1979 and quickly becoming the reference speaker of choice for many of the world’s classical recording studios, including EMI Abbey Road, Decca and Deutsche Grammophon. More recently, in 1993 after 5 years of research and development, B&W introduced the $30,000+ Nautilus speaker system (shown below), described by some as, "possibly the best loudspeaker money can buy."

While I can't afford Nautilus speakers, (or anything else B&W makes for that matter), I thoroughly enjoyed living vicariously through their Web site: www.bowers-wilkins.com. Give a click--it costs nothing to stare and drool... (Don't miss the fascinating Innovation & Technology pages while you're there.)

The Bottom Line

What can you say about a one-piece iPod speaker system that sounds great, looks even better, and costs more than any single iPod (or iPhone)? I'll tell you what I say: If you can afford it and find it attractive, you'll be very happy with it. Alas, if sound quality per dollar spent is your main criteria, you can spend less and get better sounding speakers like the Blue Sky EXO 2.1 Stereo Monitoring Speaker System (reviewed here), which sound noticeably better though they aren't nearly as beautiful.