Bowers and Wilkins is now shipping its audiophile-grade high performance loudspeaker system for Apple’s current range of iPods, the Zeppelin.

"Applying Bowers & Wilkins’ considerable expertise to the task of iPod playback has yielded impressive results," said Bowers & Wilkins� Executive V.P. Business Development, Evert Huizing. "Several Bowers & Wilkins core technologies enabled us to offer a quantum leap in performance and to do it from a tremendously cool-looking component."

B&W Zeppelin

The Zeppelin is a one-piece amplified speaker system and docking station that transforms an iPod into highly compact stereo music system. It is just under two feet wide and has a dramatic, tapered shape and is beautifully finished in polished stainless steel.

Zeppelin�s tapered ends house the midrange and tweeter drivers in much the same way as the famous "pods" of Bowers & Wilkins’ world-class 800 Series loudspeakers, presenting a carefully curved profile that ensures a smooth response and even distribution of sound into the room, B&W said. Low frequencies are handled by a single five-inch �subwoofer� located in the center, its bass performance enhanced by the twin rear-firing ports.

Three channels of amplification, each incorporating proprietary DSP (digital signal processing) tailored to fine-tune response of the five drivers, deliver real high-fidelity power: 50 watts for the woofer and 25 watts for each two-way mid/high-frequency section. The result: deep, loud, startlingly dynamic sound reproduction - reflecting its serious high-end audio credentials.

Zeppelin comes complete with a pebble-like, mini remote handset to provide even more convenient control of volume, source select and mute, working seamlessly with the iPod to command its play/pause and track-selection functions. When docked, the iPod also accesses a special Zeppelin �Speaker� menu, with five-position bass EQ to tune response for system placement or individual preference. Zeppelin�s rear S-video and composite-video outputs deliver iPod video to a big screen, and a combination analog/digital mini-jack input offers Zeppelin playback of virtually any non-iPod audio source. Also included is a dedicated tilt-base, to place the Zeppelin at the acoustically ideal angle for seated or standup listening.

The B&W Zeppelin is immediately available and is priced at US$599.00. In addition, it will be available at selected Apple retail stores in the U.S. stating in September.