TechRadar.com have pitched Bose, Yamaha and B&W iPod speaker systems head to head in a battle to find the best quality option.
Comparing the Bose SoundDock Series II, Yamaha PDX-50 and the B&W Zeppelin, Techradar point out that there is a fairly restricted choice for those looking for a high quality sound dock and that all three brands “aspire to deliver the best music performance possible”
They award the Zeppelin the top score of 5/5 and in terms of sound quality, describe it as “simply in a different class to the others”.
A better “head to head” review for the Zeppelin would have been to compare it to the Bose SoundDock 10, not the SoundDock II. Here in the US, both the Zeppelin and SoundDock 10 retail for $600 and the SoundDock II for $300. At twice the price and three times the size, if the Zeppelin can’t top the SoundDock II, then something would be very wrong. :)
I recently purchased a Zeppelin but only after first driving back and forth between my local Bose store and my local B&W dealer so I could first compare it to the SoundDock 10. I thought it was a reasonably close call but overall the Zeppelin won the day because it has a better design, better sound and much better stereo separation.
I also own a SoundDock Portable, which I believe is comparable to the SoundDock II. The Zeppelin, not surprisingly, blows it away. I’d love to see B&W make a portable dock.
Posted: Friday, 11 December 2009You’re right, the SoundDock 10 might have been a better comparision.
Posted: Wednesday, 16 December 2009However The Times Online have just compared the Zeppelin Mini to the Bose SoundDock 10. You can see the results here: http://blog.bowers-wilkins.com/theinsider/?p=311
Having owned a Zeppelin for just over 12months I was surprised that the rubber tilt pad is no longer supplied as standard kit. I only discovered this when I bought my partner a Zeppelin as a Christmas gift. It never crossed my mind that it wouldn’t be included as to be honest the ipod sits at the wrong angle without it. However having contacted B&W I was informed that the part could be purchased from the Spares department. Pretty disgusting since I’ve just paid nearly £400 for the Zeppelin. Bloody good job it sounds as good as the reviews suggest.
Posted: Tuesday, 29 December 2009What does the pad do? Mine did not come with one either.
Posted: Monday, 11 October 2010Hi David,
The pad is only if you don’t have an appropriate surfce at the right height for the Zeppelin and you need to adjust the angle. You can get a tilt pad from ukspares-repairs@bwgroup.com
I hope this helps
Posted: Thursday, 14 October 2010Kind regards
Susanna
If you compare the zappelin to a sounDock 10 of Bose. I am sure sounddock 10 would be 1up than zappelin.
Posted: Thursday, 24 May 2012Zappelin is no comparision for a sounddock II.