Short answer: the B&W Zeppelin Pro. It ranks #1 of 7 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $639. The Sonos Five ranks #3, rated 4.2/5, at $594.99, $44.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The case for the B&W Zeppelin Pro: Titanium dome tweeters and an improved 24-bit DAC over the standard Zeppelin for slightly better high-frequency detail on hi-res streams. The tradeoff: Same price as the standard Zeppelin for a fairly modest tweeter/DAC upgrade.
What the Sonos Five does well: Independently measured by Audio Science Review, it has deep bass for a wireless speaker, reaching 38.5Hz at -3dB and about 25.5Hz at -10dB, with a 3.92 preference score and 5.56 with an ideal subwoofer. The tradeoff: A 4.8dB reference band means the midrange and treble are less even than the best speakers, so tonal balance benefits from EQ.
Buy the B&W Zeppelin Pro. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $44.01 you would save on the Sonos Five does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&W Zeppelin Pro | Sonos Five | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $639.00 each | $594.99 each |
| Ranked | #1 of 7 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #3 of 7 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (Sonos S2) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes (3.5mm line-in) |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| Dimensions | 25.6” x 8.3” x 7.6” (650 x 210 x 194 mm) | 8”H x 14.3”W x 6.1”D (203 x 364 x 154 mm) |
| Drivers | 150mm woofer, 2x 90mm FST midrange drivers, 2x 25mm Titanium Dome tweeters | 3x mid-woofers, 3x tweeters (2 angled), 6 Class-D amplifiers |
| EQ | Yes (Dynamic EQ) | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | Built-in AC |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes (horizontal orientation) |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2 |
| TWS | No | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) | 14 lbs (6.36 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| DSP | Yes | - |
| Amplifier Power | 240W (80W woofer, 2x 40W midrange, 2x 40W tweeter) | - |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3.5mm line-in |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 38.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | about 25.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 3.92 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 5.56 |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
B&W Zeppelin Pro: $639.00 each Amazon eBay
Older model: the B&W Zeppelin (rated 4.3/5).
Pros: Titanium dome tweeters and an improved 24-bit DAC over the standard Zeppelin for slightly better high-frequency detail on hi-res streams. Dynamic EQ DSP. Customizable downward-firing light. Same wide soundstage and deep bass extension as the standard Zeppelin.
Cons: Same price as the standard Zeppelin for a fairly modest tweeter/DAC upgrade. Nothing besides the lack of battery, lack of waterproofing, high cost and the Earfun Uboom X that’s so close to it in terms of sound quality for 7x less money. Basically an indoor only speaker. At this price point the Top Recommended Bookshelf Speakers are the better buy, with even better soundstage.
Full B&W Zeppelin Pro review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 240W (80W woofer, 2x 40W midrange, 2x 40W tweeter) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 25.6” x 8.3” x 7.6” (650 x 210 x 194 mm) |
| Drivers | 150mm woofer, 2x 90mm FST midrange drivers, 2x 25mm Titanium Dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Dynamic EQ) |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sonos Five: $594.99 each Amazon eBay
Pros: Independently measured by Audio Science Review, it has deep bass for a wireless speaker, reaching 38.5Hz at -3dB and about 25.5Hz at -10dB, with a 3.92 preference score and 5.56 with an ideal subwoofer. A 2.22 directivity-index deviation means the sound stays consistent around the room. Three woofers and three tweeters on six amplifiers play in stereo when placed horizontally, and Trueplay tuning, AirPlay 2 and a 3.5mm line-in add flexibility. Measured bass extension of 38.5Hz (-3dB).
Cons: A 4.8dB reference band means the midrange and treble are less even than the best speakers, so tonal balance benefits from EQ. It has no Bluetooth and no microphone for voice assistants, and at 6.36kg it is a large box for a desk.
Full Sonos Five review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sonos S2) |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm line-in) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 25.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 38.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8”H x 14.3”W x 6.1”D (203 x 364 x 154 mm) |
| Drivers | 3x mid-woofers, 3x tweeters (2 angled), 6 Class-D amplifiers |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3.5mm line-in |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Built-in AC |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.92 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.56 |
| Stereo | Yes (horizontal orientation) |
| Streaming Services | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2 |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 14 lbs (6.36 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons