Short answer: the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro, if you are buying new. The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin ranks higher than the Sonos Five (#2 vs #4 of 10 powered desktop speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro, is rated 4.4/5 at $899 and is still sold new.
The case for the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin: Amazingly neutral, quite a wide soundstage due to the width. Watch for: 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.
The Sonos Five is the deeper-bass option. 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. Its bass reaches about 25.5Hz before falling 10dB, against 32Hz for the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin lacks. It links with other speakers (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2), which the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin cannot. Watch for: 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 Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro, the replacement for the discontinued Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonos Five.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin | Sonos Five | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $899 each Discontinued | $594.99 each |
| Ranked | #2 of 10 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #4 of 10 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (Sonos S2) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes (3.5mm line-in) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~32Hz | about 25.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) |
| 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 Decoupled Double-Dome aluminium tweeters | 3x mid-woofers, 3x tweeters (2 angled), 6 Class-D amplifiers |
| EQ | No | 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 | No | - |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 3.92 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 5.56 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin vs Sonos Era 300
- Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro vs Sonos Five
- Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin vs EarFun Uboom X
Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 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
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin: $899 each Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro, ranked higher, rated 4.4/5, released Oct 2024. It adds adjustable EQ. See every Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin generation.
Pros: Amazingly neutral, quite a wide soundstage due to the width. Bass extension deeper than all others in category. Measured bass extension of ~32Hz (-10dB).
Cons: 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. Discontinued.
Full Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 240W (80W woofer, 2x 40W midrange, 2x 40W tweeter) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~32Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| 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 Decoupled Double-Dome aluminium tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| 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 →
| Released | Jun 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| 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