Bowers & Wilkins Z2 Review | 130 Data compared

The What Hi-Fi? review of the Bowers & Wilkins Z2 highlights the wireless speaker as a sleek, well-built unit that delivers surprisingly rich and clear audio for its size. Pros include an exceptionally easy AirPlay setup, a hidden Lightning connector, and a well-balanced, room-filling sound. However, the speaker is limited by its physical, non-upgradable Apple Lightning dock, a lack of in-app EQ, and the absence of Bluetooth, which leaves non-Apple users reliant on a 3.5mm wired input.

The 2013 WIRED review of the $400 Bowers & Wilkins Z2 speaker dock highlights its exceptional sound quality, stemming from the manufacturer's pedigree in British studio monitors, but issues a 6/10 rating due to significant cons. While the audio performance is praised, the review finds the user experience marred by Apple's AirPlay platform, which continues to suffer from stability issues during wireless playback.

The Bowers & Wilkins Z2 is a visually appealing, compact wireless speaker dock offering punchy bass and big sound, yet it fails to justify its high price point due to lacking Bluetooth, no built-in battery, and average audio performance. While designed for Apple's Lightning connector, the speaker struggles with stereo separation and highlights imperfections in recordings.

The Bowers & Wilkins Z2 is a stylish, relatively affordable speaker offering excellent, rich audio quality and reliable Apple AirPlay streaming, featuring a convenient hidden Lightning connector. While praised for its performance, the system is hindered by an awkward remote control design and a technical flaw that cuts the beginning of tracks during wireless playback.

The Bowers & Wilkins Z2 is described as a well-designed speaker with strong Apple AirPlay integration, offering a warm, rich, and transparent audio experience. The review highlights its sleek aesthetic, easy app setup, and a convenient hinged Lightning dock as key pros. However, the device is held back by an awkwardly shaped remote and a noticeable technical flaw where it chops the first few seconds of tracks in wireless mode.

The T3 review of the B&W Z2 praises the wireless speaker for its stylish, robust design and high-quality sound for the price point, highlighting the Apple Lightning dock as a key feature. While offering good audio, the unit lacks Bluetooth connectivity—making it unsuitable for non-Apple users—and faces strong competition from alternatives like the Cambridge Audio Minx Air 100.

The Trusted Reviews assessment of the Bowers & Wilkins Z2 highlights it as a compact speaker system that achieves an impressively rich, warm sound with decent bass for small rooms, while using a specialized dimpled rear bass port to minimize distortion. However, the review notes significant limitations, citing restricted bass depth and limited treble detail resulting from small, full-range drivers rather than dedicated components.

The TechRadar review describes the Bowers & Wilkins Z2 as a compact, stylish wireless speaker featuring an Apple Lightning connector, AirPlay support, and enhanced bass via its signature Flowport design. However, the unit is criticized for limited compatibility, as it excludes Bluetooth and non-Lightning devices, forcing users to rely on a 3.5mm input or Ethernet.

The Sound & Vision review of the $399 Bowers & Wilkins Z2 praises the speaker system for its compact, stylish design, which seamlessly blends into rooms as a practical bedside unit featuring Apple’s lossless AirPlay technology and a Lightning connector. While lauded for its performance and aesthetic integration, the device has limitations, specifically the inability to dock iPads and a somewhat retro design choice in including a 3.5-mm analog input.

The Audioholics review of the $399 Bowers & Wilkins Z2 highlights a sleek, well-built wireless speaker featuring dual 3.5-inch drivers, 40-watt amplification, and effective "Flowport" technology for authoritative bass. While praising the user-friendly setup and exceptional clarity in mids and highs, the assessment notes cons including a slightly thin sound profile on complex tracks and the lack of dedicated tweeters.

In his review for The Absolute Sound, Neil Gader describes the $399 Bowers & Wilkins Z2 as a highly capable compact audio system featuring exceptional authority, openness, and rich midrange substance. The unit is praised for its integrated Apple Lightning dock and stable AirPlay connectivity. However, the Z2 is noted for having a slightly dark tonal cast and a forward midrange, alongside highly restrictive connectivity that limits functionality for non-Apple users and older devices.

Jordan Crook’s TechCrunch review highlights the Bowers & Wilkins Z2 as a compact, 7-inch AirPlay speaker featuring a flexible Lightning dock for Apple devices and powerful, room-filling sound. While the Z2 excels with an easy app-based setup and crisp audio, it is limited by a lack of 30-pin and iPad compatibility, uses an outdated remote control, and features a less iconic design than previous B&W models. T