Frequency response
59 Hz to 20 kHz ±9.7 dB on-axis, ±7.6 dB avg 0-30°
Bass output (CEA-2010A standard)
• Ultra-low bass (20-31.5 Hz) average: 72.7 dB
20 Hz NA
25 Hz 72.5 dB
31.5 Hz 77.9 dB
• Low bass (40-63 Hz) average: 85.9 dB
40 Hz 78.2 dB
50 Hz 85.5 dB
63 Hz 90.2 dB
To measure the quasi-anechoic frequency response of the Zipp, I set it atop a 2-meter stand and placed the microphone at a distance of 1 meter. (Quasi-anechoic measurements eliminate reflections from surrounding objects to simulate measuring in an anechoic chamber.) The microphone was placed on the same axis as the tweeters. I then ran a ground-plane measurement at 1 meter to get the bass response. For all measurements, the unit was in Neutral FullRoom Optimization and voicing modes. To create the graph shown here, I spliced the bass response to the average of quasi-anechoic measurements of the left channel only taken at 0°, ±10°, ±20°, and ±30°. I used a Clio FW analyzer in MLS mode for the quasi-anechoic measurements and log chirp mode for ground plane, feeding test signals into the Zipp’s 3.5mm line input. The quasi-anechoic measurements were smoothed to 1/12th octave. The blue trace shows the 0° on-axis response, while the green trace shows the averaged response.
The Zipp’s on-axis frequency response is obviously not smooth at all, but you wouldn’t expect it to be given its unusual driver complement. Two open-backed tweeters at 90 degrees will inevitably interfere with each other’s sound waves. Any midrange coming off the woofer is being diffracted off the tweeters and the other chassis parts. These features create all sorts of peaks and dips in the midrange and treble, but they’re narrow and thus not necessarily all that audible. Also, they tend to average out into a flatter response. As you can see in the second frequency response graph, which shows measurements at 0°, 90°, and 180°, the responses at different angles don’t match but the tonal balance remains consistent — you don’t see the treble roll-off you see in most speakers when you move off-axis.
Not expecting much from the 4-inch woofer, and not having heard the Zipp before I measured it, I had intended to provide a simple Bass Limits measurement. But as I stepped the measurement frequency down, down, down, the Zipp just wouldn’t give out. So I decided to include full CEA-2010 bass output measurements here. I did the measurements at 1 meter because the Zipp’s output wasn’t strong enough to do them at the usual 3 meters. While the bass output isn’t real loud at any frequency, I did manage to get measurable response all the way down to 25 Hz—a trick even those subwoofers that come with ~$300 soundbars can’t manage. Amazing for a 4-inch woofer.
In my MCMäxxx™ test, in which I crank up Mötley Crüe’s “Kickstart My Heart” until it sounds distorted then back it off one notch and measure the output at 1 meter, the Zipp delivered 92 dBC. That’s pretty typical for a system of this size. The tweeters seem to be the limiting factor—the voices get a little tattered-sounding when the Zipp is at or near top volume.
Here’s an apt indicator of how I feel about the Zipp: The whole time I was reviewing it, I kept it playing at high volume, often repeating tunes just ’cause they sounded so good. Combine the great sound with the handy, cute form factor and the convenience of streaming from iOS devices without WiFi, and you’ve got by far my favorite AirPlay product to date.
thanks brent for this great review again! i was already considering the zipp as a possible and probably better sounding alternative to my bose soundlink.
what i am missing though are precise statements about battery life. you said you were listening to it near full volume most of the time. how long would the battery last at such settings? 4 hours playing wirelessly is a bit weak IMO.
Hi, oluv. I had to kind of rush this review in because of some technical issues with the product I'd planned to review for last Wednesday, so I didn't have a chance to do any formal battery testing, but I got somewhere around 3.5 to 4 hours of use in wireless mode with the unit cranked pretty loud most of the time. I'd guess you might get another hour of it at moderate level. I didn't use it in wired mode except when I measured it.
ok thanks, but i have another question i forgot to ask, namely about the "directplay" mode.
what's that special about this mode, as all airplay-enabled speakers i have at home do allow direct streaming during their configuration mode, where they also build up an own ad-hoc network. i don't understand what's the deal with libratone's way?
i also read about your reconnection issues, where you had to turn off the speakers. did you forward these issues to libratone?
i also wanted to ask if during "directplay" mode several devices can connect simultanously or only one? of course only one can playback at once, but it would be cool, if let's say during some beach party three iphones could be connected at the same time, and when one stops playback, another one can stream to the speaker, withouth having to reconnect or setup etc.
meanwhile even the logitech UE boombox allows 3 bluetooth devices to stay connected simultanously. as soon as the playback stops from one, the other one can continue playing. there is only one issue with the boombox: after powering up it automatically only connects to one of the three known devices. you have to force the connection on the other two manually.
What I want to know is what effect does that heavy cloth, or whatever it is, cover have on the sound.
Hi Brent. thanks for your review on the zipp. I'd like to hear your comment on the stereo imaging of this speaker. How good is zipp's stereo imaging comparing with Big Jambox's LiveAudio? And comparing with two Nokia play 360 working in pairing mode(one for left channel, one for right channel)? .
Second question is regarding apple store sales. When can I find it on store.apple.com? It's not there now.
Thanks!
@oluv: I have tested only a couple of AirPlay products, and don't have any on hand to check that. I also don't have the Zipp - review sample has gone back - so I can't check the simultaneous connection. I didn't have any problem switching instantly between AirPlay from my computer and from my iPod touch.
@al: The cover was on when I took the measurements. I can't say what the acoustic effects are because I didn't measure it without the cover (no one would use it like that), but there's no treble roll-off, so it seems likely they figured in the acoustic effects when they voiced it.
@Iwyjames: There is no stereo imaging with the Zipp. Indoors, it delivers what some in audio circles refer to as "fat mono" - i.e., essentially monophonic sound that has some sense of spaciousness to it because of the dispersion and the room acoustics. Outdoors, it is essentially a mono product. More or less the same statement applies to the Big Jambox. Its speakers are so close together that you can't get a stereo image, but they're far enough apart to deliver a slight sense of spaciousness. The Big Jambox has the LiveAudio feature for more spaciousness, but it seems to sound good only with binaural recordings.
The Nokia Play 360 I haven't heard, but if you can send L and R separately to two of the speakers, the stereo imaging will be far, far better than the Zipp or the Big Jambox. However, I can't vouch for the sound quality. That would depend on whether the engineer who did the voicing knew what he/she was doing. We see some compact/BT products these days that had the potential to sound good but don't because they weren't voiced or whoever voiced them had the wrong priorities.
If I recall correctly, the Zipp hits Apple stores next month.
Just heard from the PR guy that the Zipp is now available at Apple stores:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/H9737VC/A/libratone-zipp-portable-airp...