Bowers & Wilkins Formation Audio Wireless Streamer
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Product Overview
Bowers & Wilkins Formation Audio is a wireless audio hub designed to work with B&W's new Formation range. It comes with wired digital and analogue inputs as well as outputs and brings wireless connectivity via Bluetooth and WiFi. There is also a LAN port.
On the plus side, the Formation Audio offers a neat solution to bundle multiple Formation wireless speakers in a multi-room setup. On the downside, however, there is only one pair of RCA input and the Formation Audio is not really needed (unlike wireless speaker systems from, say, DALI), since the speakers all support standard LAN, Bluetooth, and WiFi inputs.
Nevertheless, the Formation Audio enjoys an elegant design shared across the range. It supports B&W's proprietary WiFi mesh system that uses 2.4GHz for streaming from the source and 5GHz among Formation devices: this allows for ultra-low latency when used together. Additionally, the Formation Audio can actually be used with wireless speakers from other manufacturers.
Other models in the Formation series include the Duo (stereo speakers), Wedge (stand-alone speaker), Bar (soundbar), Bass (subwoofer), and Flex (compact speaker).
Ratings
What we found**
Pros
- Sleek, elegant design
- Easy-to-use app
- Easy to use and use
Cons
- Nothing in particular
What external reviewers found***
External score 85% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Impressive sound quality
Cons
- Expensive for what it offers
Price Comparison
Specifications
Connectivity
Ports
LAN + USB (service only) + 1x Optical (TOSLINK) + 2x RCA + 1x Digital (COAX) + 2x Analogue RCA
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth 4.1 + WiFi
Construction
Colors
Black
Form Factor
Wireless Streamer (wireless audio hub)
Dimensions
Size | Depth
263mm (10.4 in)
Size | Height
44mm (1.7 in)
Size | Width
215mm (8.5 in)
Weight
1.0kg (2.2 lb)
Function
Bluetooth Profiles
AptX HD, AAC, SBC
Compatibility
Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready
DAC
High performance DAC
Production
Debut
2019-04
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Launch Comparison
Clear List
3rd-Party Review Videos
External Reviews
hifichoice[1]
Reviewer score 85%The Duo has a potency and immediacy that is subtly different from a passive ported speaker. Each strike is deep and makes Bowers & Wilkins’ claim of reaching down to 25Hz entirely believable. The balance the Duo strikes between delivering great recordings with all of their fidelity intact is a notable success.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Impressive sound quality
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- Expensive for what it offers
User Reviews
Comments
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References
- ^ Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo/Audio. [hifichoice]. https://www.hifichoice.com/content/bowers-wilkins-formation-duoaudio. 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
The MSRP provided on this page may not apply to all regions equally. For the current price, please refer to the Price Comparison section.
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These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.
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