Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air no longer compatible after latest iTunes update 12.7.4.76

I got the answer and a workaround from B&W:

We have heard of this issue, and we are looking into it.

However, we are fairly certain that the problem is not caused by the speaker but rather a change made to iTunes from v12.7.4.76 and later.

There is nothing we at the moment can do to solve this, but we have found a temporary workaround – at least for those using MAC.

Here is what to do:

• Do not use the standard iTunes control panel to choose which speaker to play from
• Instead – open iTunes as normal
• Click on the speaker icon in the top bar meny on your Mac
• You will find the Zeppelin Air in the drop-down menu. Choose it by clicking on the speaker's name
• If you now go back to iTunes you will see that the program also has chosen the Zeppelin Air as speaker
• Press play in iTunes and playback via the Zeppelin Air should commence

The only drawback that I have found with this method is that you will have to relate to two different volume controls – the one in iTunes and the in the Mac.

Both will adjust volume, and if one is all the way down no music will be heard.

My recommendation is that you set the volume control that you normally do not use to approximately 75% and then use your preferred volume control to change playback volume.

Doing this will allow you to change volume from no sound up to 75% (setting the not-preffered volume control to max will allow you to control playback volume from no sound to max volume using the other volume control)

Hope this makes sense and that the workaround also works in your setup.

I would appreciate if you could let me know if it does – and also if it does not.

They're quite quick to point out that it's iTunes fault and that they cannot do anything about it - yes, iTunes made changes, but I also think B&W can make a firmware update to solve this.

I will try this workaround tonight. Have anyone else tried this?

Today, I just updated to the new release for iTunes (verion 12.9.2.6) and the connection to my Zeppelin Air now finally works after 1 year with it not being compatible.

I have given up on obtaining any kind of cooperation and/or resolution by either Apple or Bowers & Wilkens. Instead, I have finally found a work around using an application called TuneBlade. You can download it at tuneblade.com. There is a free version that has limitations and I would strongly recommend buying the full version for only $9.99. Well worth the cost and I can now stream to my Zeppelin Air via iTunes. Works flawlessly. P.S. This software is for Windows OS. I have Windows 10.

Roll back to iTunes 12.7.3.46. See the iTunes installers section of Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates for direct download links and advice on reverting to a pre-upgrade copy of your library. You lose the changes made to the library since you installed 12.7.4.76.

tt2

Hi Valmont74, tried it this evening with no luck. I did 4 attempts following the steps indicated in your post. As soon as I click play on itune the system just go back to system output.

I tried as well with logic, same issue. The system recognise the zeppelin but is not able to hold it.

I received a response as well from B&W and you were right, B&W does not seem to be taking any responsibility as long as it works at least with the iOS devices.

We are aware that there is a bug in the latest version of iTunes that is directly affecting Zeppelin Air 30 pin model at present.

We have raised an incident and are in contact with Apple directly with regards to any potential resolutions they can offer. Until we have had confirmation from Apple that the issue has been resolved, although we know it may not be convenient, the only work around is to roll back to an earlier version of iTunes or if using a Mac set the Zeppelin Air as its default audio output.

The issue only seems to effect iTunes on Macs or PC's at present and iOS devices such as iPhones or iPads do seem to still recognise the speaker.

We will keep a record of your enquiry and will be in contact as soon as we have any further information regarding the issue.

Thank you I have been searching the B&W site for this. I couldn't find my speaker icon in the top bar menu on the Mac so searched Speaker/Sound and then Output and all my various options were there. Blimey it now works! Marvellous. Thought I was going to have to chuck it out!!

When did you update to the latest version? What I had to do right after updating was to first shut down my computer, than unplug and replug the Zeppelin and allow it to than reconnect to your wireless network. I than restarted the PC and opened iTunes and the icon was now appearing to select from. Hope this works for you. Also, I am running Windows 10 Home (with all the latest updates from Windows - version 1809) on a Toshiba laptop. My Zeppelin Air is the 30 pin ipod dock.

Yes, confirmed the latest release works. I'm using Itunes (version 12.9.2.6), windows 10 and Zeppelin Air.

With iTunes 12.8 and the new OS Mojave this workaround is not working anymore. Apple new OS and iTunes 12.8 comes with Airplay 2. Airplay 2 is incompatible with B&W Zeppelin Air. B&W is not paying to Apple the fee to use Airplay and will not release firmware updates anymore. The solution to this problem is to avoid installing iTunes 12.8 and not update to OS Mojave. Zeppelin Air are not wireless speaker anymore. Airplay 2 was designed to use only with the expensive Apple toys.

With iTunes 12.8 and the new OS Mojave this workaround is not working anymore. Apple new OS and iTunes 12.8 comes with Airplay 2. Airplay 2 is incompatible with B&W Zeppelin Air. B&W is not paying to Apple the fee to use Airplay and will not release firmware updates anymore. The solution to this problem is to avoid installing iTunes 12.8 and not update to OS Mojave. Zeppelin Air are not wireless speaker anymore. Airplay 2 was designed to use only with the expensive Apple toys.

Yes, the OS Mojave with iTunes 12.8 is the "AirPlay 1 killer".

You can use AirPlay to Zeppelin Air with iTunes 12.8 in High Sierra OS. But not in the same way as ever. You have to select your Zeppelin Air clicking in the speaker icon in the toolbar of you Mac. You can't select Zeppelin Air with the AirPlay icon in iTunes 12.8. But this workaround only "works" in High Sierra OS. Don't update your Mac to Mojave OS.

Well i would just like to add further information. I am now convinced that Apple/itunes in their 12.8 update write information to the 30pin zeppelin to make it incompatible to any itunes.

Basic story is i updated itunes to 12.8 on my windows 10 PC and got the message that the airplay speaker was no longer compatible with itunes. I then tried to downgrade to various versions of itunes and instead of the not compatible message i got error (20) connecting message. I then thought well as it the itunes on my main pc i would try my laptop which has an older version of itunes on which i never use. I expected it to work but however i got the same error 20 message. So this was pushing me more towards something has been written to the Zepppelin.

Now as for the final twist i took my zeppelin to my friends who has the exact same setup as me the only difference is that he has been on holiday so his itunes has not been updated to 12.8. So his zeppelin works absolutely fine not even a blip. It plays perfectly.

So at this point i connect my speaker to his system which plays his fine and guess what my speaker isn't compatible with itunes. They are exactly the same speakers bought at virtually the same time. The only difference is that his system has not been updated to 12.8 and mine had.

So it looks to me that Apple has written something in to itunes that turns your older zeppelin into a brick as for as itunes is concerned.

I am not impressed Apple and you need to sort this out!!!!!

mesuno wrote:

With iTunes 12.8 and the new OS Mojave this workaround is not working anymore. Apple new OS and iTunes 12.8 comes with Airplay 2. Airplay 2 is incompatible with B&W Zeppelin Air. B&W is not paying to Apple the fee to use Airplay and will not release firmware updates anymore. The solution to this problem is to avoid installing iTunes 12.8 and not update to OS Mojave. Zeppelin Air are not wireless speaker anymore. Airplay 2 was designed to use only with the expensive Apple toys.

That's really disappointing news, I wonder is the "AirPlay 1 killer" the OS Mojave or iTunes 12.8?

Can I use AirPlay to Zeppelin Air with iTunes 12.8 in a High Sierra OS?

Works flawlessly. Thanks.

also £7.99 in uk or 8.99 in Euros.

The free version is the full programme but it only lets you stream for 10 minutes, so if your on the fence try the free version. its basically the price of an album.

Same problem here. Found out it still connects through System Preferences -> Sound. But remember the Zeppelin's remote only allows you to change volume, not Play/Pause/etc. in this mode.