Bowers & Wilkins A5 AirPlay Wireless Music System

Discreet wireless music system from maestros Bowers & Wilkins.

The A5 combines high-quality audio engineering and best-in-class electronics with wireless Apple AirPlay streaming in a single, discreet unit for a pristine sound.
  • Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
  • Also works with iTunes on Mac or PC
  • Features M-1 speakers and anti-resonance plug technology
  • Digital-to-analog convertors for undistorted sound
  • Compact and discreet
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Questions & Answers

18 Questions + 26 Answers

3.5 out of 5 stars

Based on 25 reviews

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Purchase Information

$499.95

Free Shipping

Available to ship:
Within 24 hours

 
 

Features

Apple Recommends For

Playing and controlling your music wirelessly, from anywhere in the room.

Pristine sound

The A5 is designed to deliver spacious sound, from the highest quality audio files, wirelessly. Drivers from Bowers & Wilkins M-1 speakers, anti-resonance plug technology, and dimpled Flowports combine with high-quality, digital-to-analog converters and processors to carry a digital signal untainted by distortion, to a room-filling, yet surprisingly compact, system.

Stay in control

Play and control music wirelessly, anywhere in the room. Or, with more than one A5 forming a multiroom system you walk your music from room to room effortlessly in the palm of your hand.

Listening how you like it

AirPlay on A5 works seamlessly with your favorite music apps, like Last.fm, Pandora, and Mixcloud.

Easy set-up

The free Bowers & Wilkins AirPlay Setup App will walk you through the simple steps to connect your A5 to Wi-Fi, and choose and manage your settings, all wirelessly.

Highlights

  • High-quality Class-D amplifier
  • Single discreet, compact unit
  • Comes with Apple AirPlay technology
  • Optimized to handle broadest range of frequencies
  • Play music wirelessly from computer, iPhone or even apps
  • Pristine sound

Did You Notice?

Compact and designed to perform in out-of-the-way areas, the A5 is a great choice for places where space is at a premium.

Technical Specs

General

  • Other Features: AirPlay
  • Music Profile: Pop / Rock / Alternative / Country,Classical & Jazz,Hip Hop / R&B / Rap
  • Input Type: 3.5mm Stereo Jack
  • Usage: Remote Control

Power

  • Power Source: AC

Driver

  • Frequency Response: 40 - 24,000 Hz
  • Drivers: 4

Dimension

  • Weight: 7.94 lb./3.6 kg
  • Height: 7.1 in./180 mm
  • Width: 11.8 in./300 mm
  • Length: 4.7 in./120 mm

Compatibility

  • iPhone 5

  • iPhone 4S

  • iPhone 4

  • iPhone 3GS

  • iPod touch
    5th generation

  • iPod touch
    4th generation

  • iPod touch
    3rd generation

  • iPod touch
    2nd generation

  • iPad
    1st generation

  • iPad 2
    2nd generation

  • iPad
    3rd generation

What's in the Box?

  • Bowers & Wilkins A5 AirPlay Wireless Music System
  • Power supply
  • Remote

Manufacturer Information

Warranty

  • Note: Products sold through this website that do not bear the Apple Brand name are serviced and supported exclusively by their manufacturers in accordance with terms and conditions packaged with the products. Apple's Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple-branded, even if packaged or sold with Apple products. Please contact the manufacturer directly for technical support and customer service.
  • Warranty: Two-year limited

Part Number

  • UPC or EAN No.: 714346314959
  • Mfr. Part Number: FP33936

Manufacturer Note

  • Note: Bowers & Wilkins AirPlay Setup App link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bowers-wilkins-airplay-setup/id506471253?mt=8
 

Ratings & Reviews

3.5

Based on 25 reviews

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Most Useful Reviews

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Beautiful Clarity and Apple Like Quality

    • Written by from Collingwood

    Like other B & W products this speaker has beautiful clarity. Strings are fantastic. You hardly remember that this is only a $500 speaker. The build is quality and matches up nicely with apple products detailed finishes. It took me all of 2 minutes to set-up with the handy airplay set-up app. After set-up, my speaker initially cut out a few times but I simply recycled (pulled the plug and restarted) my time capsule (Wifi). Problem solved and after 6 hours of playing; no issues. It also works great with my Zeppelin on multiple speakers airplay mode. If you want a home full of beautiful sound, you can do it very inexpensively with a few of these units.

    I highly recommend this speaker. I can't wait to get my B & W A7 as well.     …More

    38 of 46 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Excellent so far

    • Written by from Hilliard

    On the technical side, everything just worked. Very simple set up procedure—best AirPlay setup I've used so far, in fact. (I've set up 4 different AirPlay speakers.)

    On the audio side, I can't imagine much better sound coming out of a similar size package. I am especially glad there isn't an artificially inflated bass or other gimmicks that make it sound big on the showroom but not so good at home. Instead, this simply delivers crisp audio without distortion.

    As long as you aren't expecting a wide open stereo sound stage or to experience the kind of sound you'd get out of a larger system with dedicated speaker, receiver, and amp, you will be very pleased with this product.

    It's so good I'm thinking about getting the MM-1 computer speakers, which this is apparently similar too.     …More

    23 of 28 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Very good for the size

    • Written by from Smyrna

    Bought this to use in a small room. The sound quality and available volume are very good for such a small device. It does, however, start distorting near full volume, but we would never use that volume for anything other than testing the speaker.

    B&W are noted for producing realistic sound. If you are looking for silly bass levels, look elsewhere. If you want true to life sound quality, B&W is your brand.

    The A5 is perfect for a small to medium sized room. For a bigger room the A7 may be more suitable, depending on how loud you play your music.

    Setup was very easy and worked first time. I downloaded the setup app before the speaker arrived, and had it playing within a couple of minutes of plugging it in. Have your WiFi password handy for installation.

    Price: It is B&W, so it will have a premium price. I believe the value is worth it.     …More

    24 of 30 people found this useful

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Most Recent Reviews

  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    does not perform as advertised

    • Written by from Newberg

    For Christmas '12 bought an A7 and an A5. The A7 works well, the A5 cannot hold a connection to the wireless. I have the latest Airport station. Add to frustration is sending an email to B&W and not getting any results from them. In order to send one email you have to enter so much information....various serial numbers, model numbers for the airport, what type of computer, software, etc. It is a bit maddening. There seems to be an acute issue with the software. I suggest you avoid this model, I am returning mine. …More

    0 of 1 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    B&W A5 from Ft. Lauderdale, FL

    • Written by from Pembroke Pines

    Im reading all frustration with the network issues, and so far I haven't experienced any. Im using AT&T UVerse in my home. works flawlessly so far (knock on wood). I used B&W control Version 1.0.3 (3339), setup on my mac laptop first then added apps to iphones, three different phones they all work great. Only drops happened when the phone was used for sms or other functions, occasionally. So far we are amazed at the sound quality. We tried different positions, we found that up high, at an angle, with a wall behind it, sounds best. It really fills a room up with quality sound. This is definitely the "party in a box" solution i was looking for. My daughter and her friends are planning an iPhone/A5 party. That will surely be the acid test. …More

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  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    A5 Speakers

    • Written by from Findon

    The B&W sounded amazing in the store, I bought 2 at £400 each. It has been so frustrating as they will not join my brand new IMac. (Feb 2013.) I could only get one at a time initially to link up with airplay but now neither will link and I am left with no sound but the IMac internal speakers. I have been told to buy cables for another £100.00.
    Left feeling very disappointed.     …More

    1 of 4 people found this useful

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Questions & Answers

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Most Interesting

Recently Answered

Featured Question

Can this speaker be used with a Synology NAS Itunes server? I don't have an Apple TV and would connect my iPad through DS Audio using Airplay
  • Asked by Stephen W from Brampton
  • Mar 29, 2013
Answer
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