Libratone Zipp Review

Introduction

Speaker maker Libratone is still a relatively new player in the field, but this Denmark-based company has slowly been crafting some interesting speakers since coming to light back in 2009. Intent on making premium-end speakers, with a specialty on employing meticulous designs at the same time, the company is hoping to gain a foothold with audiophiles with its latest offering in the Libratone Zipp. It’s certainly playing in a crowded field at the moment, as several other models are vying for supremacy – so it’ll be intriguing to see how Libratone’s speaker can stand head above water over the field.

The package contains:

• Setup & user guides
• Wall charger

Design

The wool cover gives the speaker a personalized element.

In making its speaker different, Libratone has opted to favor a more modern looking design with its Zipp portable speaker. Indeed, it’s not a totally new design we haven’t seen before, as we’ve come across several cylindrical shaped speakers before, but the Zipp offers a level of personalization that no other speaker offers. True to its name, the speaker’s high-quality Italian wool cover can be unzipped and be replaced by any of the other colorful options that the company makes for it – so you can say, it’s something like a “cover” for the speaker.

This isn’t a tiny, compact sized speaker, but rather, it’s a pretty large thing that’s roughly the same size as a typical roll of paper towel – though, this one of course has some considerable weight to it. Certainly, it’s not a bad thing to have, seeing that the accompanying weight adds to its already sturdy construction, but we wouldn’t be as inclined to travel long distances with it. However, the company alludes to that idea with the leather-like strap that’s on there.

Hidden behind the wool cover, the Libratone Zipp packs a long one 4-inch bass driver, and two 1-inch ribbon based tweeter that delivers a total power of 60W. In addition, it features full digital amplification 2.1 stereo system with FullRoom DSP optimization. As for connectivity, the Libratone Zipp can be connected to devices via AirPlay, PlayDirect, DLNA, USB audio, and 3.5mm auxiliary jack. Sorry folks, there’s no Bluetooth option with this!

Along the top edge, there’s the “logo” button, which looks like a bird, but it’s actually the speaker’s power button – so you press and hold down to power it on/off. Surrounding it are the dedicated volume controls and a white-colored LED notification light to inform us of its status. Hidden behind the leather strap is the full-sized USB port, auxiliary port, and dedicated buttons for PlayDirect and AirPlay modes. Finally, the underside of the speaker discretely hides away the power port.

Overall, there’s a personalized element to this modern looking speaker that we adore that undoubtedly enables it to look a smidgen different from other speakers. Sure, the plastic frame of the speaker isn’t necessarily premium per se, but the entire package comes together nicely nonetheless.

Libratone App

Using an iPhone to test out the Libratone Zipp, we’re required to download the free Libratone app to connect the smartphone via AirPlay. In addition to that wireless mode, we can connect it via DirectPlay as well – where the iPhone connects to the Wi-Fi network being broadcasted by the speaker. Alternatively, there are also the physical connections with the auxiliary jack and a direct USB connection.

Looking at the app, it’s a useful thing in setting up the speaker initially – so that it can be connected to an existing home Wi-Fi network for streaming. Once it’s all set up, the app provides us with a wealth of options and useful information pertaining to the speaker. For example, it shows us the battery level of the speaker, as well as the different modes for its Voicing and FullRoom options.

Starting with the former, the Voicing mode is none other than a selection of various equalizer settings – to tune the audio accordingly to the type of music we’re listening to. In truly giving us control to the speaker’s output, the FullRoom Settings gives us the opportunity to fine tune how the audio is projected from the speaker. Therefore, we can adjust the settings to tell how far away the speaker is from different walls.

Performance

Lots of volume, but it's strained at the loudest setting.

For a portable speaker solution, there’s no shortage of volume with the Libratone Zipp – albeit, at the loudest setting, it tends to have a strained tone. Additionally, the bass is a little too subtle for our liking. However, we have to stress that with enough patience, and the fine tuning of its settings (FullRoom modes and Voicing options), the quality out of the speaker can be dramatically enhanced. Being used in a stationary place is one thing, but seeing that it’s portable, it requires a lot of adjustment each time we use it in different settings.

Battery Life

With varying usage, we’re able to get 6 hours of usage out of the Libratone Zipp, which is right there within the manufacturer’s rating of 4 to 8 hours. Of course, the included full-sized USB port means that we’re given the added functionality of charging our mobile devices on the go.

Conclusion

Visually, we can’t deny that the Libratone Zipp has an amusing one that manages to go outside of the norm, but the $400 price point attached to it online through places like Amazon makes it a tough call. It sure is a big investment on its own, that’s certainly obvious here, especially for one that produces average sounding audio – with no Bluetooth connection on top of that. Yes, we’ll argue that its PlayDirect option is an effective alternative, but most people have come to be complacent with Bluetooth instead. Finally, the fine tuning properties of the speaker is fantastic for those who really want more control in how audio is projected into the environment, but it merely means that additional time is needed in making those adjustments – whereas, some people would prefer a play-and-go kind of deal.