Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge Speaker Review

Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge Speaker Review

The history of Bowers & Wilkins dates back to the 1960s, and the company has maintained its reputation for high-quality audio ever since. One of the most iconic collections in their lineup, the Nautilus series, was launched in the 1990s and continues to be a favorite among audio enthusiasts. With the rise of devices like iPads and smartphones in the early 2000s, Bowers & Wilkins adapted to the changing market by developing the Zeppelin, a model that went on to win numerous awards.

In 2019, the company launched the Formation series, incorporating revolutionary innovations in both wireless sound systems and design, continuing their legacy of excellence.

Formation Wedge Design and Functionality

Thanks to its distinctive style, the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge portable Bluetooth speaker stands out from other products in its category. Its elliptical shape sets it apart, offering a design that is as unique as its sound quality. The speaker is also capable of creating a multiroom sound system, allowing seamless pairing with other devices like the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo to create an active stereo setup.

The Formation Wedge’s unusual appearance is sure to divide opinions. Some may find the design overly abstract and exaggerated, while others will appreciate its bold approach and see it as a welcome departure from traditional, uninspiring speaker designs. For those seeking something new and disruptive, this speaker offers a fresh, modern aesthetic that breaks away from the norm.

The Formation Wedge speaker does not feature analog or digital inputs but offers a variety of modern connectivity options, including an RJ45 Ethernet port and USB port. It supports wireless streaming through Airplay 2, Spotify, and Roon applications, as well as aptX HD Bluetooth connectivity for high-quality wireless audio.

Roon, a music player software, is compatible with Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS devices, offering an excellent option for users looking to enhance their music experience.

The stereo sound system within the Formation Wedge includes:

• Two 2.5 cm dome tweeters
• Two 9 cm FST center speakers
• One 15 cm, 80-watt subwoofer

Additionally, the system is powered by a 40-watt dedicated digital amplifier, delivering clear and dynamic sound. Thanks to the Mesh network, the multiroom system ensures accurate and stable audio playback across different rooms.

Moreover, the Formation Wedge supports 96 kHz / 24-bit audio processing, even when playing wirelessly, providing high-definition sound quality without compromising performance.

At the top of the great little device are some light-lit controls that you can control by touch. We can control the volume and playback functions from here. The portable Formation Wedge’s frequency response is between 35 Hz and 28 kHz. It delivers a total power of 240 watts and is 23 cm high and weighs 6,5 kg. Available in black and white, the black models come with a glittery front and a striped, wood-patterned back.

Behind the scene

Behind the 120-degree built-in speakers is a curved backplate. The Wedge, due to its shape, can even be placed in a corner, which is definitely beneficial as it delivers better basses that way. It fills the space very well, even in small rooms, but when put it in a room that is too small, pay attention where you put it so that it doesn’t dominate the room too much. The free downloadable Bowers Home APP is also very useful for this speaker, a basic EQ control is also possible. It also works very well with home wifi, but can be used independently anyway. All its amps are class “D”.

Sound

The Wedge speaker has been tested in several locations. We tested it primarily while listening to music. We listened to 220 KID’s hit, Gracey- I Don’t Need Love to begin with in a relatively small studio where the acoustics aren’t quite perfect yet. The walls are too close to one another so reflections cause acoustic issues. The small speaker provided a surprisingly clear and intense sound. We experienced quite accurate, vivid, tight treble and nice midrange, although sometimes the high ranges were a little too intrusive and sharp, but we may have heard these issues for the already mentioned reasons related to unfavourable acoustic conditions.

We then moved the speaker to a slightly larger area, to an office where, on the other hand, attention has already been paid to soundproofing the walls, ceiling, and even the windows, using various acoustic elements. Bowers and Wilkins performed well here as well. We had no problem with accuracy and clarity, and we didn’t even find any detail to complain about. The bass was already much louder here than in the previous room with the poor acoustics, but we could have withstood more power. Playing downloadable audio files the device performed very convincingly, which was no surprise. We went on testing with Deep Purple’s song Hush. At high tones, we also experienced sometimes excessive liveliness here as well. We did not experience any distortion when listening outdoors, nor at higher volume. However, the intensity of bass notes was even more lacking outdoors.

Verdict

The Formation Wedge speaker’s unique design may not appeal to everyone, and the price point is on the higher side. However, the Bowers & Wilkins brand is synonymous with exceptional quality and ideal sound performance. During our tests, we experienced a wide soundstage, excellent stereo effects, and detailed, clear, and accurate sound. The midrange was well-balanced, but the treble often felt too sharp, and the bass lacked the depth we expected. Additionally, the dynamics could still be improved, leaving room for refinement.

We did miss Chromecast support and noted that the speaker is only available in two colors. There was also a noticeable audio signal delay when using Bluetooth or Airplay, so we wouldn’t recommend using it as a speaker for your smartphone. The speaker also took a bit of time to achieve clean, balanced sound quality, but once tuned, it performed well.

For those who appreciate extreme design and premium-quality components, the Formation Wedge will likely be a worthy purchase.

That said, for the same price or even less, there are other Bluetooth wireless audio systems from brands such as Marshall (e.g., Woburn II Bluetooth), Denon (e.g., Envaya DSB-250BT), and JBL (e.g., Boombox), which offer better overall performance and sound quality at a more affordable price.