Creative ZiiSound D5 Pro Reviews

An acoustic track from Radio One’s Live Lounge recordings is more of a test for the D5’s midrange, and this is where it starts to show some weakness. Vocals have a distinctly unnatural edge that isn’t present on other speaker systems. It’s not unpleasant, but does rob the dock of the transparency enjoyed by the likes of the B&W Zeppelin Mini. Which is a shame, because other than this slight flaw we’ve nothing but praise for the ZiiSound D5. If its wireless operation appeals, this dock is well worth searching out.

At $250, the ZiiSound D5 isn’t inexpensive, but it delivers great physical design and outstanding audio quality. And although the D5 works well as a traditional Bluetooth speaker system, the included dongle affords iPhone and iPod owners exceptional versatility—you can dock your device to juice up your battery, or remove your player, without stopping the music, to use it as a higher-quality-than-standard-Bluetooth remote control and audio streamer. The ZiiSound D5 is as well-implemented a Bluetooth audio system as we’ve seen.

As an all-round package, we're impressed with the Creative ZiiSound D5. Many traditional iPod speakers lack quality or are dependant on a cheap remote for control. The D5 side-steps this problem neatly, making the connected iPod entirely wireless. The use of the transmitter system could be fraught with problems, but it works nicely. The sound quality is great too, making this an iPod solution ideally suited to those small apartments, or by the swimming pool or in a dorm room. It may lack the more distinctive design of the B&W Zeppelin Mini, but it also comes in at around £20 cheaper and brings with it the benefits of a versatile wireless system, making it a serious consideration if you are in the market for a compact iPod speaker system.

Creative isn't targeting the budget-constrained with the ZiiSound D5 - its £279.99 price tag makes that clear. It's not hard to see what that money is buying though. The ZiiSound D5's Bluetooth connectivity is well-implemented and it both looks and sounds great.

Though the price of the Creative ZiiSound D5 Bluetooth speaker is a bit steep, its simple, attractive design and decent sound make it recommendable.

At $300, the slick Creative ZiiSound D5 seems a bit overpriced, but what you miss in hi-fi audio performance, you gain in wireless capabilities.

With a price tag erring towards £300, it’s clear that you’re paying a premium for the convenience of Bluetooth wireless technology. However, there’s no doubt that the ZiiSound D5 is one of the best Bluetooth speaker systems I’ve ever heard – especially when used with the additional apt-X transmitter. So if you specifically want a wireless music system for use at home or outdoors then the D5 is about as good as you’ll get at the moment.

We think that the D5 is shaping up as one of the most potent and influential 'must have's' of 2010, which will send many a ripple through the SoundBar market as word begins to spread following a mid month Australian release.

The Creative ZiiSound D5 wireless iPod dock is easy to set up but its sound quality is disappointing, especially at such an eye-watering price.