Libratone ZIPP 2 and ZIPP mini 2 review: The second generation of the most versatile smart speakers
A TEST REPORT from David Haydl 
on December 29, 2018, 20:04 | Write a comment
With the first generation of Libratone's ZIPP speakers, the focus was on design and versatility. Now there is a second generation of smart speakers, the Libratone ZIPP 2 and the Libratone ZIPP mini 2. My test report.
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Unboxing and initial setup
The Libratone ZIPP 2 and the Libratone ZIPP mini 2 both come in a packaging made of white cardboard. On each of these boxes there is a picture of the loudspeakers and the model name of them. A Libratone logo and a few small inscriptions were also included. When you open the box at the top, you first see some instructions in a styrofoam form, which were printed on round paper. Nice detail. After the styrofoam form has been taken out of the packaging, you can see the loudspeakers in a foil and another cardboard box. This contains the charger and a plug each for European and US American sockets. These can be easily attached to the power supply unit by turning.
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- Picture: TechnikNews
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- Picture: TechnikNews
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The initial setup can be done in several ways. It is possible to address the speakers without any major detours with a jack cable and via Bluetooth. If you want to supply the speakers with music via WiFi and Spotify Connect or Airplay 2, you need the Libratone app, more details later. If you open the app and activate one of the two speakers by pressing the power button, a window with a pairing request should open. In the next two steps, the device is connected to the home WLAN and the latest firmware is searched for. After that, you can optionally connect to an Amazon account to use Alexa, which I'll talk about later. After this step, the setup is complete. The furnishingprocess via the app was kept very simple, it shouldn't take longer than ten minutes.
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- Screenshot: TechnikNews
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- Screenshot: TechnikNews
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- Screenshot: TechnikNews
Design and workmanship
The Libratone ZIPP 2 has a height of 26 centimeters and a diameter of 12 centimeters. Due to the low weight of 1,5 kilograms, the loudspeaker can still be used without Procarry around problems. With a height of 24,2 centimeters, a diameter of 10 centimeters and a weight of 1,1 kilograms, the Libratone ZIPP mini 2 is somewhat more compact and lighter. There is a rubber ring on the underside so that both speakers cannot fall over.
The Libratone ZIPP 2 and the ZIPP mini 2 have a unique design (picture: TechnikNews)
The round case is mostly made of plastic, is very well made and divided into two sections. On the one hand there is the base, which houses all connections and most of the internal components. And there is the upper part with the individual drivers and the six far-field microphones, all of which are protected by a fabric cover. This is attached with a zipper, hence the name of the speaker, and is available in several colors. Frosty Grey, Stormy Black, Pine Green and Cranberry Red. My test devices had the Stormy Black and Frosty Gray overlays fitted. Optionally, these protective covers can also be exchanged. This ProHowever, zess turned out to be more difficult than I could have imagined in advance.
The zipper gave the speakers the name "ZIPP" (picture: TechnikNews)
The connections have a USB-A port, a charging plug and a connection for a jack cable. You can even charge other gadgets via the USB plug. But I never really used it because the charging speeds with this plug are not really great. The plug is primarily used to connect USB devices on which music is stored for playback. Many would have wished for a USB-C connection for the charging port. I didn't miss this connector. As already mentioned, the individual drivers and six microphones are located under the fabric cover above the base. Due to the round design of the ZIPPs, the individual speakers are arranged in such a way that they emit the sound in all directions, i.e. 360-degree sound. I will come back to the sound quality in more detail later.
The connections have a charging port, a jack plug and a USB-A connection (picture: TechnikNews)
Simple operation via the touchpad
There is a round touchpad on the top of the ZIPP speakers. This can be used, among other things, to control the music, start Amazon Alexa, activate pairing mode and call up a mode that is supposed to adapt the sound to the room. Sounds nice, but it didn't do anything for me in a wide variety of rooms. The HUSH feature works all the more effectively. If you put your hand flat on the touchpad, the music is turned down. Then you can, for example, talk to another person who has just entered the room. If you raise your hand again, the volume will return to the original level. However, you shouldn't play around without looking at the instructions on the touchpad at the beginning. So it immediately happened to me that I started paring mode and thereby reset the speakers. Definitely not unimportant for one or the other: By clicking the power button, the battery level is displayed on the touchpad.
The current playback can be controlled via the touchpad (image: TechnikNews)
One thing I've left out so far: The wrist strap at the top of both speakers. This makes them easy to carry around or hang up wherever. And while we're at "carrying around", here are a few words about one of my favorite features of the current ZIPPs: portability. The fact that the ZIPP 2 and the ZIPP mini 2 have a rechargeable battery and therefore do not have to be constantly connected to the power supply means that they can be set up anywhere you want. Especially useful for me, as I like to look for different workplaces with my laptop.
Specifications and sound quality
The Libratone ZIPP 2 and the Libratone ZIPP mini 2 have a WiFi dual band. That is, the gadgets with 2,4 gigahertz WiFi networks and with 5 gigahertz WiFi networks procan handle without problems. Then there is Bluetooth 4.1, which can also be used to supply music to the speakers. I have no complaints about the quality of the connection. In particular, communication via my WiFi network was surprisingly quick. The battery of both ZIPPs is so large that 12 hours of uninterrupted music playback should be possible. I can also confirm that. Several afternoons of music before I had to dig out the charger again were not Prostated problems.
In the large ZIPP speaker there are four woofers, a tweeter and a 360-degree reflector. The small speaker has only three woofers. The sound of both loudspeakers did not completely convince me this time. At low volume, it often happened to me that the bass drowned out other details of the song. Increasing the volume only helped to a limited extent. The other equalizers in the Libratone app were also able to mine Prodon't solve the problem. A bit unfortunate. Otherwise I really liked the sound. I also didn't find it bad that both speakers get quite loud - especially when you connect them to each other. Perfect for smaller parties or barbecues.
Control of the ZIPPs
A pretty big advantage (and another favorite feature of mine) of the ZIPPs is that there are a lot of ways in which you can control these speakers. The quickest way to do this is to simply plug a USB device into the USB-A port or a smartphone into the jack plug. Never used it, but it will definitely be of use to some buyers. There is also DLNA, which was unknown to me until now. Most of you readers will probably not be aware of it either. But well, it's there.
Most of them are much more likely to use Bluetooth, Spotify Connect and Airplay 2. Spotify Connect worked flawlessly for me at all times and without waiting times, I said above that Bluetooth also worked without any inconvenience.
I couldn't turn off Airplay 2probeer as I didn't have an iOS device handy.
Amazon Alexa
Perhaps it should be clear by now that the Libratone ZIPP 2 and Libratone ZIPP mini 2 have Amazon Alexa on board. It is already known that this is set up when the speakers are set up. Then she simply listens to the code word "Alexa". Alternatively, the language assistant can also be started via a button on the touchpad. I didn't have that far with the use of the digital assistant Protrouble. Various standard questions to Alexa were answered quickly and correctly. For additional functionalities, there are other skills in the Alexa app that you can equip the assistant with. Almost all of them worked like clockwork for me. Only the Spotify skill didn't really want to. It probably just needs an update from Spotify to make the add-on work again.
Libratone app
Of course, there is also the Libratone app again, with which you can make settings on the Libratone ZIPP 2 and the ZIPP mini 2 as well as the initial setup. This app is available for free download from the Play Store and the AppStore. When you open it, you might notice that the app was given a new design. The basic structure, however, remained the same.
On the start page you can immediately see all the devices that you have ever used with the connected Libratone account, in this case also the two ZIPP speakers. From the start page I can immediately couple both speakers so that the same music can be played on both devices, optionally also in stereo mode. "SoundSpace Link" is what Libratone calls it. With this feature, a total of 10 ZIPPs can be linked together. I found it practical that you can set whether the volume should be regulated separately or together when a speaker network is combined. As usual, there are also some equalizers. Even more than for them Track + Wireless or the Q Adapt On Ear. In addition, it is possible to define where the loudspeakers are to be set up. Should improve the sound, but I didn't feel any of it.
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- Screenshot: TechnikNews
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- Screenshot: TechnikNews
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The bottom line is that I can once again say about the app that it was again very easy and intuitive to use. Something bothered me though: every time I opened the app, I was asked to switch on my GPS. Here I would have liked my selection to be remembered after the first start.
Conclusion
I really liked the Libratone ZIPP 2 and ZIPP mini 2. Even if I was a little disappointed with the sound quality. I was particularly impressed by the portability of the speakers. But I also liked the design with the colorful fabric covers. However, I believe that the ZIPPs are not the right investment for everyone. If you are planning to implement a smart 5.0 or 5.1 sound system, they are suitable Speakers from Sonos rather, because there is also a subwoofer and a soundbar here. However, the ZIPPs are better suited for shelves or tables, as you are not dependent on a power socket here. Workplace nomads like me will also enjoy the ZIPP devices.
I would be happy if a GPS request no longer keeps appearing when opening the Libratone app and if it is easier to change the fabric covers on a Libratone ZIPP 3.
Prices and availability
The Libratone ZIPP 2 and the Libratone ZIPP mini 2 are available on Amazon, at Cyberport and from several retailers such as MediaMarkt or Saturn. The RRP of the large ZIPP is 300 euros, that of the small speaker 250 euros. If you consider that a Sonos One currently costs 210 euros on Amazon, I think the price for the small speaker is justified, as it can be used more versatile than the Sonos model. The price that Libratone calls for the normal ZIPP 2 is almost a little too high in my opinion.
Buy Libratone ZIPP 2 and ZIPP mini 2
- Buy Libratone ZIPP 2 on Amazon
- Buy Libratone ZIPP 2 at Saturn (DE | AT)
- Buy Libratone ZIPP mini 2 on Amazon
We thank Libratone for providing the two speakers.
