Bowers & Wilkins Formation Audio

Martins Hi-Fi is the second oldest Bowers & Wilkins dealer in the world — and the Formation Audio is the component that makes it possible to bring the uncompromising sound quality of a traditional Bowers & Wilkins passive system into the world of wireless, multi-room streaming. This is not a streaming add-on that asks you to accept a reduction in sound quality — the Formation Audio is engineered to preserve every detail of a high-resolution source and deliver it wirelessly with a precision and synchronisation that sets a new standard for whole-home audio.

Formation Wireless Technology

At the heart of the Formation Audio is Bowers & Wilkins' proprietary Formation Wireless Technology — a dedicated wireless mesh protocol engineered specifically for high-resolution audio. Formation operates independently of the congestion and variability of a standard home WiFi network, creating a synchronised wireless audio environment in which multiple Formation products play in perfect unison, with no lag, no dropouts, and no degradation of audio quality between rooms. Synchronisation is maintained to within a microsecond — an accuracy that eliminates the phase errors and timing irregularities that undermine competing multi-room systems.

High-Resolution Streaming

The Formation Audio streams at 96kHz/24-bit — a resolution that captures the full dynamic and tonal information of a high-quality source. Whether the signal originates from a music streaming service, a connected CD player, a turntable via a phono stage, or any other analogue or digital source component, the Formation Audio encodes and transmits it at full 96/24-bit resolution across the Formation network. The result is that a passive system built around Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers — or any quality passive speakers — retains the sonic character and resolution for which it was chosen, now delivered wirelessly to any room in the home.

Comprehensive Connectivity

The Formation Audio accepts both analogue and digital inputs — a Toslink digital input, two RCA analogue inputs, and a coaxial digital output — alongside RJ45 Ethernet and WiFi for network connection. Bluetooth 4.1 with aptX HD, AAC, and SBC support allows direct streaming from mobile devices. Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect are both supported, alongside Roon Ready certification — making the Formation Audio compatible with virtually every source and streaming platform a serious listener is likely to use. A high-performance ADC converts analogue inputs to digital for transmission across the Formation network, whilst a high-performance DAC handles the conversion back to analogue at the output stage.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The Formation Audio is for owners of high-quality passive systems who want the convenience of wireless multi-room streaming without any sacrifice in sound quality. It is the component that transforms an existing stereo system — however traditional — into a fully networked Formation device, capable of playing in synchronisation with Formation speakers elsewhere in the home. Those building a complete Formation system should also consider pairing the Formation Audio with quality Bowers & Wilkins subwoofers such as the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D or DB3D for a system of extraordinary capability, or explore the full range of Bowers & Wilkins subwoofer options to match the scale of the installation.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind. As the second oldest Bowers & Wilkins dealer in the world, we have a depth of knowledge and experience with the brand that very few retailers can match. Dave or Chris will be happy to demonstrate the Formation Audio in our Norwich showroom — and to advise on how it integrates with your existing system and any other Formation products you may be considering.

Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.