Bowers & Wilkins has released its new music app which significantly increases the number of music-streaming services accessible to owners of Formation-enabled B&W products.

Available to both Android and iOS users, the app will initially offer support for TIDAL, Qobuz, TuneIn, Dash Radio, NTS Radio and SoundCloud, with more subscription services and streaming platforms to be added in the coming months. High-resolution (24-bit/96kHz) performance is also available, via Qobuz (not yet available in Australia).

The app aggregates content from each available music service into one easily browsed and elegant interface to access tracks, albums, playlists and radio stations. Personalised recommendation features and a selection of curated B&W playlists further enhance the user experience by simplifying and enhancing their daily listening choices.

Initially, the app will operate alongside the existing B&W Home app, which will continue to provide set-up functionality for Formation-enabled products in the short term. Later in the year, Bowers & Wilkins will combine all app functionality for Formation-enabled products into the Music App to create a unified set-up, control and streaming experience, at which point the existing Home App will lapse.

All other functionality already offered by Formation-enabled products remains current, including AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth aptX HD support for streaming from mobile devices, integrated support for both Spotify Connect and Roon, plus Works With Alexa certification.

The Formation platform is wholly owned by Bowers & Wilkins and the company has recently expanded its development resources and engineering team with significant recruitment aimed at expanding its software and user experience skillsets. Looking ahead, Bowers & Wilkins plans to continue to invest in and expand the capabilities of its Formation-enabled product portfolio to both further improve the user experience and to add new features, including support for popular custom-installation control systems such as Control4.

Commenting on the news, Bowers & Wilkins brand president Geoff Edwards says: “I’m delighted to announce this significant extension in the scope and capability of our class-leading Formation technology. The new Music App is a statement of our intent to further develop and improve our Formation-enabled product portfolio and I’m certain it will help us continue to set the gold standard for wireless speaker sound quality going forwards.”