Classical music has spent decades fighting for the attention of younger listeners, and in a streaming world dominated by pop, hip-hop, and algorithm-driven playlists, getting a new generation excited about Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, or Mahler remains a challenge. The music certainly isn’t the problem, but discovering the right recordings among hundreds of interpretations of the same work can be intimidating. That’s where specialist streaming services such as Presto Music have an opportunity to make a difference.
Bowers & Wilkins has announced that Presto Music’s classical and jazz streaming service is now integrated into the Bowers & Wilkins Music App, bringing its expertly curated catalog and high-resolution audio streaming to compatible wireless speakers, including the Zeppelin Pro Edition, Formation series, and supported Bowers & Wilkins wireless headphones.
The integration allows subscribers to browse and play classical and jazz recordings directly within the Music App, with lossless streaming at up to 24-bit/192kHz on compatible speakers, while keeping playback and device controls in one place.
Integrated into the Bowers & Wilkins Music App, Presto Music is compatible with a range of current and earlier-generation B&W connected products, including the Zeppelin and Formation wireless speakers. Presto Music offers lossless streaming at resolutions up to 24-bit/192kHz, although actual playback resolution depends on the compatible hardware and app.
Presto Music is also accessible through supported Bowers & Wilkins wireless headphones. Listeners can browse and select from Presto Music’s curated classical and jazz catalog directly within the Music App while retaining access to other playback controls, including EQ settings and noise cancellation profiles, all in one place.
The integration is the latest in Presto Music’s growing portfolio of partnerships with leading audio manufacturers. We’ve previously reported on its availability through select products from Linn, Focal and Naim, and BluOS, but the list continues to expand, with WiiM, Eversolo, and NAD also offering access through compatible products.
Combined with its availability through the Audirvāna audiophile playback platform, these partnerships give classical and jazz enthusiasts more ways to access Presto Music’s extensive catalog across a growing range of audio systems. Presto Music also distinguishes itself through its Fair Play initiative, which calculates royalties to rights holders based on the number of seconds streamed rather than the number of plays, an approach particularly relevant to classical music and its often-lengthy compositions.
For Bowers & Wilkins owners, the addition of Presto Music expands the selection of streaming services available within the Music App, making it easier to discover and enjoy classical and jazz recordings without switching between applications. Whether listening through a Zeppelin speaker at home or compatible wireless headphones on the move, subscribers now have another way to access a catalog that deserves more attention.
“Bowers & Wilkins is one of the most revered names in British audio, and its speakers and headphones are loved by exactly the kind of listeners who care deeply about how music sounds,” said Chris O’Reilly, CEO of Presto Music. “Being in the Bowers & Wilkins Music App means that whether someone is settling in at home with a Zeppelin or heading out with a pair of headphones, our classical and jazz catalogue is just a tap away – in the best quality their system can deliver. It’s a natural fit, and another important step in bringing Presto Music to more listeners, wherever they choose to listen.”
How Presto Music Differs From Qobuz and Apple Music Classical
Presto Music is up against Qobuz and Apple Music Classical, both of which offer high-resolution audio and expert recommendations. Apple has made classical music more accessible through its dedicated app, while Qobuz appeals to audiophiles with its extensive music catalog, editorial content, and download store. Presto takes a more specialized approach, combining decades of experience selling classical and jazz recordings with original reviews, artist interviews, recording recommendations, and buying guides written by its in-house editorial team.
One particularly useful distinction is Presto’s connection between streaming and music ownership. Listeners can purchase physical recordings or downloads, access eligible purchases through Presto’s own app, and subscribe to its Streaming Plus tier for discounts on future purchases. For collectors who still value owning their favorite performances rather than relying entirely on a subscription, that’s a meaningful advantage. Presto isn’t trying to replace Spotify or Apple Music for every genre, and that narrower focus may be precisely why it appeals to serious classical and jazz listeners.
The Bottom Line
Nobody needs another streaming subscription just for the sake of having one. But Presto Music makes a compelling case for classical and jazz enthusiasts by treating those genres as the main event rather than a small corner of an enormous music catalog. Its emphasis on musical scholarship, human expertise, and a royalty model that recognizes the difference between a three-minute pop song and a 45-minute symphony gives it a distinct identity in an increasingly crowded streaming market.
For Bowers & Wilkins owners, the real benefit is having that specialized listening experience integrated into the Music App they already use, without sacrificing convenience or access to familiar playback controls. It won’t magically make your Zeppelin or wireless headphones sound better, but it could make discovering what to listen to next considerably more rewarding. And if you’ve ever spent 20 minutes trying to find the right recording of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, you’ll understand why that matters.
Price & Availability
To celebrate the addition of Presto for Bowers & Wilkins users, Presto Music is being offered with a three-month free trial. Just select Presto Music in the Bowers & Wilkins Music App and follow the instructions to create an account.
Once your free trial has ended, Presto offers two paid subscription tiers:
- Streaming Plan ($11.99 per month). This includes unlimited access to over 300,000 albums, 90,000 digital booklets, high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/192kHz, and mobile/desktop app access.
- Streaming Plus Plan ($14.99 to $16.99 per month – depending on regional promotions). This tier includes everything in the standard plan, plus a 10% discount on all physical Presto purchases and delivery options.
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ORT
November 1, 2026 at 3:48 pm
Some folk would claim, and falsely I must add, that Classical and Traditional Jazz music are not popular with today’s youth and all because of “cultural prejudices”.
Pfffffft! That’s B.S. Classical and Traditional Jazz are separated because of the downright stupidity engendered by the cRap and Hippity-Hop bias against musical intelligence and the sheer genius of the authors of both genres of music.
“Music is the pleasure the human soul experiences from counting without being aware that it is counting.” — German mathematician and philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz
To put it Emily Blunt(ly). Most kids today can’t count to 3 let alone say, “One…Two…Three” and then play music themselves. They are the first generation of IDIOCRACY. For decades now, cRap fArteeats have stolen, aka: “sampled” the genius of real musicians. Singers of this Age of IDIOCRACY use “AutoTune” to…”sing”. FTN.
If both Classical and Jazz Music want to become popular with more than just the IQ (well!) above 80 crowd, it is the parents of these pusillanimously puerile mental midgets that must roll up their sleeves and educate first themselves and secondly their offspring. Be a Father and Mother to your children and introduce them to something more than a 20Hz THUD and crappy Beatnik Poetry laced with violence and hatred disguised as justice and culture. Pffffft! “Justice” that is nothing less than “JustUs”. FTN.
Perhaps Classical music is avoided because it has the word “Class” in it and who knows why people don’t like both Traditional Jazz and Popular Vocals. Oh WAIT! IDIOCRACY.
Thus endeth the ORTwellian rant for today.
ORTson Welles
Ian White
November 1, 2026 at 3:54 pm
ORT,
Every word. Requires brains to appreciate it. And be able to handle not listening to F bombs every twenty seconds. Real musicians. Playing complex music that has managed to survive centuries.
IW