B&W 800 D4 Series

BOWERS & WILKINS

BOWERS & WILKINS 800 D4 SERIES

Bowers & Wilkins have just released the fourth generation of their high-end loudspeaker range with the 800 Series Diamond, and this latest iteration of this world-famous series has seen some signifi cant re-engineering.

Technically available from

September 1, (we will start to see the model range arriving over September and October) the 800 D4 Series is the result of almost six years of research and development, delivering innovations and proprietary technologies that B&W says elevates the range to a new level of audio performance and design.

This fourth series has much to live up to; the current D3 range was widely regarded as one of the best in the world.

In fact the 800 Series has had a long and distinguished history spanning some 40 years. Used by some of the world’s leading recording studios, including Abbey Road and Skywalker Sound, music producers and fi lmmakers have often preferred the B&W 800s as their defi nitive reference monitors and have used them to mix some of the most iconic albums and movie soundtracks of the modern era.

So the brand’s engineering legacy and the reputation that has made Bowers & Wilkins an audio authority for more than 55 years was effectively on the table with the launch of this new series.

No pressure, then.

Whilst at the time of writing we are yet to have listened to the fi nal product, there have been signifi cant advancements in acoustic excellence being reported and purposeful refreshes across the range to the stunning industrial design of the D3 Series, which has somehow, to our eyes, turned the elegance factor up to 11.

BOWERS & WILKINS

For example, Bowers & Wilkins have developed an all-new drive unit suspension system — Biomimetic Suspension — which reduces unwanted noise created by the conventional fabric suspension, which has been used in loudspeakers for decades. The result is said to be an even more transparent and natural sound than ever before.

Every model now sees the adoption of the revised Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top housing with an elongated tube-loading system to produce an even more open sound — whilst the acclaimed diamond dome tweeter, one of Bowers & Wilkins most iconic technologies — is retained.

The new range of loudspeakers now includes a Satin Walnut fi nish to join the established fi nishes of Gloss Black, Gloss White and Satin Rosenut.

Geoff Edwards, Brand President, Bowers & Wilkins, says, “Our fl agship 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers perfectly encapsulate everything that Bowers & Wilkins stands for; outstanding audio performance, engineering and design excellence plus British quality manufacturing,” He continued: “With the new 800 Series Diamond range, we have built upon its revered status as the world’s fi nest loudspeakers and taken a leap forward in both audio performance and design.”

The 800 D4 Series Diamond range includes (from left to right) The fl agship model 801 D4 ($52,900), and three additional fl oor-standing models: 802 D4 ($38,900), 803 D4 ($29,900) and 804 D4 ($18,900). The small stand-mount/bookshelf speaker is the 805 D4 ($11,900). For home theatre use, B&W has two new centre-channel speakers: HTM81 D4 ($11,900) and HTM82 D4 ($8,500).