Bowers & Wilkins 800 D5 Series

[gene]

After hearing the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Signature at the Maximum AV listening event, I came away genuinely impressed by just how refined and effortless they sounded. The new 800 Series Diamond D5 builds on that foundation, carrying over many of the Signature model's engineering advancements while introducing additional refinements across the entire lineup. In this overview, we examine what's new, what has trickled down from the Signature series, and why the D5 represents a meaningful evolution of one of high-end audio's most iconic loudspeaker families.

Read: Bowers & Wilkins 800 D5 Series Loudspeaker Overview

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Wow. 801D4 (dual 10" woofers) was $46K. Now the 801D5 is $65K?

802D4 (dual 8" woofers) was $34K. Now the 802D5 is $45K?

What the heck is Harman doing jacking up the prices that much?

 

[TLS Guy]

Wow. 801D4 (dual 10" woofers) was $46K. Now the 801D5 is $65K?

802D4 (dual 8" woofers) was $34K. Now the 802D5 is $45K?

What the heck is Harman doing jacking up the prices that much?

This is is just another issue that will hurt audio and home theater in the home. The cost of the 801 D5 is $15,000 higher than the average cost of new automobile in the US. Even the cheapest car is probably at least thousand fold more complex than that speaker.

This just turns people off and shop for their gear in Walmart.

Designing and building a really good speakers is not an overwhelming task and more should seriously consider it. If you can design a good plan a local C & C shop will cut your parts in minutes and assemble at as well if you want, for a very reasonable price.

 

[shadyJ]

This is is just another issue that will hurt audio and home theater in the home. The cost of the 801 D5 is $15,000 higher than the average cost of new automobile in the US. Even the cheapest car is probably at least thousand fold more complex than that speaker.

This just turns people off and shop for their gear in Walmart.

Designing and building a really good speakers is not an overwhelming task and more should seriously consider it. If you can design a good plan a local C & C shop will cut your parts in minutes and assemble at as well if you want, for a very reasonable price.

Designing and building a really good loudspeaker is very much an overwhelming task for any normal person. Hell, designing a really good loudspeaker is is tough enough for professionals.

Wow. 801D4 (dual 10" woofers) was $46K. Now the 801D5 is $65K?

802D4 (dual 8" woofers) was $34K. Now the 802D5 is $45K?

What the heck is Harman doing jacking up the prices that much?

They are not going after the bargain crowd with these. The people who buy these aren't buying them because they are a great value; they are buying them because they are expensive.

B&W does have offerings for much lower budgets. Maybe their very best shouldn't be all that accessible. Some companies want a product that shows what they can do when cost is less of an object.

 

[Jeepers]

Wow. 801D4 (dual 10" woofers) was $46K. Now the 801D5 is $65K?

802D4 (dual 8" woofers) was $34K. Now the 802D5 is $45K?

What the heck is Harman doing jacking up the prices that much?

In the Final Thoughts the following was mentioned : "The D5 range is only marginally more expensive than the D4 Signature models, and these new speakers include even more performance-enhancing upgrades."

 

[Jeepers]

Designing and building a really good loudspeaker is very much an overwhelming task for any normal person. Hell, designing a really good loudspeaker is is tough enough for professionals.

They are not going after the bargain crowd with these. The people who buy these aren't buying them because they are a great value; they are buying them because they are expensive.

B&W does have offerings for much lower budgets. Maybe their very best shouldn't be all that accessible. Some companies want a product that shows what they can do when cost is less of an object.

I am sure the Abbey Road studio's will purchase several of these or even receive these for free for promotional purposes.

 

[TLS Guy]

I am sure the Abbey Road studio's will purchase several of these or even receive these for free for promotional purposes.

Designing and building a really good loudspeaker is very much an overwhelming task for any normal person. Hell, designing a really good loudspeaker is is tough enough for professionals.

They are not going after the bargain crowd with these. The people who buy these aren't buying them because they are a great value; they are buying them because they are expensive.

B&W does have offerings for much lower budgets. Maybe their very best shouldn't be all that accessible. Some companies want a product that shows what they can do when cost is less of an object.

The profit is still huge.

I suppose, I have designed speakers for so long, it does not seem a super human task to me. If fact the physics of speaker design is not supremely complicated. I do admit though that experience counts for a lot. I still think people should consider getting started. One huge advantage is that you can design for your space and architecture.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Even if they gave a 70% discount, most likely nobody here is going to spend $20K on the 801D5.

But the price increase just seems ridiculous.

When I bought my brand new 802D2 a few years ago, I paid $12K cash. Now it’s $45K.

I just paid $45K cash for a brand new 2026 Toyota Sienna XLE (for my wife).

 

[Mikado463]

Designing and building a really good loudspeaker is very much an overwhelming task for any normal person. Hell, designing a really good loudspeaker is is tough enough for professionals.

They are not going after the bargain crowd with these. The people who buy these aren't buying them because they are a great value; they are buying them because they are expensive.

B&W does have offerings for much lower budgets. Maybe their very best shouldn't be all that accessible. Some companies want a product that shows what they can do when cost is less of an object.

Exactly and in the world of 'high end' 65k is chump change, just look @ MAGICO...........

 

[verulamstephen]

I am sure the Abbey Road studio's will purchase several of these or even receive these for free for promotional purposes.

My first post here, from England. (I came across you when the audio forum I visited closed down, and found you too (On edit: Audioholics posters generally) use the word "audiophool").
Just to say, I have been, for over 40 years an amateur choral singer. Latterly in large symphonic choirs (100-120 singers) and live 40 minutes out of central London.
A few times, we've been hired to record - sometimes choral backings, and sometimes vocal "sounds" - for TV series etc. Maybe two or three times at Abbey Road, but not in the big studio. The time I'm thinking of was for a Korean computer game - we were told it wouldn't be marketed in the UK, they thought they wanted to have it down as recorded at Abbey Road....
To get to the point, I noted that B&W Nautilus speakers were lined up in a corridor, and they used Yamaha active speakers in the studio. I never got into the control room there but at another London Studio they had invited us in to listen to the end result and I was mightily impressed by the sound - and on asking about it, for the first time heard the phrase "active speakers" as distinct from PA systems.
Without going on too long, the active speaker reference coincided with the first, somewhat obscure, reference to active speakers for home audio which I picked up on - my first purchase was in 2010 and after that I only bought active speakers with a DAC in the master speaker. I stopped buying audio magazines - I'd never been much of a box swapper.
I'll end this now - I'm afraid I'm always going to be a 2 channel audio user, so I'm something of an interloper in your AV message board........

 

[Verdinut]

My first post here, from England. (I came across you when the audio forum I visited closed down, and found you too (On edit: Audioholics posters generally) use the word "audiophool").
Just to say, I have been, for over 40 years an amateur choral singer. Latterly in large symphonic choirs (100-120 singers) and live 40 minutes out of central London.
A few times, we've been hired to record - sometimes choral backings, and sometimes vocal "sounds" - for TV series etc. Maybe two or three times at Abbey Road, but not in the big studio. The time I'm thinking of was for a Korean computer game - we were told it wouldn't be marketed in the UK, they thought they wanted to have it down as recorded at Abbey Road....
To get to the point, I noted that B&W Nautilus speakers were lined up in a corridor, and they used Yamaha active speakers in the studio. I never got into the control room there but at another London Studio they had invited us in to listen to the end result and I was mightily impressed by the sound - and on asking about it, for the first time heard the phrase "active speakers" as distinct from PA systems.
Without going on too long, the active speaker reference coincided with the first, somewhat obscure, reference to active speakers for home audio which I picked up on - my first purchase was in 2010 and after that I only bought active speakers with a DAC in the master speaker. I stopped buying audio magazines - I'd never been much of a box swapper.
I'll end this now - I'm afraid I'm always going to be a 2 channel audio user, so I'm something of an interloper in your AV message board........

Greetings and welcome to Audioholics.

This site is a serious spot to learn about current trends in audiovisual home stuff. You might have noted that we don't tolerate snake oil publicity but appreciate receiving ideas and constructive posts.

It's indeed OK to stick with stereo audio. Actually, a well designed two channel system is better than a poorly set surround one. Then, if you use a 2-channel stereo system, you can add a subwoofer for movie watching or listening to pipe organ music if preferable or desired.

I have been using a 7 channel surround system for more than 15 years. Since I'll be 86 next September, I'm really thinking of going back to 2-channel stereo in the very near future to simplify matters, and complement it with a subwoofer.