The 800 Series Diamond D5 flagship, with a Turbine Head and a large-diameter bass section.
The 801 D5 is made for recording studios and the most demanding home systems.
The pair of Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 speakers brings together, in each cabinet, the Diamond dome in its Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top, the Continuum decoupled in a separate head and two large cones for the low frequencies. Compared with the D4 generation, the internal bracing, the upper part of the enclosure, now in aluminium, and the plinth are all renewed. There are four finishes, all new: Stealth Black, Warm White, Dark Walnut and Light Walnut, with Leather by Connolly trim.
Key features
- Three-way vented design: 25 mm Diamond tweeter, 150 mm Continuum FST midrange, two 250 mm Aerofoil bass drivers
- Frequency response 15 Hz-28 kHz (±3 dB), 13 Hz-35 kHz at -6 dB; sensitivity 90 dB
- Nominal impedance 8 ohms (3.0-ohm minimum); recommended amplifier 50-1000 W
- Height 1221 mm with tweeter and plinth; width 372 mm (plinth 447 mm); depth 556 mm with grille and terminals (plinth 597 mm)
- Weight 106.4 kg per speaker; bi-wire terminals
How it is built
The tweeter moves its first break-up mode to 70 kHz, and the housing that holds it isolates it from cabinet vibration. The midrange works with Biomimetic Suspension and an Anti-Resonance plug, so vocals and instruments keep a natural, finely resolved character. The enclosure is formed from a single curve closed by a sturdy spine, which limits internal reflections; the reinforced Matrix and Space Frame keep resonance down, while a Flowport tunes the box. Drive units, crossover and wiring have also been revised.
Planning the room
Settle the final position before connecting the pair: weight and size make it awkward to move once wired. The real footing is the base, wider and deeper than the cabinet, and a rigid, level surface helps it work as intended. Leave room behind for the connections and any double runs of cable.
The fairly low impedance minimum calls for an amplifier with current in reserve. In a multichannel system the HTM81 D5 completes the front, placed below the screen. The grille is black on the dark finishes and grey on the light ones, a detail to weigh if the speakers stay in view.
