All great manufacturers will have a product in their line up that takes the mantle of figurehead. Typically, these are built by dedicated teams and represent the brand's pinnacle in both engineering and manufacturing. The automotive world calls them 'Halo' cars - think of the BMW M3, Mercedes McLaren SLR & Audi R8. They define a brand's "this is what we are about" ethos, instantly recognisable, scream character and most of all capture the imagination. Revered & anticipated, Bowers & Wilkins statement of accomplishment - Audio T welcomes the new flagship B&W 800 series.

From their inception, back in 1979 with the model 801, the focus and constant evolution has been to engineer a loudspeaker with as little resonance as possible. Both the speaker shape and the materials it's made from exert a huge influence on how effective it is at controlling these unwanted resonances. Solving these limitations, as opposed to tuning them out, becomes more viable when higher prices supports the use of more exotic materials, the engineering and complex tooling required to form those theoretical designs to final production define that effectiveness - function follows form. As these rarefied technologies mature they trickle down to the more affordable ranges (as can be seen with the Continuum™ mid-bass driver in Bowers & Wilkins entry level 606 S2.

The Little Diamond

6 Years after the release of the third generation model, the new 805 D4 evolves from their 2015 D3 predecessor in a number of key areas. Most visibly the tweeter housing - now 35cm in length - twin decoupled from the enclosure below, aluminium top-plate with leather cover and Reverse Wrap cabinet manufacturing process. This cabinet improvement has allowed the sensitive crossover components to be housed separately on the back plate.

The drivers are the new 165mm (6.5in) Continuum™ mid-bass cone with stiff aluminium bass pods that afford exceptional bass extension and scale for a relatively compact speaker. The higher frequencies are handled by a 25mm diamond dome tweeter. A tweeter dome formed by chemical deposition of diamond material. The original Steyning Research Establishment (SRE) team having identified this as the optimum tweeter material for rigidity and lightness back in 2010, is further refined in clarity and great top end resolution. Typically a tweeter frequency response breaks at around 25KHz. B&W push this limit to 35KHz thus moving harmonic distortion out of hearing range.

Test System

Sources: Linn Selekt DSM - Qobuz Streaming, Rega Planar 10

Pre-Amplifiers: NAC 252, Rega Aura - Phono Stage

Amplifiers: NAP 300DR, Rega Osiris

Accessories: NACA5 Speaker cable, Audioquest Cinnamon Ethernet,
Chord Shawline Interconnects

Setup & Listening

The speakers require careful positioning, but because of the front port design, they can be placed fairly close to the wall. System wise - they are handled equally well by the Naim or Rega setups above.

Recently we discovered Kenny Burrell’s, Midnight Blue 2012 remaster - classic Blue Note sound an essential listen. The album opens with “Chitlins con Carne". Kenny's guitar bursts into frame on the left channel with a searing precision that sounds like the vinyl lathe operator jumped in on the gain controls just in time. Throughout this 1960s recording, those transients and initial attack of instruments are controlled well by the 805s. Depending on your preferred audio flavour, that transparency can feel dry, bright, a little hard and sharp, but never overly so or crass. That clean hard detail is well supported by a punchy mid range and bass performance that charms.

The opening huge kick drum on Semper Femina’s, Soothing, Laura Marling has a clean resonance, where you can hear the skin of the drum flexing - giving the illusion of a large room with the vocals soaring over a deep bass. The precision of the B&W impresses with speed and dynamic control.

Moving onto classical - Beethoven: The Piano Concertos, Piano concerto No.5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 "Emperor":2. Adagio un poco mosso, Alfred Brendel, Simon Rattle, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Philips. This beautifully recorded classical piece is a huge challenge. It begins very quietly and grows. The Piano is central and all the instruments easily identified and spot positioned with a nice rake, the flute and woodwind sections float over the piano. The 805's come into their own - impeccable at performing the detail. The execution, character and vocalisation of B&W philosophy is astounding. Reviewers have sometimes questioned the B&W sound as dry, over clean, too bright, but not here. With the right component & setup up the new 805 D4 is in a class of it's own.

Summing up, the new 805 D4 is a triumph. A great evolution from the D3. Incredibly well built, accurate, revealing with an immense sense of entertainment and a thrilling listen. In the words of Pink Floyd - Shine on you Crazy Diamond!

Thanks for reading.

Max, James & Justin - Audio T Bristol

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B&W 800 series can be found at the following Audio-T stores