Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5

The Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 is the flagship floorstanding loudspeaker in the 800 Series Diamond range, designed to deliver highly accurate, reference-quality sound for demanding music systems and professional studio environments. Its distinctive cabinet combines advanced acoustic engineering with premium materials and finishes.
The 801 D5 is a 3-way vented-box design featuring a 25mm Diamond dome tweeter, a 150mm Continuum cone FST midrange driver and two substantial 250mm Aerofoil bass cones. The Diamond dome tweeter has a break-up frequency of 70kHz, helping deliver exceptional high-frequency clarity, precision and openness.

Bowers & Wilkins' Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top configuration isolates the high-frequency driver from the main enclosure, while the Turbine Head houses the midrange driver. An upgraded Matrix structure and aluminium Space Frame Bracing increase cabinet rigidity and reduce unwanted resonance, contributing to a cleaner, more spacious soundstage.

The 801 D5 has a frequency response of 15Hz to 28kHz (±3dB) and a frequency range of 13Hz to 35kHz (-6dB). Sensitivity is rated at 90dB, with a nominal impedance of 8 ohms and a minimum impedance of 3.0 ohms. Bowers & Wilkins recommends amplifier power between 50W and 1000W into 8 ohms on unclipped programme material.

Harmonic distortion is rated at less than 1% from 30Hz to 20kHz and less than 0.3% from 100Hz to 8kHz, measured at 90dB and 1 metre on-axis. Additional technologies include Biomimetic Suspension, an Anti-Resonance Plug and Flowport bass reflex technology.

Each 801 D5 measures 1221mm high including the tweeter and plinth, 447mm wide including the plinth and 597mm deep including the plinth. Net weight is 106.4kg. Cabinet finishes include Stealth Black, Warm White, Dark Walnut and Light Walnut, complemented by matching grille and Connolly leather details.