801 carat sounds

A new 800 series, and a return to the original 801 name, but the 801 D4’s enhancements are more than skin deep

DETAILS

PRODUCT Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4

ORIGIN UK

TYPE 3-way floorstanding loudspeaker

WEIGHT 101kg

DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 451 x 1,221 x 600mm

FEATURES

25mm Diamond Dome tweeter

150mm Continuum cone midrange driver

2x 250mm Aerofoil bass drivers

Quoted sensitivity: 90dB/1W/1m (8ohm)

DISTRIBUTOR B&W Group Ltd

WEBSITE bowers-wilkins.co.uk

Some six years since the arrival of B&W’s 800 Series Diamond range, and over 40 years after the launch of the company’s original ‘no compromise’ 801 model, here we are with an all-new flagship lineup for the Worthing-based company. The timing’s about right: in the rolling programme of upgrades, we’ve seen the 600 and 700 series replaced since the 800 D3 models broke cover and the company makes no secret of the fact that work started on these new 800s almost as soon as the last generation was released.

Much has changed since the 2015 launch of the 800 D3 range: Bowers & Wilkins was acquired first by Silicon Valley-based Eva Automation, then by Sound United – joining the likes of Denon and Marantz. Meanwhile, the Steyning Research Establishment has been replaced with a much larger facility at Southwater, also in Sussex.