Bowers & Wilkins 800 Collection Diamond audio system have had a long-standing popularity for high quality within the music business. You would say that they’re the sound behind the ‘sound’, with their audio system in use at such iconic venues reminiscent of Abbey Highway recording studios.
A number of years after the final revamp of the Diamond sequence, B&W has launched an all-new industrial design and a raft of recent applied sciences which, in its phrases, “set even larger requirements for outright sound high quality”.
The vary consists of seven fashions, the identical as earlier than, beginning with the “entry-level” two-way 805 D4 stand-mount speaker and joined by a sequence of three-way floorstanding fashions that features the 804 D4, 803 D4 and 802 D4.
The flagship mannequin sees the reintroduction of the 801 D4, which replaces the 800 D3. For residence cinema set-ups, there’s a selection between a pair of two centre channel audio system within the HTM81 D4 and HTM82 D4.
In accordance with Bowers & Wilkins, each new mannequin is a mixture of tons of of element enhancements, as effectively the presence of recent applied sciences to create the “most clear, detailed and natural-sounding sequence of loudspeakers” B&W has provide you with but.
The brand new 800 Collection Diamond vary is accessible globally from September 1st, 2021.
800 Collection Diamond design and options
The looks of the brand new 800 Collection has been refined in quite a lot of methods. There’s now the choice of selecting a fourth end, with Satin Walnut becoming a member of the present Gloss Black, White and Satin Rosenut finishes.
The cupboard for all stereo fashions has been upgraded, with a brand new inflexible, forged aluminium prime part. That has changed the earlier wood model as a way to produce higher stiffness and enhance the “quietness” of the cupboard, decreasing any inner reflections that might have an effect on the speaker’s output.
The 805 D4 and 804 D4 stereo fashions have adopted the reverse-wrap cupboard design first launched in 2015. The profile of every cupboard’s entrance baffle has lowered whereas growing the general rigidity of the system. It’s allowed the crossovers to be mounted in devoted areas on the rear of every speaker, housed behind inflexible aluminium spines.
The 805 and 804 additionally characteristic updates to their Matrix bracing, utilizing thicker panels constituted of stable plywood as an alternative of MDF, that are bolstered by aluminium bracing sections.
The profile of the aluminium prime is completed in ‘Leather-based by Connolly’ – black for darkish cupboards (Black, Satin Rosenut) and lightweight gray for lighter finishes (White, Satin Walnut).
The design for the Strong Physique Tweeter-on-High housing has been tweaked too, now utilizing a brand new elongated tube-loading system for a extra open sound at larger frequencies. Milled from a single stable block of aluminium (with an anodised darkish or mild end) and decoupled from the principle physique, the purpose is to withstand undesirable resonance from affecting the speaker’s excessive frequency efficiency.
The 800 Collection Diamond continues to make use of the Continuum speaker and FST (Fastened Suspension Transducer) for its midrange drive items, however a change has been made with the brand new composite Biomimetic Suspension changing the standard cloth spider.
The purpose with this redesigned spider factor is to cut back undesirable air strain – i.e. sound – for extra transparency and realism.
800 Collection Diamond vary
801 D4
- Worth: £30,000 / $35,000 / €35,000
- 1x ø25mm diamond dome high-frequency
- 1x 150mm Continuum cone FST midrange
- 2x 250mm Aerofoil cone bass items
- Frequency vary: 13Hz to 35kHz
- Sensitivity: 90dB
The 801 is again as B&W’s flagship mannequin on this vary, changing the 800 D3. This floorstander options the all-aluminium turbine head that’s been dampened and decoupled from the principle speaker housing to keep away from resonance and produce what B&W calls its most reasonable midrange efficiency but.
802 D4
- Worth: £22,500 / $26,000 / €26,000
- 1x 25mm diamond dome high-frequency
- 1x 150mm Continuum cone FST midrange
- 2x 200mm Aerofoil cone bass items
- Frequency vary: 14Hz to 35kHz
- Sensitivity: 90dB
B&W says the 802 presents related efficiency ranges in comparison with the 801, although not fairly as pricey on the pockets. It options the identical decoupled Turbine Head and can be utilized for stereo listening experiences or parked inside a house theatre system.
803 D4
- Worth: £16,000 / $20,000 / €20,000
- 1x 25mm diamond dome high-frequency
- 1x 130mm Continuum cone FST midrange
- 2x 180mm Aerofoil cone bass items
- Frequency vary: 16Hz to 35kHz
- Sensitivity: 90dB
The 803 is a extra compact mannequin in comparison with these above, with a smaller Turbine Head and fewer acreage when it comes to footprint so it received’t take up as a lot area and likewise weighs almost 30kg lower than the 802 D4. The presence of the Biometric Suspension spider goals to cut back colouration and bump up midrange transparency.
804 D4
- Worth: £9,500 / $12,500 / €12,500
- 1x 25mm diamond dome high-frequency
- 1x 130mm Continuum cone FST™ midrange
- 2x 165mm (6.5in) Aerofoil cone bass items
- Frequency vary: 20Hz to 35kHz
- Sensitivity: 89dB
The 804 D4 loses the Turbine Head and opts for a extra standard look. It options the brand new reverse wrap-around cupboard to enhance the dispersion of sound and scale back resonance.
805 D4
- Worth: £6,250 / $8,000 / €8,000
- 1x ø25mm (1in) diamond dome high-frequency
- 1x ø165mm (6.5in) Continuum cone bass midrange
- Frequency vary: 34Hz to 35kHz
- Sensitivity: 88dB
With the 805 we attain probably the most compact mannequin within the vary. This standmount speaker options the Diamond Dome tweeter and Strong Physique Tweeter-on-High configuration to hit these excessive frequencies with readability.
HT1M81 D4
- Worth: £6,500 / $7,500 / €7,500
- 1x 25mm diamond dome high-frequency
- 1x 150mm Continuum cone FST midrange
- 2x 200mm Aerofoil cone bass items
- Frequency vary: 20Hz to 35kHz
- Sensitivity: 90dB
The primary of the centre channel audio system, the HT1M81 might be paired with both the 801 or 802 audio system. The most important of the 2 centres, it incorporates a stiff, aluminium enclosure for the midrange drive unit that when once more is uncoupled and appears to forestall undesirable air leakage from affecting the speaker’s efficiency.
HT1M82 D4
- Worth: £4,750 / $5,500 / €5,500
- 1x 25mm diamond dome high-frequency
- 1x 130mm (5in) Continuum cone FST midrange
- 2x 165mm Aerofoil cone bass items
- Frequency vary: 33Hz to 35kHz
- Sensitivity: 89dB
The HT1M82 is smaller than the opposite centre channel, and is extra appropriately partnered with the 803 floorstander or 804 standmount mannequin. B&W’s famed Diamond tweeter finds a spot right here for an in depth excessive frequency efficiency, whereas B&W declare the low noise Continuum cone presents a excessive decision efficiency with out colouring the sound.
FS-805 D4 & FS-HTM D4 stands
- Worth: £1,100 / $1,200 / €1,200
- Worth: £700 / $800 / €800
Final, however not least, are a pair of speaker stands. Because the mannequin implies, the FS-805 is meant to be used with the 805 D4 standmount, with the FS-HTM stand might be partnered with both centre speaker. The FS-805 D4 is available in a selection of black and silver finishes.