Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 Reference Floorstanding Speaker

The Flagship of the 800 Series Diamond Range

The Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 is a reference-grade floorstanding loudspeaker created for listeners who demand outstanding clarity, scale and musical accuracy. As the flagship model in the 800 Series Diamond range, it combines Bowers & Wilkins’ most advanced drive-unit technologies with a heavily reinforced, acoustically optimised cabinet.

Its three-way design features a Diamond dome tweeter, a dedicated 150 mm Continuum™ cone FST™ midrange driver and two powerful 250 mm Aerofoil™ bass drivers. Together, they deliver an expansive frequency range, lifelike vocal reproduction and deep, controlled low-frequency performance for premium two-channel listening rooms.

Diamond Dome Tweeter

The 801 D5 uses Bowers & Wilkins’ 25 mm Diamond dome tweeter, engineered to push its break-up frequency to approximately 70 kHz. This allows the tweeter to reproduce high frequencies with exceptional clarity, openness and precision while keeping unwanted distortion outside the audible range.

The tweeter is housed in a rigid Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top enclosure, physically separated from the main cabinet to reduce interference from the larger drive units. Its carefully shaped housing also helps minimise diffraction, supporting cleaner treble and more precise stereo imaging.

Continuum Cone FST Midrange

A dedicated 150 mm Continuum cone FST midrange driver reproduces vocals and instruments with exceptional neutrality and detail. The Continuum cone is designed to avoid the abrupt changes in behaviour associated with conventional driver materials, helping produce a smooth and natural midrange presentation.

The driver is mounted within Bowers & Wilkins’ distinctive Turbine Head, an acoustically optimised enclosure shaped to minimise internal resonance and provide a stable platform for the midrange driver.

Biomimetic Suspension

The 801 D5 replaces a conventional fabric spider with Bowers & Wilkins’ Biomimetic Suspension system. This design reduces unwanted air pressure and noise around the rear of the midrange cone, allowing delicate vocal and instrumental details to emerge with greater clarity.

An Anti-Resonance plug is also used to help reduce unwanted movement and maintain more controlled driver behaviour.

Dual 250 mm Aerofoil Bass Drivers

Two substantial 250 mm Aerofoil bass cones give the 801 D5 the authority and low-frequency extension required for large-scale music.

The Aerofoil profile uses a carefully formed cone structure designed to remain rigid during demanding passages. This helps the speaker deliver deep bass with greater control, reduced distortion and clear definition rather than excessive boom or overhang.

The 801 D5 reaches down to 15 Hz within its stated ±3 dB frequency response and extends to 13 Hz at -6 dB, providing exceptional low-frequency capability from a passive loudspeaker.

Upgraded Matrix Cabinet Construction

The curved cabinet is reinforced internally using Bowers & Wilkins’ advanced Matrix™ bracing system. Interlocking panels strengthen the enclosure and reduce vibration that could otherwise colour the sound.

For the D5 generation, the Matrix structure is complemented by aluminium Space Frame Bracing and an aluminium upper cabinet section. These refinements help create a quieter, more rigid enclosure and support a spacious, precisely focused soundstage.

Curved Cabinet with Aluminium Spine

The 801 D5 cabinet is formed from a continuous curve rather than a conventional flat-fronted box. This shape helps reduce internal standing waves and external reflections around the drive units.

A solid aluminium spine reinforces the rear of the cabinet, while the separate Tweeter-on-Top and Turbine Head enclosures isolate the high- and mid-frequency drivers from the powerful bass section. Every element of the enclosure is designed around acoustic performance.

Flowport Bass Reflex System

Bowers & Wilkins’ Flowport™ technology uses a dimpled surface around the bass-reflex port to encourage smoother airflow.

By reducing turbulence as air moves through the port, Flowport helps the 801 D5 produce cleaner and more controlled bass, particularly during high-volume passages and recordings with substantial low-frequency energy.

Designed for Reference-Level Music Systems

With 90 dB sensitivity, an 8-ohm nominal impedance and recommended amplifier power ranging from 50 to 1,000 watts, the 801 D5 can be partnered with a wide selection of premium power amplifiers. Its minimum impedance of 3.0 ohms means a high-quality amplifier with stable current delivery is recommended for the best performance.

The speaker’s immense dynamic capability, low distortion and broad frequency response make it suitable for dedicated listening rooms and high-end stereo systems where accuracy, scale and realism are the priority.

Premium Cabinet Finishes

The Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 is available in four premium cabinet finishes:

• Stealth Black

• Warm White

• Light Walnut

• Dark Walnut

Stealth Black and Dark Walnut models include black grilles, while Warm White and Light Walnut versions are supplied with grey grilles. The cabinet is completed with matching Leather by Connolly trim.

Key Features

• Flagship reference floorstanding loudspeaker

• Three-way vented-box speaker design

• 25 mm Diamond dome tweeter

• Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top enclosure

• 150 mm Continuum cone FST midrange driver

• Biomimetic Suspension

• Anti-Resonance plug

• Acoustically optimised Turbine Head

• Dual 250 mm Aerofoil bass cones

• Advanced Matrix internal bracing

• Aluminium Space Frame Bracing

• Curved cabinet with solid aluminium spine

• Flowport bass-reflex technology

• Frequency response extending from 15 Hz to 28 kHz

• 90 dB sensitivity

• Recommended amplifier power of 50 to 1,000 watts

• Available in four premium finishes

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications are based on the official Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 information sheet.