60 Years In The Making: Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series Diamond D5
The new D5 range introduces a host of new technologies and design refinements to further assert its status as the world’s most revered and iconic
The new D5 range introduces a host of new technologies and design refinements to further assert its status as the world’s most revered and iconic range of high-end loudspeakers. 60 years in the making: the new range is the ultimate embodiment of John Bowers’ True Sound philosophy, designed like all Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers to deliver a flawlessly accurate rendering of the original recording, exactly as the artist intended The new 800 Series Diamond D5 range introduces extensive acoustic, mechanical, and electrical improvements aimed at taking the already category-defining performance of the outgoing range to all-new heights Introduces an incredibly luxurious and lustrous aesthetic with four new refined finishes: Stealth Black, Warm White, Light Walnut and Dark Walnut 4th 4th June, Vienna, Austria: In its 60th year, renowned British audio brand, Bowers & Wilkins is proud to announce its all-new flagship 800 Series Diamond range. Representing the fifth generation of 800 Series to use the world-renowned Diamond Dome tweeter, the new D5 range introduces a host of new technologies and design refinements to further assert its status as the world’s most revered range of high-end loudspeakers. 60 years in the making, the new 800 Series Diamond range is born of decades of engineering excellence and crafted by relentless experimentation and refinement. From its iconic design – where science shapes art – to the latest evolutions of our most advanced audio technologies, this is the most advanced loudspeaker range we’ve ever made and the ultimate embodiment of John Bowers’ True Sound philosophy.
Designed like all Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers to deliver a flawlessly accurate rendering of the original recording, the new D5 range will appeal equally to discerning hi-fi enthusiasts and to dedicated music industry professionals looking for the most realistic sound reproduction possible. The new 800 Series Diamond range features seven models, beginning with the two-way 805 D5 stand-mount speaker. That’s joined by a series of three-way floorstanding models, including the 804 D5, 803 D5, 802 D5 and the most revered model of all, the 801 D5. For home theatre use, the HTM81 D5 and HTM82 D5 provide a pair of high-performance centre channel speakers to complete the range. An icon, refined. The latest generation of 800 Series Diamond is the ultimate expression of our unrelenting pursuit of the perfect loudspeaker. 800 Series Diamond fuses acoustic and mechanical excellence with elegant and meaningful design. Its masterful detailing and luxurious finishes are achieved by craftsmanship of the highest calibre. In a design where everything exists for a reason, it’s the details that matter. Across the range, 800 Series Diamond adopts an incredibly luxurious and lustrous aesthetic. Its optimised design detailing – from a new top plate, spine and plinth to revised drive unit pods, tweeter body, trim rings and grilles – is complemented by all-new finishes, made even more striking by upgraded, more durable paint. As usual, every 800 Series Diamond loudspeaker is refined by our collective determination to make a better product and painstakingly crafted by our team in Worthing, UK.
The result is an elevated standard of finish that befits our flagship loudspeakers. All of the finishes in the new range have been revised from the outgoing D4 line up. An all-new Dark Walnut finish, inspired by the limited production 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition, replaces the Satin Rosenut in the D5 portfolio. With complementary dark metal detailing and black Leather by Connolly trim, it makes a new statement in considered, modern luxury. Also joining the line-up is a Stealth Black finish, complemented by dark metal detailing offering a more consistent aesthetic across all of the dark surfaces and materials. In addition, Warm White joins the range, evolved from the previous generation of white loudspeaker with warmer and more modern tones imbued with champagne-coloured detailing. The portfolio is completed with the new Light Walnut finish, which also adopts the champagne-coloured metal detailing combined with a complementary painted Turbine Head assembly. Black and White finish DB Series subwoofers adopt the new Stealth Black and Warm White finishes to better match their loudspeaker siblings. In addition to the new finishes, the new D5 range benefits from even tighter production tolerances designed to improve on an already exalted level of perceived quality. Visible transitions between surfaces have been minimised, while fixings have been hidden and panel gaps have been greatly reduced, creating a more seamless and premium finish.
Even the paint quality and process have been improved, delivering an even richer and more lustrous finish, especially on the new Stealth Black cabinets. New and evolved technologies Complementing the significant design and finish upgrades are an extensive number of acoustic, mechanical, and electrical improvements aimed at taking the already stellar performance of the outgoing 800 Series Diamond range to all-new heights. Wherever possible, critical performance-enhancing componentry from the 800 Series Signature loudspeakers has been cascaded to the new D5 range, resulting in more openness, lower distortion, heightened resolution and superior dynamics. In addition, extensive measurement and simulation work by the research team at the world-renowned Southwater Research Establishment (SRE) has uncovered even more opportunity to deliver cabinet-based enhancements that further reduce the acoustic impact of the loudspeaker enclosure. Thanks to its extensive use of aluminium components, including all-new Space Frame Bracing to the rear of the cabinet, the new D5 generation of 800 Series Diamond features the best performing and most mechanically ‘quiet’ enclosure that Bowers & Wilkins has ever created.
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