{"id":14693,"date":"2026-06-04T06:50:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T13:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/04\/ive-had-my-first-listen-to-bowers-wilkins-new-800-series-diamond-speakers-and-now-im-eager-to-hear-more\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T22:17:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T05:17:20","slug":"ive-had-my-first-listen-to-bowers-wilkins-new-800-series-diamond-speakers-and-now-im-eager-to-hear-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/04\/ive-had-my-first-listen-to-bowers-wilkins-new-800-series-diamond-speakers-and-now-im-eager-to-hear-more\/","title":{"rendered":"I&#8217;ve had my first listen to Bowers &#038; Wilkins&#8217; new 800 Series Diamond speakers &#8211; and now I&#8217;m eager to hear more."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p id=\"elk-b0311d20-c9a4-40b4-94bd-7f3d61facb20\">Bowers &#038; Wilkins has just announced its new 800 Series Diamond speaker range to celebrate the British brand&#8217;s 60th anniversary.<\/p>\n<p>The fifth generation of the 800 series of standing speakers has also included B&#038;W&#8217;s Diamond Dome tweeter, and includes seven new models, including the two-way 805 D5 standmounter and three types of floor-standing models: the 804 D5, 803 D5, and 802 D5.<\/p>\n<aside data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\" class=\"hawk-root\"\/>\n<p id=\"elk-b0311d20-c9a4-40b4-94bd-7f3d61facb20-2\">And the good news is, we&#8217;ve heard it. We&#8217;re down in High End Vienna so we&#8217;ve tipped B&#038;W with the promise of a class-leading listening experience with the 801 D5 (\u00a343,000 \/ $65,000 \/ \u20ac50,000).<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel=\"\" data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;RnkiWgOh&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;dJIGjkiz&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_dJIGjkiz_RnkiWgOh_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;Rioi8ng1&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_Rioi8ng1_RnkiWgOh_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;KIWyWK103AbLLpenXj0Pt0CFh36+X33xmEjia+BOxacMkSCz&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header=\"\">\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-mobile\"\/><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos Appearing<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container=\"\">\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/media\/img\/WHF_logo.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"max-h-12 w-auto\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>We&#8217;ll get a chance to have an even deeper listen later, but the best Bowers &#038; Wilkins speakers don&#8217;t come along very often, so we were eager to take this first chance.<\/p>\n<p>First, general warnings. It wasn&#8217;t the longest demo we&#8217;ve ever given &#8211; about 45 minutes &#8211; and demo rooms at hi-fi shows rarely provide the best possible sound, especially when you&#8217;re competing with sub-par acoustics and the sound of several thousand hi-fi enthusiasts trying to find their acoustics.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold&#10;        \"><\/p>\n<p>            You might like it<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-f87452bc-ab66-45ce-b2d9-e5f5659a15d2\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:5712px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"What is Hi-Fi?\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR-1200-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HPvVCmkvymcfVZabPQrQBR.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">The Bowers &#038; Wilkins 801 D5 is a flagship floorstander <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-91273c75-9ab8-4c0b-90d1-52f235585239\">So all said and done &#8211; the signs agree.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s taken nearly five years for B&#038;W to bake its latest speakers in the proverbial oven, but as we continue our demo, the promise of improved resolution and spy detail levels looks set to prove true.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-4knqiri9DhC96tGF25F9kS\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-4knqiri9DhC96tGF25F9kS slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\"\/>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest hi-fi, home cinema and tech news, reviews, shopping advice and deals, delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>B&#038;W promised an &#8220;even-handed&#8221; and &#8220;generous&#8221; character without losing the resolution from the 801 D5, and when combined with a system that includes a Mark Levinson 626 preamp and a 632 power amp, as well as a high-quality Innuos Nazar\u00e9 music player, our demo speakers are ready to show off some of their clear abilities.<\/p>\n<p>Odetta&#8217;s <em>Hit or Miss <\/em>it&#8217;s our aperitif, with the opening drums ringing three-three and true before that delightful middle performance is given ample space in the spotlight.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re sitting a little off center, so it&#8217;s hard to judge how well the 801 D5 speakers combine each aspect of music, but the impression we get is of speakers capable of mixing music in a clean, precise and cinematic way.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold&#10;        \"><\/p>\n<p>            What you can read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>We&#8217;re also promised tight, integrated bass, something B&#038;W and Eric Clapton show <em>After Midnight <\/em>and Thom Yorke <em>Black Swan. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s plenty of power and authority in the low-end production on both tracks, with strong bass evidence that, in B&#038;W&#8217;s words, combines &#8220;scale and integrity&#8221;.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-9738a397-2276-4e8a-bbc1-5e10453aecdf\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:5712px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"What is Hi-Fi?\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR-1200-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uq57i2Xw27At83YLfS8jAR.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">The Bowers &#038; Wilkins 801 D5 is a flagship floorstander <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-7a14a509-9171-47a3-a665-eaefddacddfc\">We&#8217;re certainly willing to let the B&#038;W 801 D5 out in a larger, more atmospheric room where the speakers have more room to bloom and breathe, but regardless, there are strong hints of serious talent here.<\/p>\n<p><em>Antigravity<\/em> by Sohn ends our session, allowing the B&#038;W towers to continue to demonstrate their dynamic capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>Low-end speakers like these should be able to handle small level changes around those big dynamic curves, a balance the 801 D5 seems to master as various instruments scatter and fall around.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ll reserve any concrete judgments until we&#8217;ve had more time to dig into the 801 D5 and discover the limits of their capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>The first signs point to a powerful, clear and detailed pair of impressive floor flagships, even if it is difficult to escape the limitations of the listening space working against them.<\/p>\n<p>Once we get a chance to put the speakers in a place where they can really shine, we&#8217;ll be in a better position to see if B&#038;W has added a true classic to its long-standing Diamond lineup.<\/p>\n<p><strong>MORE: <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>High End Vienna 2026<\/strong><strong>: all the news and what to expect from Europe&#8217;s biggest hi-fi show<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>6 of the best demo tracks and albums to rock at the start of summer<\/strong><strong\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bowers &#038; Wilkins has just announced its new 800 Series Diamond speaker range to celebrate the British brand&#8217;s 60th anniversary. The fifth generation of the 800 series of standing speakers has also included B&#038;W&#8217;s Diamond Dome tweeter, and includes seven new models, including the two-way 805 D5 standmounter and three types of floor-standing models: the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14694,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-14693","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-audio-sound"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14693"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14695,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14693\/revisions\/14695"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runwayritz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}