Independence and originality
The eight hundredth series has been around for a long time and has survived the release of several successive lines. In some cases the changes were moderately noticeable, in others they were significant. In the latest D3 line, almost everything was redone. Neither the housing nor the speakers remained from the previous version - with the exception of the diamond tweeter dome.
Only some constructive techniques and a completely recognizable design have been preserved, dictated, however, as before, not by the whim of the designer, but by technical approaches. The project for the new senior line was developed and implemented over about eight years.
Bowers & Wilkins 800 D3 in a test system.
Next to it is a younger model - 802 D3 Bowers & Wilkins - one of the largest manufacturers of speaker systems, and has a rich past. As a matter of fact, the older acoustics 800 D3, released three years ago, became a kind of anniversary model for the 50th anniversary of the company. In terms of development, you need to understand that such a large company can afford a serious staff of developers and decent investments in research and experiments.
In this regard, Bowers & Wilkins is doing very well: they spare no expense on development, there are resources, and accordingly, there is the opportunity to independently develop acoustics and release them using their own components, and not purchased from third-party manufacturers. This in itself does not speak about the resulting sound, but it certainly speaks about technical independence and originality.
Midrange and tweeter installed in separate aluminum housings
The first thing that attracts attention in the design of this acoustics is that it is very complex. There is no point in disassembling the speaker yourself: the manufacturer does not make the insides a secret, and finding information, photos and videos is not a problem. This is understandable: repeating this will be extremely problematic and will require very serious investments, and Bowers & Wilkins obviously will not be frightened by partial borrowings.
In the new line, the diamond tweeter has a different, non-removable (without a special tool) protective cap
The base of the acoustics is cast aluminum, with a matte black finish, regardless of the color of the body. The complex drop-shaped shape here correlates with the entire shape of the acoustics, more precisely, with the shape of its low-frequency section. It is necessary to note two important structural elements of the base.
Firstly, these are supports. The acoustics roll out of the box on caster wheels, but they are not supposed to stand on them. It's possible, but not necessary. Wheels are needed only for convenient and accurate positioning indoors. Next, using the tools from the kit, you need to unscrew the standard adjustable spikes down from the base, move the standard spacers under them and “raise” the acoustics on the spikes. As a result, the wheels will only be visible if you lie on the floor.
Low-frequency section of acoustics - two 10-inch speakers
The second important feature of the base is that the bass reflex port is located on it from top to bottom. For Bowers & Wilkins, this is already a familiar solution, and in general, it has been gaining popularity for some time now. From a user's point of view, this simplifies the placement of acoustics and eliminates potential problems - as is the case if the bass reflex is located on the rear wall.
The user manual says that the distance from the rear and side walls for this model is desirable to be at least 50 cm, which, considering the size of the acoustics and the potentially reasonable room for its size, looks quite decent, and there should not be any big problems with the placement.
The housing of the low-frequency section is made of plywood and has a complex structure. The inner frame is glued from plywood parts, the outer teardrop-shaped shell is glued together from several layers of wood cuts and bent directly during production. That is, the entire front and sides of the bass cabinet are one single glued-bent and then machined part.
The rear panel of a relatively small area is completely covered with a corrugated aluminum plate. By the way, the filter boards that were previously located in the base were “moved” to the inside of this plate. The “pipes” into which the woofers are inserted on the front panel, as well as part of the internal reinforcement structure of the mount, are made of aluminum.
The bass speakers themselves are large - each speaker uses a pair of 10-inch woofers. The speakers are our own, not custom made. In the description and characteristics, the manufacturer points to a new material developed for this line, called Aerofoil. If you look at the diffuser in cross-section, you can see that it is some kind of lightweight polymer foam, reinforced on both sides with a thin woven material, most likely a type of carbon fiber. The design is light and rigid. True, the rubber-like diffuser suspensions are not very soft to the touch.
The 6-inch midrange driver, traditionally for this line of acoustics, is placed in a separate volume - the so-called “Turbine Head” machined from aluminum and varnished. Inside, the chamber is round in shape and completely symmetrical - all the fasteners for assembling the case do not affect the internal volume in any way, and the midrange driver itself is fixed using a long rod extending from the center of the magnet to the rear surface of the inner chamber. That is, there are no screw fastenings at all on the edges of the speaker - only a round edge and a rubber seal.
Aerofoil, from which the low-frequency diffusers of the new 800 series are made.
In addition, the diffuser and suspension can be mentioned as unusual in the design. The diffuser material is patented Continuum, a kind of woven and glued material with unusual behavior. The diffuser is thin, practically translucent. The material is light and soft to the touch, and if you consider a separate speaker, the diffuser bends easily and does not lose its shape at all.
But only in the piston mode of movement the diffuser turns out to be unexpectedly rigid, although easily movable. This effect is probably due to the structure and direction of the fibers. It is difficult to see the speaker suspension - it is covered with a circular foam insert. It is not even clear whether there is a suspension there, or whether the entire structure is made of only one material. The central cap that covers the hole in the diffuser is made of soft foam material.
The tweeter is also traditionally placed in a separate volume - an elongated aluminum tweeter body is attached to the top of the “Turbine Head”. The housing mount is not rigid; on the contrary, additional damping is used here. The diamond tweeter dome is practically the only thing that the acoustics inherited from the previous model. But there are changes here too. For example, the tweeter protective mesh has become stronger, and now it cannot be removed without a special tool, which, given previous experience and the fragility of the diamond dome, became a very logical decision.
The midrange driver of the 800 series has been significantly redesigned compared to the previous line
The bass and midrange grills are separate, with magnetic fastening. The acoustics allow (and even rather assume) switching with two pairs of cables, and here bi-amping is quite possible and probable, because everyone already knows about the demands of older Bowers & Wilkins models on the power and current output of amplifiers.
British values
Let's try to list the innovations that appeared in the new 800 series B&W:
1. The mid-frequency driver uses a completely new material for the diffuser. Used by Bowers & Wilkins since 1974, Kevlar gave way to the company's original design, called “continuum,” which has been in the works for the past eight years. The new material, in comparison with Kevlar, has a better ability to dampen parasitic vibrations of the diffuser. The improvements in this aspect are no less dramatic than when moving from paper to Kevlar.
The new product has a weave similar to Kevlar, but the material itself is more flexible. The silver color is not natural for the “continuum”, like yellow is for Kevlar - it was simply chosen by the developers for the 800 series. In other lines, it is quite possible that the diffusers will be painted in a different color. By the end of 2016, this material will be patented by the company. Then we can expect increased use of the new product in other lines of acoustics.
2. The Rohacell material, a sandwich from which the cones of low-frequency drivers of B&W speakers have been made since 2003, has also undergone changes. Now the diffuser has a variable cross-section along the radius - it is thicker in the middle and thinner at the points of attachment to the basket and coil. The new solution is called Aerofoil. By increasing the thickness of the diffuser in the most problematic areas, the control of the emission of sound waves by the speaker is improved. The diffuser turned out to be stiffer, but due to the redistribution of materials, it was possible to keep its weight unchanged. Aerofoil took a year to develop. In the future, this solution will be used in all B&W loudspeaker models, including subwoofers.
3. What remains unchanged in the 800 series is the diamond tweeter dome, which is distinguished by its extraordinary rigidity and low weight. This joint development of Bowers & Wilkins and De Beers continues to be installed in the company's top speakers, since the best material for a high-frequency driver, according to engineers, simply does not exist today. But only the tweeter dome itself remained unchanged. Everything else - the coil, the surround, the tweeter body itself - have been redesigned to enhance the already exceptional sound.
4. The use of more powerful computing and software resources in the design and modeling of speaker cabinets has significantly improved the behavior of cabinets when reproducing musical material. The housing for the mid-frequency driver in the new 800 series is made of aluminum, replacing the Marlan composite material. Winged metal combines rigidity, lightness and predictable internal resonances. The new aluminum head for the midrange driver was called turbine.
The low-frequency driver housing was rotated 180 degrees, resulting in the loss of a flat front panel, which had a beneficial effect on the sound by minimizing diffraction reflections from the speaker body. Drivers are mounted on special metal podiums.
The proprietary Matrix internal bracing system, which increases structural rigidity and effectively eliminates internal resonances, in the new series of speakers is made of plywood, and not of MDF, as before. In addition, in the older models of the line, metal elements are used in the Matrix design, further increasing rigidity.
At the same time, the total number of spacers was reduced, and their thickness was increased. The bass driver mounting podiums are now attached directly to the Matrix fins, increasing the overall rigidity of the speaker structure.
The crossover is mounted on an aluminum plate that covers the column at the rear. This plate also serves to cool the circuit elements. The design allows for easy dismantling of both the crossover as a whole and individual electronic components during maintenance.
The proprietary Matrix internal bracing system, which increases structural rigidity and effectively eliminates internal resonances, in the new series of speakers is made of plywood, and not of MDF, as before.
In addition, in the older models of the line, metal elements are used in the Matrix design, further increasing rigidity. 5. The design of the slab at the base of the column was also seriously modernized. The plate is made of zinc and aluminum alloy and for model 802 D3 weighs 18 kg. It integrates a system that combines transport wheels and spikes for permanent installation.
Now the speaker is placed in the right place, after which the spikes are unscrewed from the base using special wings, lifting the speaker body above the floor and blocking the possibility of using the wheels. This greatly simplifies the process of installing heavy acoustics.
To prevent damage to the floor covering, the speakers come with spike stands that are held in place using magnets.
Such close attention of the developers to even the smallest details emphasizes the highest class of the 800 series Bowers & Wilkins.
Now let's take a look at the Bowers & Wilkins factory in Worthing, where these works of engineering, design and acoustic art are created.
Just as a theater begins with a coat rack, so any factory begins with an office. To get to the workshop you need to pass this relatively small open space.
There is also a small exhibition of finished products.
Modern high-tech production workshop. No esotericism.
Source material for speaker cabinets
The panels are made by pressing multiple layers of wood
The complex profiles of the low-frequency section housings of the new 800 series are also made by pressing
Finishing edges
Flat elements of the Matrix system are cut by a robot
In the painting shop, not only machines work, but also people. The turbine head of the new 800 series is being painted
Sanding is also still done by hand. But very soon robots will also work in this area. Only an automatic machine can provide truly uniform grinding force.
Installation of speaker crossovers
Finished goods warehouse
The door to the holy of holies of any acoustic brand - the anechoic chamber
Trapped in silence. It is very uncomfortable to be inside an anechoic chamber for any length of time. The ear is not accustomed to truly deathly silence
Anatoly Maksimenko
Editorial staff of Hi-Fi.ru
Strict and big sound
The acoustics for testing were not delivered fresh out of the box - they had time to work long enough to fully come to their senses. A test system with an Esoteric digital source and PS Audio amplification in the form of a BHK Signature Preamplifier and BHK Signature 300 Mono blocks is a completely suitable listening option. There is definitely enough amplification headroom here, and the source, to my ears and tastes, is quite suitable for obtaining the desired resolution.
In general, I take into account the “rock” reputation of the acoustics of this manufacturer, but once again listening to Pink Floyd or AC/DC sound on them does not seem like a good idea. It's much more interesting to test acoustics on different materials to find out what they can offer to different listeners.
The mid-frequency driver has a through-mounting system - due to the attraction of the entire speaker structure to the body by the central axis, and not with the help of screws along the edges of the basket. These screws are not included in the design at all.
The first to play was The Bill Crow Quartet's "Jazz Anecdotes". The style of the Venus Records recording is clearly audible and recognizable, but at the same time the sound is rather monitor-like, clean and fast, without the softness, warmth and some bloat that is periodically characteristic of the discs of this label. I repeat, the character is audible, but there is just enough of it that it does not interfere or attract too much attention to itself. Personally, I find it more pleasant to listen to music this way - I can focus on it, and not on the sound signature.
The sound turned out to be quite strict and harmonious. In addition, large in scale and with good bass control. However, I did not notice any impudent and impudent presentation in all this. There is more of a certain aesthetics and grace in the character, but not at the expense of harmony. But there is no need to explain the difference between confidence and impudence in presentation - it is quite obvious how one differs from the other.
Aluminum tweeter housing
Another specificity is also noticeable. For example, you can listen at a very low volume, but the acoustics do not want to whisper aspiratedly and revel in the after-sounds - as if this is contrary to its nature. And the priorities here are quite clear. In terms of dynamics, everything is generally very good - at least on this recording (and this is not the most complex material in this context), there were no problems.
The approach to detail, again, can be called somewhat monitor-like: up to a certain limit, everything is audible and readable, but listening to the air of studios is not possible with this system. Here the priority is the basic sounds, instruments and playing techniques - all this can be heard well and in detail. And there is no sense of any pretentiousness or coloring. The sound is definitely not warm, closer to cool. But the cold prickliness is not noticeable either. Rather, everything is restrained and balanced, without unnecessary features.
You can hear from the frequencies that the system plays deep in the bass and has no shortcomings in the highs. Personally, for my taste, the stitching of the tweeter and midrange characters (and the bass section with everything else) is much better here than in the previous generation. And the bass does not feel bloated, although there is a lot of it. The speed over the entire range is very good.
New Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamond Series!
The world's best family of loudspeakers features a completely new industrial design, as well as a range of breakthrough technologies that set even higher standards for sound quality.
How to improve the most successful, legendary line of high-end loudspeakers?
This challenge has occupied the minds of the SRE (Southwater Research Establishment), home to Bowers & Wilkins' world-renowned engineering team, for the past six years. Their solution is to combine continuous improvement in every component and every design, with an innovative and patented technology that rethinks the fundamental underpinnings of conventional speakers: the new, unique and revolutionary Biomimetic Suspension. The new 800 Diamond Series continues to offer seven models, starting with the 2-Way 805 D4 Rack Mount Shelf. It is joined by the 3-way floor-standing models 804 D4, 803 D4 and 802 D4. As the flagship model in the family, Bowers & Wilkins is pleased to reintroduce the legendary name to its portfolio with the launch of the 801 D4, replacing the existing 800 D3. The 800 D4 Series is completed by a pair of high-quality home cinema center channel speakers, the HTM 81D4 and HTM 82D4.
Each new model in the family combines hundreds of individual component improvements, plus several entirely new technologies, to create speakers with the most transparent, detailed and natural sound Bowers & Wilkins has ever made.
Exquisite Design
Refined, elegant body proportions, plus luxurious, premium finishes make the new family the highest quality of all generations of the 800 Diamond series.
The first and most obvious change is the addition of a fourth trim option. The new family now features Satin Walnut veneer, joining the established list of Gloss Black, White and Satin Rosenut.
Each stereo speaker in the new 800 Diamond Series has been carefully redesigned with a new cast aluminum plate replacing the previous wooden top panel. This significantly improves overall structural rigidity and provides the ideal basis for Connolly's new leather finish - with luxurious black leather for dark cabinets (Black, Satin Rosenut) and light gray for light finishes (White, Satin Walnut).
Each model in the new Series features an improved version of the iconic massive tweeter-top housing, with a longer load tube for an even freer, more open high-frequency sound. This extremely rigid cabinet successfully suppresses unwanted resonances and is an exceptionally efficient acoustic form, especially when combined with the new two-point decoupling system that mechanically isolates it from the rest of the speaker. As before, the tweeter housing is made from solid aluminum and now has an anodized finish, dark or light, depending on the color of the housing.
The 805 D4 and 804 D4 also feature a new reverse-curved cabinet shape, which first appeared in 2015 on the larger speakers in the series. This shape reduces the profile of the front panels and at the same time dramatically increases the overall rigidity of the system. It also made it possible to place crossovers in special compartments, behind a durable aluminum “spine”.
New technologies
ContinuumCone™, FST™ diffusers and bionic suspension
The result of an eight-year research program, the Continuum composite cone used in both the midrange and bass/midrange drivers is already renowned for its open, transparent and neutral sound. The midrange drivers in Bowers & Wilkins floorstanders always combine this with our Fixed Surround Technology (FSTTM), which eliminates the sound coloration that traditional solutions can introduce.
Now Bowers & Wilkins has combined the dual benefits of Continuum and FST with an entirely new advancement that transforms another key element of the speaker: the fabric centering washer. Through decades of continuous development of almost every detail, this key element of every conventional speaker's suspension has remained largely unchanged - but only until now.
The all-new composite bionic surround replaces the conventional fabric centering washer with a minimalist design that revolutionizes midrange driver performance by significantly reducing the unwanted air pressure (causing extraneous sounds) that a conventional fabric washer can generate, eliminating its unpredictable non-linear effects. The result is unprecedented transparency and realism in the midrange.
Mechanical decoupling of midrange speaker housings and turbine head
Bowers & Wilkins combines all the sound-enhancing benefits of its Continuum cone, FST technology and bionic suspension with careful vibration isolation of the entire midrange module from the rest of the cabinet. All 3-way models feature a very rigid all-aluminum midrange chassis with Tuned Mass Dampers (TMD) to reduce any resonances. These complete speaker modules are then vibration-decoupled using spring-loaded mounts, further limiting the amount of vibration they receive.
Massive tweeter housing
To minimize unwanted resonance transfer into diamond dome tweeters, an exceptionally rigid enclosure is required. The new 800 Diamond series features a redesigned version of the iconic tweeter housing. It is still made from a single piece of aluminum, but now has an elongated shape (almost 30 cm in length) with a longer internal load tube.
The new solid-body tweeter is now detached from the main body of the speaker or from the turbine head (depending on the model) in two places rather than in one: this significantly increases the spaciousness and openness of the sound. At the same time, the tweeter's magnetic system has also been redesigned to allow it to "breathe" more efficiently without losing sound quality. As a result, the resonant frequency of the volume behind the tweeter dome was noticeably reduced.
Reverse camber body and Matrix™ strut structure
The Matrix™ spacer structure has been Bowers & Wilkins' core technology for over 30 years and has been continuously developed throughout that time. An internal structure of bonded panels that reinforce the speaker system inside in all directions helps make the enclosures rigid, inert and quiet.
The 805 D4 and 804 D4 now feature the reverse-curve body previously found only on the larger 800 Diamond Series floor-standing models. Each of them now has a rigid aluminum plate on the inner surface of the body, which protects the walls from resonances. Inside, both models also feature an updated partition matrix, with thicker panels made from solid plywood rather than MDF and reinforced with aluminum mounting inserts.
Each stereo model also features a new die-cast aluminum cover, replacing the previous wood structure, significantly increasing the cabinet's rigidity. As before, the drivers are housed in rigid aluminum frames mounted on the front wall, while the crossovers are mounted on a rigid aluminum "spine" running along the rear of the cabinet. Finally, the 801D4 has a steel plate at the base around the bass reflex port - again, all in the name of stiffening the cabinet and further reducing noise during operation.
Aluminum base plate
The 804 D4 now joins the other floor-standing models in the 800 Diamond Series by offering a downward-firing FlowportTM bass reflex port facing a new, stiffer solid aluminum plinth along with a steel damping sheet designed to create a solid base and control unwanted resonances. The 804 D4 also features vastly improved studs and supports, with huge M12 sized studs that are both more stable and stiffer than the previous M6 diameter studs.
The 803 D4, 802 D4 and 801 D4 use the same down-firing Flowport bass reflex port layout, solid aluminum base and steel damping layer, but retain the roller-plus-spike configuration introduced in 2015, making it much easier to select the ideal listening position. than any competing design.
AerofoilCone™ Diffuser
Designed by computer simulation, the Aerofoil ConeTM is a variable-thickness composite bass cone that delivers maximum stiffness exactly where it's needed while maintaining low weight—featuring a carbon fiber shell and a lightweight synthetic foam core.
Along with revised and optimized drivers, every floor-standing model in the 800 Diamond Series now combines Aerofoil cones with a new anti-resonance cap that gently supports the voice coil and reduces distortion along the travel path, delivering even cleaner bass.
Together, all these achievements provide unprecedented high quality sound. Available worldwide from 1 September, the new 800 Diamond Series is the finest family of loudspeakers Bowers & Wilkins has ever produced.
Models and prices
801 D4
RRP — 3,766,000 ₽
The flagship: a loudspeaker that sets the standard for high-end floorstanding for many years to come.
Finish: Gloss Black/White/Satin Walnut/Satin Rosenut
802 D4
RRP — 2,774,000 ₽
Built to the same proportions as the flagship model and equipped with the same 6” FST midrange driver, the 802 D4 is a superb performer.
Finish: Gloss Black/White/Satin Walnut/Satin Rosenut
803 D4
RRP — 2,271,000 ₽
Elegantly built with a separate head, the 803 D4 makes its benefits more widely available.
Finish: Gloss Black/White/SatinWalnut/Satin Rosenut
804 D4
RRP — 1,462,000 ₽
With a more traditional look than its turbine-headed sisters, the floor-standing 804 D4 takes full advantage of its rugged, sleek chassis.
Finish: Gloss Black/White/Satin Walnut/Satin Rosenut
805 D4
RRP — 899,000 ₽ (racks separately)
The 805 D4 is the ideal choice for audiophiles who prefer compact bookshelf speakers for rack mounting. It is perfectly designed and sounds incredibly accurate. Finish: Gloss Black/White/Satin Walnut/Satin Rosenut
HTM81 D4
RRP — 849,000 ₽ (stand separately)
High quality 3-way center speaker with 6in FST midrange driver, for use with the 802 D4 and 801 D4. Finish: Gloss Black/White
HTM82 D4
RRP — 610,000 ₽ (stand separately)
3-way center speaker with 5in FST midrange driver, for use with 803 D4 and 804 D4. Finish: Gloss Black/White
About Bowers & Wilkins
Founded in the UK in 1966, Bowers & Wilkins has been at the forefront of high-quality audio for over 50 years. Bowers & Wilkins designs and manufactures superior home speakers, headphones, custom installation speakers and high-quality car audio systems that set new standards for innovation and sound quality, earning countless awards and accolades from the world's leading recording studios and musicians. Bowers & Wilkins' reputation is built on an unwavering commitment to the best possible sound quality and unrivaled music reproduction. In 2022, Bowers & Wilkins became part of the Sound United LLC concern, which unites a number of well-known audio brands. Find out more at bowerswilkins.com.
Restraint, not “audiophile goosebumps”
The next album is Coralie Clement “Sallie Des Pas Perdus”. From this disc you can also expect an expressive presentation with accentuated vocals. But in reality, again, with audible features, everything turned out smoother and more neutral than expected. The stage volume is there, the vocals are in place, without exaggeration. The sound character is dynamic and restrained in emotions, although the acoustics do not repaint or alter anything.
Diamond dome tweeter (demo sample)
On stage, everything really turned out on a grand scale. Although this is predictable, and it is understandable that such speakers should not work in a small room with a dense arrangement. Here it only remains to emphasize that the sound is both big and powerful at the same time, which, oddly enough, does not contradict the refined (sometimes too much) emotional sweetness of the recording. On the contrary, everything is well balanced.
The sound, while monitored, does not dictate it unambiguously - rather, everything somehow negotiates and gets along with everything. But at the same time, the emphasis here is still on honesty and restraint, and not on “audiophile goosebumps.” Secondary plans are drawn normally, but priority goes to the first plans, to the main tones and to the rhythm. Emotions are created by the music itself and the dynamics and even tonal balance that support it. Well, for bass lovers - it is here in very decent quantities, but with appropriate control.
Cutting the body of the bass section (demo sample)
Next I listened to a collection of old mono recordings of Charlie Parker featuring Miles Davis “The Best of the Dial Years”. I often take such discs for testing to understand how the technology copes with such musical material, with all its imperfections. Will the sound be completely lost compared to other recordings? It didn't turn out. Of course, mono, reduced spectrum and artifacts. But the scale and volume of sound at the output greatly improves the situation, and in general everything sounds interesting and full. And the volume and “size” of the sound are generally very good. However, the acoustics are not small at all; they are supposed to create volume.
The Beatles album “Revolver” was also a good listen. The edition is old, the sound of this disc is clearly quiet - at least in comparison with later reissues. On some systems this option sounds a bit flat and generally so-so. But here there is more than enough energy, rhythm, fullness and volume are present, and adjusted for the overall scale depicted by the acoustics, everything is very, very good.
Another album is DJ Krush “Zen”. Here you can feel both the bass and the dynamics very well. The sound is very fast, but not fussy. There is pressure, there is a lot of it, but it does not feel like some kind of heavy mass. Well, the mobility and drama are at an excellent level. We can already conclude that good dynamics throughout the entire range and attack are the strengths of this acoustics. And what I personally liked in comparison is that there is no vulgarity, over-basing or overloaded, tight lower mids. And the highs don’t scream: it plays sharply when it’s recorded sharply. But I didn’t notice any fatigue from the high-frequency range.
Floor-standing speakers B&W 800 Diamond, review. Magazine "WHAT HI-FI?"
Undoubtedly, their price is very high; but based on sound quality, the 800 Diamond could be even more expensive - and would be worth the money. We started the story by saying that these speakers are the best in the history of B&W. Perhaps we underestimated them; You will not find such purity of sound, dynamic range and volume with high quality anywhere else.
Save and read later -
The 800 Diamond speakers are the finest speakers made by Bowers & Wilkins. It's a bold statement, but not without merit: the 800 Diamond boasts not only the company's full collection of proprietary technologies, but also the closest to absolute sound quality we've ever heard. Innovative technology and great sound don't always go hand in hand; in this case this is exactly the case. Let's start with the speakers. The diamond dome tweeter has dominated review headlines; however, this is not only a striking advertising point, but also a valuable technical solution. The inherent hardness of diamonds makes it possible to shift the break frequency of the piston mode to an ultra-high level inaccessible to human hearing. The self-damping ability also improves sound quality.
The human ear is sensitive to sounds with frequencies up to 20 kHz. B&W aluminum dome tweeters have a first corner frequency of 30 kHz; for diamond ones it is as much as 70 kHz.
A separate house for everyone.
This tweeter has more than just an exotic dome material. Both the tweeter and midrange speakers live in their own capsules. Decoupling these drivers from the cabinet eliminates the transmission of vibrations from massive woofers that distort high-frequency sounds.
The tweeter is mounted on the neck of a conical tube called a Nautilus. It is lined with damping material from the inside; This is done so that the waves from the back of the dome go into the tube and are absorbed there without introducing distortion into the forward-directed speaker signal. As a result, the high frequencies become cleaner and more detailed.
The design of the midrange emitter, upon closer examination, turns out to be no less interesting. It uses the usual Kevlar diffuser for B&W products. The company favors this woven material for its ability to withstand enormous loads and has spent many years developing ways to use it in this capacity. In this case, the Kevlar midrange cone allows B&W to replace the standard rubber surround with a special high-density foam that dampens the cone more effectively. This is possible due to the small amplitudes of oscillations at medium frequencies.
This design helps reduce distortion and provide more controlled behavior of the cone. Like the tweeter, the midrange speaker is located in a separate capsule, the design of which ensures the absorption of the rear signal, and its rounded shape avoids unwanted acoustic effects arising from the flat walls and right angles of the housing.
Simplicity is the key to success
Two speakers with Rohacell polymer diffusers work in tandem to create bass. They are installed in a rounded low-resonance housing with powerful stiffeners. Each speaker weighs a whopping 102 kilograms! They come with casters, but you will need at least four people to move and install them. The speakers are connected in a three-way design with a high-quality but fairly simple crossover.
Simplicity not only improves sound quality; a small number of parts allows you to spend more on the remaining components. And the components used in the crossover are truly first-class. In tight spaces, the 800D's bouncy bass maintains complete control; in a larger room they demonstrate incomparable depth and clarity of detail. They are also characterized by amazing speed and energy.
These speakers love high power, and the higher the better. From a nominal resistance of 8 ohms they can drop as low as 3 ohms. You will need an amplifier that can handle more current. They sound really great when paired with the integrated Pathos Ethos from the next page; but connect them to a 300-watt Bryston 4B SST and the sound becomes even better, and the lows gain tenacity and conviction. The powerful dynamics of Hans Zimmer's soundtrack to the film Inception are handled with ease by the 800 D. But that is not all; By connecting the pre-amp and power amplifier Krell Phantom II/402e (400 W per channel) - for $38,000, we received an even stronger and more dynamic sound and even more complete control of the low frequencies.
However, this is to be expected from floor-standing speakers of a famous brand costing more than a million rubles. Less expected are agility and rhythmic drive; they go very well, for example, Port de Floor Major Lazer. The catchy melody delights with enthusiasm and incredible precision of rhythm. Speakers this impressive rarely have such high responsiveness.
Kate Bush's gentle voice on 50 Words For Snow showcases 800 D's talents in a more delicate area; the vocals sound warm and soulful; the subtlest shades of the sound palette are used to recreate them, and the soft changes in the dynamics of the album are conveyed extremely carefully. We were even more impressed by the B&W's ability to completely disappear into the created soundstage.
Undoubtedly, their price is very high; but based on sound quality, the 800 Diamond could be even more expensive - and would be worth the money. We started the story by saying that these speakers are the best in the history of B&W. Perhaps we underestimated them; You will not find such purity of sound, dynamic range and volume with high quality anywhere else.
Prepared based on materials from the magazine “WHAT HI-FI?”, October 2012
www.whathifi.ru This review was read 8,668 times
Power handwriting
Some heavy music - My Dying Bride "The Light at the End of the World". The system copes well with messy and dirty recordings; intelligibility is significantly above average. Emotionally, everything is played out quite honestly, straightforwardly and assertively. And even with good bass, of which there is not very much here initially.
The bass reflex of the Bowers&Wilkins 800 D3 is directed to the base.
In contrast, I listened to Ludmila Berlinskaya’s “Reminiscenza” disc. Not bright, not catchy, but switching to piano music is easy. You can listen to the style of the recording if you wish, or you can listen to the music itself. Everything in the sound is in its place, precise and strict.
Although in this case the sound of the piano, for my taste, is a little inconsistent with the style and character of the acoustics. That is, everything is correct, honest, accurate, but not as deep in detail as we would like. In subtle, almost weightless passages, the power signature is no longer heard as an unambiguous advantage. However, this recording itself was made quite conservatively and is a little not as clear as we would like. And it is precisely this property that is very noticeable and audible, although the old mono Parker and Davis system and acoustics are more noticeable.
The performance of “Mysterien Sonaten” by Henrich Ignaz Franz Biber was listened to both thoughtfully and with pleasure. The presentation also shows a confident rigor in the sound where a somewhat freer interpretation could have been allowed, but everything turned out very proportionate and balanced. The feeling of air is moderate, and you can usually hear more of it on this disc. The dynamics, again, are excellent. And I will try to characterize the detail as a little “hidden”: there is an emphasis on the main tones, but the rest takes a little listening and getting used to. Everything is there, it’s just not so obvious and certainly not stuck out - with acoustics setting their own priorities, everything is clear and clear.
Product line
We believe that how you listen to music matters.
If you are concerned about listening to music in its original form, then this line of speaker systems is for you. Whether you're an audio engineer or a home audio enthusiast, you're sure to be able to find a model that suits your needs. Introducing the world's most advanced speaker range.
800 D3 This model will be announced in spring 2016.
802 D3 Discover your music. If you want stunning realism from a speaker system that doesn't take up much floor space, then the 802 D3 is the speaker for you. A diamond tweeter, innovative turbine head and Continuum cone help deliver authentic sound, and the 802 D3's proportions make it suitable for both large home spaces and recording studios. At home or in the studio, the 802 D3 will unlock depth and detail in music you never thought possible.
803 D3 Real sound comes into the home. The 803 D3 is the first of its kind: a full-range, studio-quality speaker system designed for the home, the smallest speaker with a separate midrange driver we've ever released. Although this sleek speaker has dimensions that are friendly to small rooms, it features the same revolutionary technologies and design details as its big sisters, including the turbine head and rounded front cabinet.
804 D3 Wolf in sheep's clothing. It may look more traditional than the other speakers in the Series, but don't let that fool you. The 804 D3 delivers incredible sound clarity thanks to unique 800 Diamond Series technologies such as the Continuum cone and advanced Matrix internal bracing system. So, although this speaker looks quite ordinary, its sound quality is extraordinary.
805 D3 Small sounds great. The smallest speaker in the 800 Diamond Series is one of the most stunning. Equipped with cutting-edge technology never before seen in a speaker of its class, it is the only bookshelf speaker in the world to feature a diamond dome tweeter. For the detail and full-life spatiality of sound, no other compact speaker can compare with it.
conclusions
Everything is very clear here - the quintessence and long-term evolution of Bowers & Wilkins' own understanding of sound, taken to the limit. To be honest, I can’t imagine how this acoustics can be changed or redesigned in the future. Either there is no need to touch anything here at all, or it will be something else. And the idea within itself is seen as completely whole and complete.
Moreover, these are still Bowers & Wilkins, which, just as before, some people will categorically dislike, but for others they will become their favorite acoustics and sound style for many years. So you can continue to argue and try everything on to your taste.
Technologies
Welcome to the future. The 800 Diamond Series changes everything in terms of technological innovation. From the drivers to the cabinet geometry, every major component has been rethought and reinvented. Textbooks on how to design loudspeaker systems have also been rewritten. The future of acoustic technology starts here.
"Turbine head"
Listen to the sound, not the body. This principle was the basis for our separate driver heads, first introduced when the first 800 Series speakers were introduced in 1979. Today, thanks to a major design overhaul, the 800 Series Diamond stand-alone speaker cabinet performs even better than ever. Constructed from solid aluminum, reinforced with internal radial ribs and featuring a narrower profile, the new Turbine head is almost completely acoustically inert, allowing for sound free of body coloration.
Tweeter with a massive and rigid body
Vibrations are the enemy of good sound. To minimize them, it is necessary to have housings that are as rigid and inert as possible. For the new 800 Diamond Series tweeter, we've created the toughest housing yet. This tweeter's components are housed in a massive piece of aluminum, and an advanced gel surrounds the tweeter and isolates it from cabinet resonances. Result? Pinpoint precision in reproduction of sonic detail and new levels of insight into the essence of musical performance.
Continuum diffuser
For decades, we believed that there was nothing better than Kevlar for midrange cones. But now, after eight years of persistent research, we have discovered that there is something with much better properties. Thanks to its composite structure, the Continuum cone eliminates the sharp transition in behavior as the frequency approaches the upper limit of the operating range, which can ruin the sound character of conventional cones. As a result, the Continuum produces a noticeably more open and neutral sound. This is a giant step forward in speaker design.
Thanks to computer modeling, the midrange basket design of the 800 Diamond Series has been completely redesigned. The new basket has much greater rigidity, and a special damper with tuned mass helps keep unwanted vibrations to a minimum.
Aerofoil diffuser
Sometimes new technologies make it possible to do things that were impossible just a few years ago. A great example is the Aerofoil bass driver cone. Using advanced computer modeling techniques and a new synthetic base material, we were able to produce a diffuser of variable thickness, with maximum stiffness where it is needed most. This extended the diaphragm's piston-like behavior far beyond its operating frequencies, resulting in much more precise, controlled, and full-of-life bass.
Body rounded at front
In our search for the perfect cabinet shape for the 800 Diamond Series speakers, we decided to change the bend location. Instead of a flat front panel and curved rear, we created a case in which the front and side walls are one, smoothly rounded profile, held at the back by a solid aluminum plate. The fewer sharp edges and joints, the more rigid and durable the design is, which minimizes resonances and internal reflections in the cabinet, and the curved front panel reduces the influence of edge effects on the sound of the speakers. Thus, sound dispersion is improved and reflections from the cabinet are eliminated.
Matrix internal structure of ribs – Matrix
Matrix is the strong backbone of our loudspeaker systems. This internal structure works like the bulkheads inside a ship, with criss-crossing panels that make the hulls strong and acoustically inert. With the new 800 Diamond series, we have introduced the most dramatic advancement of the Matrix concept since its inception. Interior panels have become thicker, multi-layer plywood has replaced MDF, and metal inserts have been added in key areas. Overall, this is the most advanced Matrix structure we've ever released.
Base plate
A great speaker system requires a rock-solid foundation. By moving the crossovers in our floor-standing models from the base into the main body of the speaker, we were able to create a more stable, resonance-free foundation for the 800 Diamond Series. Instead of the previous open design, the new base is made from solid aluminum weighing as much as 35 kg. This made it possible to lower the center of gravity and balance the weight of the “turbine head” of the midrange speaker
The larger 800 Diamond Series speaker base features a built-in mechanism with retractable pins and casters that allow the speakers to be easily moved across the floor into position. To replace the rollers with spikes, previously it was necessary to perform an entire operation, knocking the column on its side. This is no longer the case with the new 800 Diamond speakers - they already have built-in spikes that can be extended or retracted by simply turning the thumbscrews.
Diamond domes
Some things do not change. While almost every component in the 800 Diamond series has been reinvented, one component that gives the family its name has remained unchanged: the diamond dome tweeter. Our diamond domes continue to be the most advanced tweeter technology, delivering unparalleled acoustic detail, naturalness, and spaciousness of sound.
Diamond: super material
Diamond's remarkable properties are highly valued in fields such as neurosurgery or CERN's Large Hadron Collider. Its unique ratio of rigidity and lightness makes it an ideal material for tweeters. Designed specifically for the 800 Series Diamond, the diamond dome tweeters push the first resonance frequency to an incredible 70 kHz, delivering superb clarity and detail.
It takes seismic pressures, volcanic temperatures and about two billion years to create a diamond in the natural environment. Fortunately, scientists have found a faster way to produce artificial diamonds. Chemical vapor deposition is a technology that allows diamonds to be grown in a laboratory environment like crystals. They are then precisely trimmed to achieve the perfect geometry for each tweeter dome.
We also have a review on the website that you can read: Review of Sonos products - How to furnish an apartment for a music lover
Musical material
Cecilia Bartoli - Maria / Decca 475 9077 / Stereo
Charlie Parker featuring Miles Davis – The Best of the Dial Years / Nippon Crown CRCL-8848 / CD Mono
Coralie Clement - Sallie Des Pas Perdus / Nettwerk - Capitol 0 6700 30273 2 8 / CD Stereo
DJ Krush — 漸 — Zen / SMEJ – SRCL-4995 / CD Stereo
Henrich Ignaz Franz Biber - Mysterien Sonaten - Alice Pierot, Les Velleurs de Nut / Alpha 038 / CD Stereo
Ludmila Berlinskaya — Reminiscenza / Melody MEL CD 10 02526 / CD Stereo
My Dying Bride - The Light at the End of the World / Peaceville CDVILED 79 / CD Stereo
The Beatles – Revolver / EMI-Apple CP32-5327 / CD Stereo
The Bill Crow Quartet — Jazz Anecdotes / Venus Records VHCD-78160 / CD Stereo
