Short answer: the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4. It ranks #166 of 226 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $40,000. The Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5 ranks #175, rated 3.6/5, at $35,000, $5,000 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The case for the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4: Flagship reference loudspeaker with massive dual 10-inch Aerofoil bass drivers achieving subterranean 15Hz extension and immense acoustic power. The catch: House sound features elevated high-treble response that favors air and perceived detail over strict neutral accuracy.
What the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5 does well: The first 800 D5 model with the separate turbine head midrange enclosure: a 1” diamond dome tweeter on top, a 5” Continuum FST midrange in its own head, and two 7” Aerofoil bass drivers. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the 800 D4 models it replaces.
Buy the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $5,000 with the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 3.5 to 3.9; Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5 3.3 to 3.9). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 | Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $40,000 per pair | $35,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #166 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated | #175 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6” (150mm) Continuum cone FST midrange in Turbine Head, 2 x 10” (250mm) Aerofoil bass units | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 5” (130mm) Continuum cone FST midrange, 2 x 7” (180mm) Aerofoil bass |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 28kHz (+/- 3dB, manufacturer specified) | 19Hz - 28kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 90dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.0 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) | 8 ohms nominal, 3.0 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 15Hz (manufacturer specified) | 19Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 48.1”H x 17.8”W x 23.6”D (1221 x 451 x 600 mm) | 45.9”H x 11.9”W x 18.6”D (1165 x 301 x 473 mm) |
| Weight | 221.8 lbs (100.6 kg) each | 140.4 lbs (63.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, down-firing Flowport | ported |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4:
- Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 vs Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4
- Bowers & Wilkins 802 D5 vs Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4
- Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 vs Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4
- Bowers & Wilkins 802 D5 vs Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5
- Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5 vs Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4: $40,000 per pair Estimated Bowers & Wilkins eBay
Newer model: the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5, ranked higher, estimated 3.8/5, released Jun 2026. See every Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series generation.
Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 (bookshelf, estimated 3.2/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4 (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 3.4/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 3.5/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 3.6/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D4 (center, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: Flagship reference loudspeaker with massive dual 10-inch Aerofoil bass drivers achieving subterranean 15Hz extension and immense acoustic power. Superb mechanical damping and resonance control.
Cons: House sound features elevated high-treble response that favors air and perceived detail over strict neutral accuracy. Substantial 222-lb weight per tower demands specialized handling and dedicated high-current amplification.
Full Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 15Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 48.1”H x 17.8”W x 23.6”D (1221 x 451 x 600 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6” (150mm) Continuum cone FST midrange in Turbine Head, 2 x 10” (250mm) Aerofoil bass units |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 28kHz (+/- 3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.0 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 221.8 lbs (100.6 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, down-firing Flowport |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5: $35,000 per pair Estimated Bowers & Wilkins eBay
Older models: the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 (ranked lower, estimated 3.5/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3 (ranked lower, estimated 3.4/5). See every Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series generation.
Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 (bookshelf, estimated 3.3/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D5 (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 3.5/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 802 D5 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 3.7/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 3.8/5), the Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 (smaller center, estimated 3.3/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D5 (larger center, estimated 3.4/5).
Pros: The first 800 D5 model with the separate turbine head midrange enclosure: a 1” diamond dome tweeter on top, a 5” Continuum FST midrange in its own head, and two 7” Aerofoil bass drivers. B&W rates it to 19Hz (±3dB) with 90dB sensitivity, so it plays loud from modest amplifier power.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the 800 D4 models it replaces. Bowers & Wilkins’ house voicing, which the measured Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D4 showed as a 4.9dB spread across the listening window, is likely to carry over, so expect a less neutral balance than similarly priced Revel or KEF models. The impedance dips to 3.0 ohms and each speaker weighs 63.7kg.
Full Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5 review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2026 (3 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 19Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 45.9”H x 11.9”W x 18.6”D (1165 x 301 x 473 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 5” (130mm) Continuum cone FST midrange, 2 x 7” (180mm) Aerofoil bass |
| Frequency Response | 19Hz - 28kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.0 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 140.4 lbs (63.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons