Short answer: the DALI Rubikore 8. Both are rated 3.4/5 for sound quality (#193 and #188 of 226 floorstanding speakers), and the DALI Rubikore 8 costs $13,000 against $14,000 for the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
What the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4 does well: Exquisite reverse-wrap curved wooden cabinet with aluminum top plate and solid-body Diamond dome tweeter housing. The catch: House sound features a distinct upper-midrange dip followed by rising top-octave treble that deviates from neutral target linearity.
Why pick the DALI Rubikore 8: The flagship Rubikore tower, with three 6.5” wood fiber woofers and DALI’s hybrid tweeter module, a 29mm soft dome plus a 17 x 45mm planar ribbon that extends the treble to 34kHz. 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 measured DALI Rubikore 6, which scored 5.27 on-axis but 4.93 at 30 degrees, so placement and toe-in matter.
Buy the DALI Rubikore 8. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $1,000 less than the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4 3.2 to 3.6; DALI Rubikore 8 3.0 to 3.7). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4 | DALI Rubikore 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14,000 per pair | $13,000.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #188 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated | #193 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 5” (130mm) Continuum cone FST midrange, 2 x 6.5” (165mm) Aerofoil bass units | 29mm soft dome tweeter, 17 x 45mm planar tweeter, 3 x 6.5” wood fiber woofers |
| Frequency Response | 24Hz - 28kHz (+/- 3dB, manufacturer specified) | 38Hz - 34kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 89dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 90.5dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.0 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 24Hz (manufacturer specified) | 38Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 42.2”H x 12”W x 15.4”D (1071 x 306 x 391 mm) | 43.5”H x 8.7”W x 17.6”D (1105 x 221 x 447 mm) |
| Weight | 81.2 lbs (36.85 kg) each | 66.1 lbs (30 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, down-firing Flowport | ported |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 112dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 500Hz, 800Hz, 2.4kHz, 14kHz |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4:
- Vandersteen Treo CT vs Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4
- Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4 vs DALI Rubikore 6
- DALI Rubikore 6 vs DALI Rubikore 8
- DALI Rubikore 8 vs DALI Rubikore 2
- DALI Rubikore 6 vs Klipsch Klipschorn AK7
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4: $14,000 per pair Estimated Bowers & Wilkins eBay
Newer model: the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D5, ranked higher, estimated 3.5/5, released Jul 2026. See every Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series generation.
Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 (bookshelf, estimated 3.2/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 3.5/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 3.6/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 3.7/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D4 (center, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: Exquisite reverse-wrap curved wooden cabinet with aluminum top plate and solid-body Diamond dome tweeter housing. Downward-firing Flowport and dual 6.5-inch Aerofoil woofers extend bass down to 24Hz with low distortion.
Cons: House sound features a distinct upper-midrange dip followed by rising top-octave treble that deviates from neutral target linearity. Minimum impedance drops to 3.0 ohms, demanding an amplifier capable of handling difficult reactive loads.
Full Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 24Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 42.2”H x 12”W x 15.4”D (1071 x 306 x 391 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 5” (130mm) Continuum cone FST midrange, 2 x 6.5” (165mm) Aerofoil bass units |
| Frequency Response | 24Hz - 28kHz (+/- 3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.0 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 89dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 81.2 lbs (36.85 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
DALI Rubikore 8: $13,000.00 per pair Estimated Safe and Sound HQ eBay
Same family: the DALI Rubikore 2 (bookshelf, estimated 3.2/5), the DALI Rubikore 6 (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, rated 3.3/5) and the DALI Rubikore Cinema (center, estimated 3.1/5).
Pros: The flagship Rubikore tower, with three 6.5” wood fiber woofers and DALI’s hybrid tweeter module, a 29mm soft dome plus a 17 x 45mm planar ribbon that extends the treble to 34kHz. Bass reaches 38Hz (±3dB), sensitivity is a high 90.5dB and DALI rates it to 112dB, so it suits large rooms.
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 measured DALI Rubikore 6, which scored 5.27 on-axis but 4.93 at 30 degrees, so placement and toe-in matter. It is a 4 ohm load.
Full DALI Rubikore 8 review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 38Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | 500Hz, 800Hz, 2.4kHz, 14kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 43.5”H x 8.7”W x 17.6”D (1105 x 221 x 447 mm) |
| Drivers | 29mm soft dome tweeter, 17 x 45mm planar tweeter, 3 x 6.5” wood fiber woofers |
| Frequency Response | 38Hz - 34kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 112dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 90.5dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 66.1 lbs (30 kg) |
| 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