Short answer: the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5. It ranks #169 of 214 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $15,000. The Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 ranks #171, rated 3.2/5, at $10,000, $5,000 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5: The standmount of the 800 Series Diamond D5, on sale since September 2026. Watch for: 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.
Why pick the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4: Two-way stand mount with a 25mm Diamond dome tweeter in a separate solid body housing and a 165mm Continuum cone mid/bass. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
Buy the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $5,000 saving on the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is not enough to make up the difference.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 3.0 to 3.6; Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 3.0 to 3.4). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 | Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $15,000 per pair | $10,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #169 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #171 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42Hz (manufacturer specified) | 42Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6.5” (165mm) Continuum cone bass/midrange | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6.5” (165mm) Continuum cone mid/bass |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 28kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) | 42Hz - 28kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 88dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 4.6 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) | 8 ohms nominal (4.6 ohms minimum) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Dimensions | 17.3”H x 9.5”W x 12.7”D (439 x 241 x 322 mm) | 17.3”H x 9.4”W x 14.7”D (440 x 240 x 373 mm) |
| Weight | 36.2 lbs (16.4 kg) each | 34.3 lbs (15.55 kg) each |
| DIY Kit | No | - |
| Power Handling | - | 50-120W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 compares with other leading options:
- Perlisten S5m vs Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5
- Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 vs Harbeth M30.3 XD2
- Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 vs KEF Reference 1 Meta
- Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 vs Perlisten S4b
- Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 vs Audio First Cadentia 3
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 805 D5: $15,000 per pair Estimated Bowers & Wilkins eBay
Older models: the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 (ranked lower, estimated 3.2/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 805 Diamond (ranked lower, estimated 2.9/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins 805S (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5). See every Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series generation.
Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D5 (smallest floorstanding, estimated 3.5/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5 (floorstanding, estimated 3.6/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 802 D5 (floorstanding, estimated 3.7/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 (largest floorstanding, 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 standmount of the 800 Series Diamond D5, on sale since September 2026. A 1” diamond dome tweeter sits in its own tube on top of the cabinet, above a 6.5” Continuum cone bass/midrange, and B&W rates it at 42Hz (±3dB) with 88dB sensitivity. A redesigned cabinet and four new finishes set it apart from the D4.
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. At $15000 it costs far more than measured standmounts with better tonal balance.
Full Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2026 (4 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 17.3”H x 9.5”W x 12.7”D (439 x 241 x 322 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6.5” (165mm) Continuum cone bass/midrange |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 28kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 4.6 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 36.2 lbs (16.4 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
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4: $10,000 per pair Estimated Bowers & Wilkins eBay
Newer model: the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5, ranked higher, estimated 3.3/5, released Jun 2026.
Older models: the Bowers & Wilkins 805 Diamond (ranked lower, estimated 2.9/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins 805S (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5). See every Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series generation.
Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4 (smallest floorstanding, estimated 3.4/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 (floorstanding, estimated 3.5/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 (floorstanding, estimated 3.6/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 (largest floorstanding, estimated 3.7/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D4 (center, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: Two-way stand mount with a 25mm Diamond dome tweeter in a separate solid body housing and a 165mm Continuum cone mid/bass. B&W rates it at 42Hz to 28kHz (±3dB) and 88dB sensitivity with an 8 ohm nominal load. Four finishes.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. At about four times the price of the Bowers & Wilkins 805S it replaces, it is a very expensive stand mount, and bass below 42Hz still calls for a subwoofer.
Full Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 17.3”H x 9.4”W x 14.7”D (440 x 240 x 373 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6.5” (165mm) Continuum cone mid/bass |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 28kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (4.6 ohms minimum) |
| Power Handling | 50-120W |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 34.3 lbs (15.55 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