Short answer: the Audio First Cadentia 3 has been measured and ranked among bookshelf speakers; the B&W 805 D4 has not been independently measured yet, so until it is, this comes down to features and price.
The case for the B&W 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.
On the Audio First Cadentia 3 side: Near-textbook measurements: excellent on-axis linearity, listening window, and directivity, with only minor deviations.
Price: the B&W 805 D4 lists at $10,000 and the Audio First Cadentia 3 at $7,199.
Buy the Audio First Cadentia 3 if you want a speaker whose sound quality has been measured and ranked.
Buy the B&W 805 D4 if you prefer its design or features, and you can wait for measurements to confirm how it sounds.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&W 805 D4 | Audio First Cadentia 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10,000 per pair | $7199 per pair |
| Ranked | - | #7 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6.5” (165mm) Continuum cone mid/bass | 1.1” tweeter, 4.5” midrange, 9” woofer |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 28kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 86.4dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (4.6 ohms minimum) | 4 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 50-120W | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | 3-way, bass reflex |
| Dimensions | 440H x 240W x 373D mm | 23.2” x 11.8” x 17” (590 x 300 x 433 mm) |
| Weight | 15.55 kg each | 45.9 lbs (20.8 kg) each |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Country | - | United Kingdom (Cambridge) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 7.55 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 8.91 |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 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
B&W 805 D4: $10,000 per pair Bowers & Wilkins eBay
Older model: the B&W 805S (rated 2.8/5).
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 805S it replaces, it is a very expensive stand mount, and bass below 42Hz still calls for a subwoofer.
Full B&W 805 D4 review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 440H x 240W x 373D 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 | 15.55 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- These figures are manufacturer-specified rather than independently measured.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Audio First Cadentia 3: $7199 per pair Audio First Designs eBay
Pros: Near-textbook measurements: excellent on-axis linearity, listening window, and directivity, with only minor deviations. Extremely low distortion and compression, holding steady even at 102dB with barely any loss. Very wide, consistent horizontal dispersion (~70 degrees) gives a big, enveloping soundstage with strong image specificity outside the speaker boundaries. Strong bass extension for a bookshelf (F3 43Hz, F10 26Hz) with a punchy, guttural mid-bass. Measured bass extension of 43Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.4dB.
Cons: A mild scoop through the upper midrange/lower treble slightly softens the attack of snares, hand claps, and sibilants: fixable with a single-band EQ (2.5kHz, +1dB, Q~1). High-frequency dispersion narrows quickly above about 4kHz, so off-axis listeners lose some air and detail. Very high asking price for a bookshelf-class speaker, and the complete (finished) version has a long lead time; the loaner kit version ships as an unfinished cabinet you assemble and finish yourself.
Full Audio First Cadentia 3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Country | United Kingdom (Cambridge) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 23.2” x 11.8” x 17” (590 x 300 x 433 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.1” tweeter, 4.5” midrange, 9” woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.4dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 7.55 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.91 |
| Weight | 45.9 lbs (20.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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