Short answer: the B&W 805 D4 is the newer model that replaces the B&W 805S, but only the B&W 805S has been measured and ranked so far, so this comparison is on specs and features rather than sound. The B&W 805S is discontinued, so it is now a used buy.
What the B&W 805 D4 offers: Two-way stand mount with a 25mm Diamond dome tweeter in a separate solid body housing and a 165mm Continuum cone mid/bass.
What the B&W 805S brings: Bass and dynamic performance are strong for the cabinet size, playing very loud with well-controlled bass distortion.
On paper: The B&W 805 D4 is rated down to 42Hz against 49Hz, though makers quote these at different tolerances.
Price: the B&W 805 D4 lists at $10,000 and the B&W 805S at $2,500.
Buy the B&W 805S if you want a speaker whose sound quality has been measured and ranked.
Buy the B&W 805 D4 if you want the newer model, with deeper rated bass, 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 | B&W 805S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10,000 per pair | $2500 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | - | #111 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6.5” (165mm) Continuum cone mid/bass | 1” aluminum dome tweeter, 6.5” woven Kevlar cone mid/bass |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 28kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) | 49Hz - 22kHz +/-3dB (-6dB at 42Hz and 50kHz) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 86.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (4.6 ohms minimum) | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum) |
| Power Handling | 50-120W | 50-120W |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Dimensions | 440H x 240W x 373D mm | 16.5H x 9.4W x 13.8D in |
| Weight | 15.55 kg each | 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg) each |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 46.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 35.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 4.12 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.07 |
| 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
B&W 805S: $2500 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the B&W 805 D4. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we don’t have measurements to confirm that yet.
Pros: Bass and dynamic performance are strong for the cabinet size, playing very loud with well-controlled bass distortion. Horizontal beamwidth stays reasonably smooth through -6dB. Build quality has enough of a “quality feel” that the reviewer said it kept the speaker from the lowest possible rating. Measured bass extension of 46.9Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.5dB.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama shows directivity breaking down badly starting around 1kHz and staying poor to 3kHz: a wide crossover-region flaw the reviewer called “clearly flawed execution” that leaves vocals sounding recessed and masked without EQ correction. A high 4kHz crossover point appears to leave the tweeter’s small sub-enclosure resonating audibly during playback. Discontinued, superseded by the 805 Diamond/805 D4 series.
Full B&W 805S review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.5H x 9.4W x 13.8D in |
| Drivers | 1” aluminum dome tweeter, 6.5” woven Kevlar cone mid/bass |
| Frequency Response | 49Hz - 22kHz +/-3dB (-6dB at 42Hz and 50kHz) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum) |
| Power Handling | 50-120W |
| Sensitivity | 86.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.12 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.07 |
| Weight | 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons