Short answer: the Aperion Audio Verus V8B, if you are buying new, though neither ranks well in its class. The B&W 805S ranks higher than it (#114 vs #117 of 134 bookshelf speakers, 2.8/5 vs 2.7/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Aperion Audio Verus V8B is still sold new at $1,499. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 134 bookshelf speakers, and the AsciLab C6B, ranked #6 at $1,145, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
Buy the Aperion Audio Verus V8B, since the B&W 805S is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&W 805S | Aperion Audio Verus V8B | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,500 per pair Discontinued | $1,499 per pair |
| Ranked | #114 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #117 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1” aluminum dome tweeter, 6.5” woven Kevlar cone mid/bass | 8” Woven Kevlar long-throw woofer, 1.1” Custom Aperion ASR dome tweeter with ferrofluid |
| Dimensions | 16.5H x 9.4W x 13.8D in | 17”H x 10.6”W x 13”D |
| Weight | 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg) each | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) each |
| Frequency Response | 49Hz - 22kHz +/-3dB (-6dB at 42Hz and 50kHz) (Manufacturer specified) | 30Hz - 35kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 86.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | 85dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; 88dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum) | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer spec), 5.7 ohms nominal / ~3 ohms EPDR minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 50-120W | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.12 | 3.65 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.07 | 5.79 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Recommended Power | - | 20-150W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How B&W 805S compares with other leading options:
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- Klipsch RP-600M II vs B&W 805S
- Polk Reserve R100 vs B&W 805S
- Polk R200 vs B&W 805S
- JBL XPL-90 vs B&W 805S
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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 805S: $2,500 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
Aperion Audio Verus V8B: $1,499 per pair Aperion Audio eBay
Pros: Low-distortion bass that reaches a reasonable level for an 8-inch mid-woofer: the reviewer had no complaints about bass cleanliness, just extension. Wide-enough horizontal radiation to give some room involvement without being uncomfortably narrow. HDF (high-density fiberboard) cabinet construction instead of the more typical MDF. Nice aesthetic in the gloss cherry finish (also available in black); solidly built at nearly 28 lbs each. Measured bass extension of 55Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: A large mid-range scoop from about 100Hz-500Hz strips out the “meat” of male and female vocals, giving the speaker an overall dull, subdued character the reviewer specifically didn’t care for. Two back-to-back resonant peaks (around 4kHz and 10kHz) cause sibilance and an overbearing hi-hat crispness on some tracks; toeing the speakers 30 degrees off-axis helps a little but doesn’t remove the underlying resonances. At $1499/pair, the reviewer felt EQ shouldn’t be necessary to get a satisfying result out of the box. Minimum impedance (EPDR) dips to around 3 ohms despite a 5.7-ohm nominal rating, so a Class AB amplifier needs to be 4-ohm capable. Bass extension is modest for an 8” driver: measured F3 55Hz/F10 39Hz, getting into the mid-40s Hz in-room rather than truly deep bass.
Full Aperion Audio Verus V8B review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 17”H x 10.6”W x 13”D |
| Drivers | 8” Woven Kevlar long-throw woofer, 1.1” Custom Aperion ASR dome tweeter with ferrofluid |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 35kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer spec), 5.7 ohms nominal / ~3 ohms EPDR minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 20-150W |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; 88dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.65 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.79 |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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