Short answer: the Vandersteen Treo CT. It ranks #153 of 226 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $11,090; the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4 ranks #188, rated 3.4/5, and costs $14,000, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Vandersteen Treo CT is the better-sounding pick. A time-aligned four-driver floorstander with carbon tweeter, first-order crossovers and exceptional measured bass reach. The tradeoff: At $11090 per pair, 80 lbs (36.3 kg) each and only 85dB sensitivity, it is costly and amplifier-demanding.
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.
Buy the Vandersteen Treo CT. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
About the ratings: the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.2 to 3.6, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Vandersteen Treo CT | Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11,090 per pair | $14,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #153 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #188 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated |
| Enclosure | 4-driver, floorstanding bass-reflex | - |
| Drivers | 1” carbon tweeter, 4.5” midrange, 6.5” woofer, 8” acoustic coupler | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 5” (130mm) Continuum cone FST midrange, 2 x 6.5” (165mm) Aerofoil bass units |
| Dimensions | 43H x 10W x 15D in | 42.2”H x 12”W x 15.4”D (1071 x 306 x 391 mm) |
| Weight | 80 lbs (36.3 kg) each | 81.2 lbs (36.85 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 85dB | 89dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4 ohms minimum | 8 ohms nominal, 3.0 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Country | United States | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.95 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.17 | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner via spinorama.org) | 24Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 22.4Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 24Hz - 28kHz (+/- 3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, down-firing Flowport |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Vandersteen Treo CT:
- Vandersteen Treo CT vs Polk T50
- Aperion Audio Novus N5T vs Vandersteen Treo CT
- Vandersteen Treo CT vs Børresen X3
- Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4 vs DALI Rubikore 8
- Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4 vs DALI Rubikore 6
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
Vandersteen Treo CT: $11,090 per pair Audio Connection eBay
Same family: the Vandersteen Model 2Ce Signature III (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 3.6/5) and the Vandersteen VCC-5 (center, rated 3.4/5). See every Vandersteen generation.
Pros: A time-aligned four-driver floorstander with carbon tweeter, first-order crossovers and exceptional measured bass reach. Erin’s data predicts 27Hz in-room extension, a 4.95 standalone preference score, smooth 0.106 sound power and a 6.17 score with a subwoofer. Measured bass extension of 43.9Hz (-3dB).
Cons: At $11090 per pair, 80 lb each and only 85dB sensitivity, it is costly and amplifier-demanding. The response rises about +0.62dB per octave, horizontal coverage narrows to roughly +/-40 degrees, and on-axis smoothness is only 0.170.
Full Vandersteen Treo CT review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2014 (12 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 22.4Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner via spinorama.org) |
| Country | United States |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 43H x 10W x 15D in |
| Drivers | 1” carbon tweeter, 4.5” midrange, 6.5” woofer, 8” acoustic coupler |
| Enclosure | 4-driver, floorstanding bass-reflex |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 85dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.95 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.17 |
| Weight | 80 lbs (36.3 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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