The Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series line on Speaker Ranking spans 4 generations and 18 models, from the Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus 802, B&W 805S and Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3 to the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5, Bowers & Wilkins 804 D5 and Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5. Ratings run from 2.8/5 to 4.0/5. Of these, 13 are still sold.
Each column below is one generation, oldest on the left. Each row follows one model into the model that replaced it; a long arrow means a model skipped a generation. Ratings are out of 5, and an estimated rating comes from measured models in the same family.
More from this brand: every Bowers & Wilkins speaker ranked.
Generation by generation
805S to 805 Diamond
The Bowers & Wilkins 805 Diamond replaced the B&W 805S. It rates higher, 2.9/5 against 2.8/5.
| Spec | 805S | 805 Diamond |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 1” aluminum dome tweeter, 6.5” woven Kevlar cone mid/bass | 1x 25mm (1”) diamond dome tweeter, 1x 165mm (6.5”) woven Kevlar cone bass/midrange |
| Sensitivity | 86.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | 88dB |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz | 49Hz |
| Weight | 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg) each | 35.9 lbs (16.3 kg) |
805 Diamond to 805 D4
The B&W 805 D4 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 805 Diamond. It rates higher, 3.2/5 against 2.9/5.
| Spec | 805 Diamond | 805 D4 |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 1x 25mm (1”) diamond dome tweeter, 1x 165mm (6.5”) woven Kevlar cone bass/midrange | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6.5” (165mm) Continuum cone mid/bass |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 49Hz | 42Hz |
| Weight | 35.9 lbs (16.3 kg) | 34.3 lbs (15.55 kg) each |
805 D4 to 805 D5
The Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 replaced the B&W 805 D4. It rates higher, 3.3/5 against 3.2/5.
| Spec | 805 D4 | 805 D5 |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6.5” (165mm) Continuum cone mid/bass | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6.5” (165mm) Continuum cone bass/midrange |
| Weight | 34.3 lbs (15.55 kg) each | 36.2 lbs (16.4 kg) each |
Nautilus 802 to 802 Diamond
The Bowers & Wilkins 802 Diamond replaced the Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus 802. It rates lower, 3.8/5 against 4.0/5.
| Spec | Nautilus 802 | 802 Diamond |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | 91dB | 90dB |
802 Diamond to 802 D4
The Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 802 Diamond. It rates lower, 3.6/5 against 3.8/5.
802 D4 to 802 D5
The Bowers & Wilkins 802 D5 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4. It rates higher, 3.7/5 against 3.6/5.
| Spec | 802 D4 | 802 D5 |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6” (150mm) Continuum cone FST midrange in Turbine Head, 2 x 8” (200mm) Aerofoil bass units | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6” (150mm) Continuum cone FST midrange, 2 x 8” (200mm) Aerofoil bass |
| Weight | 194.2 lbs (88.1 kg) each | 201.5 lbs (91.4 kg) each |
803 D3 to 803 D4
The Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3. It rates higher, 3.5/5 against 3.4/5.
| Spec | 803 D3 | 803 D4 |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) diamond dome tweeter, 5” (130mm) Continuum cone midrange, 2x 7” (180mm) Aerofoil bass units | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 5” (130mm) Continuum cone FST midrange in Turbine Head, 2 x 7” (180mm) Aerofoil bass units |
| Weight | 144.4 lbs (65.5 kg) each | 137 lbs (62.15 kg) each |
803 D4 to 803 D5
The Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4. It rates higher, 3.6/5 against 3.5/5.
| Spec | 803 D4 | 803 D5 |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 5” (130mm) Continuum cone FST midrange in Turbine Head, 2 x 7” (180mm) Aerofoil bass units | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 5” (130mm) Continuum cone FST midrange, 2 x 7” (180mm) Aerofoil bass |
| Weight | 137 lbs (62.15 kg) each | 140.4 lbs (63.7 kg) each |
804 D4 to 804 D5
The Bowers & Wilkins 804 D5 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4. It rates higher, 3.5/5 against 3.4/5.
| Spec | 804 D4 | 804 D5 |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 5” (130mm) Continuum cone FST midrange, 2 x 6.5” (165mm) Aerofoil bass units | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 5” (130mm) Continuum cone FST midrange, 2 x 6.5” (165mm) Aerofoil bass |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 24Hz | 19Hz |
| Weight | 81.2 lbs (36.85 kg) each | 88.8 lbs (40.3 kg) each |
801 D4 to 801 D5
The Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4. It rates higher, 3.8/5 against 3.7/5.
| Spec | 801 D4 | 801 D5 |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6” (150mm) Continuum cone FST midrange in Turbine Head, 2 x 10” (250mm) Aerofoil bass units | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6” (150mm) Continuum cone FST midrange, 2 x 10” (250mm) Aerofoil bass |
| Weight | 221.8 lbs (100.6 kg) each | 234.6 lbs (106.4 kg) each |
HTM81 D4 to HTM81 D5
The Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D5 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D4. It rates higher, 3.4/5 against 3.3/5.
| Spec | HTM81 D4 | HTM81 D5 |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 1” diamond dome tweeter, 6” Continuum cone FST midrange, 2x 8” Aerofoil cone bass units | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6” (150mm) Continuum cone FST midrange, 2 x 8” (200mm) Aerofoil bass |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52.7Hz | 28Hz |
| Weight | 71 lbs (32.2 kg) | 73.6 lbs (33.4 kg) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many generations of the Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series are there?
Speaker Ranking covers 4 generations of the Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series, from the Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus 802, B&W 805S and Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3 to the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5, Bowers & Wilkins 804 D5 and Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5.
What replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4?
The Bowers & Wilkins 802 D5 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4. It is rated 3.7/5, against 3.6/5 for the Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4.
What replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3?
The Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3. It is rated 3.5/5, against 3.4/5 for the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3.
What replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4?
The Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4. It is rated 3.6/5, against 3.5/5 for the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4.
What replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4?
The Bowers & Wilkins 804 D5 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4. It is rated 3.5/5, against 3.4/5 for the Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4.
What replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4?
The Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4. It is rated 3.8/5, against 3.7/5 for the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4.
What replaced the Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D4?
The Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D5 replaced the Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D4. It is rated 3.4/5, against 3.3/5 for the Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D4.