– New 805 D5 features aluminum reinforcement and top plate for reduced resonance and more spacious sound.
– Price has nearly doubled to $15,000 per pair, up from $8,500 for the D4.
– Maintains same signature diamond tweeter and Continuum Cone driver technology.
– Speakers are slightly heavier (16.4 kg) but dimensions remain almost unchanged.
– Frequency response and sensitivity (34 Hz–35 kHz, 88 dB) are unchanged from D4.
After nearly half a decade
The Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is getting a replacement. At first glance, the design has hardly been revised, but the British hi-fi specialists is continuing a trend that began with the D4. While the 805 D3s were still made almost entirely of wood, Bowers & Wilkins has reinforced the D4’s cabinet with aluminum. This sets the stage for the new model.
New Aluminium Top and Matrix Wood
In addition to the aluminum frame reinforcement, the 805 D5s also have a completely newly developed aluminum top, which, in conjunction with the improved matrix wood construction, should lead to even less resonance, which, according to B&W, enables a more spacious sound. The dimensions hardly change at 43.9 x 24.1 x 32.2 centimetres, but the speakers are almost a kilogram heavier at 16.4 kilograms. The weight increase is notable for a bookshelf speaker of this class.
Diamond Tweeter and Continuum Driver
The highlight of the speakers remains the 25 millimeter tweeter, whose driver is made from a synthetic diamond. The tweeter is mounted in a robust aluminum chassis at the top of the cabinet and thus decoupled from the bass-midrange driver. As with the previous model, B&W uses a 165 millimeter Continuum Cone bass-midrange driver. B&W again advertises a frequency range of 34 Hz to 35 kHz and a sensitivity of 88 dB. These are the core specifications.
Pricing and Availability
The Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5 compact loudspeakers are available for $15,000 per pair, with deliveries due to start in the next few months. This represents a significant price increase, as the B&W 805 D4 were launched in 2021 for $8,500. The price jump is substantial, reflecting the new materials and engineering.
- Price: $15,000 per pair
- Dimensions: 43.9 x 24.1 x 32.2 cm
- Weight: 16.4 kg
- Frequency Range: 34 Hz – 35 kHz
- Sensitivity: 88 dB
- Tweeter: 25 mm synthetic diamond
- Driver: 165 mm Continuum Cone
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