Introducing the D4: An Update to Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamond Series.
Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), one of the most beloved loudspeaker brands globally, was founded in England in the 1960s by John Bower. For decades, it has provided the highest quality loudspeaker equipment on the market, including the sophisticated 800 Diamond Series.
The Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamond series speakers reproduce sound at the highest quality of any commercially available speaker. Recording studios such as Abbey Road and Skywalker Studios use them to create movies and music.
Today, we are excited to announce the newest additions to the Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamond Series: The D4.
The D4 line will include seven models:
- Three-way floor standing models 801 D4, 802 D4, and 803 D4
- Two-way 805 D4 stand-mount speaker.
- Home-theatre speakers HTM81 D4 and HTM82 D4.
Each model contains dozens of improvements over the existing 800 series.
The D4 Refines the Flawless Design of the 800 Diamond Series.
The D4 comes in four finishes: Gloss Black, White, Satin Rosenut, and, new for the series, Satin Walnut.
Bowers & Wilkins engineering team refined the cabinet design of the 800 Diamond Series to make the cabinet quieter while playing. The new cabinet design comes in three forms, all built with cast aluminum, unlike the older all-wood models.
B&W also revised their famous Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top housing to produce a more open sound. Together, these refinements help to reduce unwanted resonance.
The 803 D4 in Gloss Black, Gloss White, Satin Rosenut, and Satin Walnut finishes.
Bowers & Wilkins Add New Technology To Their Speakers.
Three of the most important new features include:
- Fixed Suspension Transducer
- Biomimetic Suspension
- Continuum Cone™
The Fixed Suspension Transducer helps minimize the coloration that typical cone surrounds produce.
The Biomimetic Suspension is a replacement for the fabric spider of previous speakers. Made from a composite suspension system, it reduces noise-causing air pressure previously produced by the fabric spider.
The Continuum Cone™, the result of an eight-year research program, works with the Fixed Suspension Transducer and the Biomimetic Suspension to act as a midrange drive unit.
All three new technologies are available across the entire D4 speaker range.
Bowers & Wilkins Updates Existing Technology in Their Speakers.
Too many competitors suffice with throwing flashy new tech at customers. However, Bowers & Wilkins has gone the extra mile of updating existing features of their speakers that were already great.
Significantly updated technology includes:
- Reverse-Wrap Cabinet and Matrix
- Aluminum Plinth
- Aerofoil Cone™
- Decoupled Midrange and Turbine Head
- Solid-Body Tweeter
Updates to the Reverse-Wrap Cabinet and Matrix
Bowers & Wilkins first developed the Matrix over three decades ago, and they have since made continual improvements to it. The Matrix makes cabinets rigid and quiet, employing a complex, interlocking panel structure, which braces the loudspeaker from inside.
Each D4 model includes a cast-aluminum top that replaces the previous wooden design. The aluminum top helps keep the speaker enclosure rigid.
The 805 D4 and 804 D4 now contain rigid aluminum plates inside their cabinets to help brace against resonance. They also feature thicker plywood panels.
And the 801 D4 now strengthens its base with a solid steel plate. The plate adds stiffness and promotes quietness.
Instead of a conventional loudspeaker box, the cabinets are made from a continuous curved section of wood, with the drive units mounted at the heart of the curvature. This stiffer, more inert structure resists mechanical resonances far better and also ensures better dispersion of sound.
Updates to the Aluminum Plinth
The new 804 D4 offers a downwards-firing Flowport bass port. The port opens onto a newly strengthened aluminum plinth designed to create a solid foundation for the speaker while reducing resonance. Also, the 804 D4 comes with a re-designed spikes-and-feet configuration for positioning.
While the 801 D4, 802 D4, and 803 D4 share all of the improvements of the 804 D4, they feature a wheel-plus-spike configuration for positioning.
Updates to the Aerofoil Cone™
The Aerofoil Cone™, made of a carbon fiber skin and syntactic foam core, produces bass notes using varying thicknesses designed to create optimal stiffness while maintaining an overall low mass.
Each of the new speakers combines the Aerofoil Cone™ with a new foam Anti-Resonance Plug. The plug braces the voice coil to lower distortion, resulting in a cleaner bass sound.
Updates to the Decoupled Midrange and Turbine Head
The Midrange speakers are decoupled from the surrounding cabinet to reduce resonance. They also feature Tuned Mass Dampers, which further reduce resonance.
The 801 D4, 802 D4, and 803 D4 include stiff aluminum Turbine Head enclosures for the Decoupled Midrange units, which help provide exceptional acoustics.
The HTM81 D4 and HTM82 D4 also include isolated housing for the Decoupled Midrange, without the Turbine Head.
Updates to the Solid Body Tweeter
The updated Solid Body Tweeter minimizes unwanted resonance with its stiff enclosure. Constructed from a single solid piece of aluminum, it has been elongated and almost 12 inches long.
Bowers & Wilkins was a pioneer in decoupling the Solid Body Tweeter from the speaker body. This approach has garnered them accolades for the resulting improved sound spaciousness. They have also re-engineered the tweeter’s motor assembly to reduce resonance.
The new Solid Body Tweeter design is a feature of every D4 speaker across the range.
Unsurpassed tweeter technology that will astound your ears!
Comparison of Models
The new D4 models are exceptional speakers, performing at the top of the line for modern loudspeakers. However, each model offers slightly different features. Here is a comparison of the upgrades for each model:
- 801 D4: Features a steel plate in its base for reduced resonance, stiff aluminum Turbine Head enclosures for the Decoupled Midrange units, and wheel-plus-spike positioning technology. Read more here.
- 802 and 803 D4: Both feature stiff aluminum Turbine Head enclosures for the Decoupled Midrange units and wheel-plus-spike positioning technology.
- 804 D4: Features stiffer internal aluminum plates, thicker plywood panels, updated aluminum plinth, newly designed spikes, and feet. Read more here.
- 805 D4: Features stiffer internal aluminum plates and thicker plywood panels. Read more here.
- HTM81 D4 and HTM82 D4 (center channel): Both feature isolated housing for the Decoupled Midrange.
In addition, every D4 speaker contains the new Fixed Suspension Transducer, Biomimetic Suspension, and Continuum Cone™.
Conclusion
Bowers & Wilkins has produced yet another masterpiece with their 800 Diamond Series D4 line. Each of the seven new models is a diamond unto itself!
Unwanted resonance has reached a new low, thanks to the advantages of new and updated technology such as the Continuum Cone™, the Fixed Suspension Transducer, and the updated Solid Body Tweeter. And Bowers & Wilkins speakers have always looked stylish, in hand-rubbed Black or White finished cabinets, plus Satin Rosenut, but now available in a new (and stunning) Satin Walnut finish.
If it’s time for a speaker upgrade, and you’re looking for a speaker that goes beyond impressive sound and appearance, stop into Audio Video Synergy and give the Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamond Series a listen.
805 D4 Stand Mount in New Satin Walnut Finish
HTM81 D4 Center Channel Speaker
803 D4 in New Satin Walnut Finish
