[REVISION HISTORY]

Bowers & Wilkins 800 D5 loudspeaker development

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2026-11-03 20:43 UTC → 2026-11-10 00:14 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Bowers & Wilkins has expanded its product lineup with the launch of the flagship 800 D5 ~~series.~~ series, marking the 60th anniversary of the company. This new series includes the 801 D5, 802 D5, 803 D5, 804 D5, and the 805 D5 bookshelf speaker, designed to maximize high-fidelity performance by minimizing interference. To demonstrate the series, a listening event is scheduled for October 31, 2026, at the Teleon specialty store in Akihabara, featuring equipment from TAD. The series incorporates advanced technologies such as Diamond Dome tweeters, Continuum midrange drivers, and Aerofoil Bass Cones. The lineup also includes HTM81 D5 and HTM82 D5 center speakers for home cinema setups, while the 804 D5 model utilizes a specialized aluminum midrange housing to accommodate its slimmer design. To showcase the range, Experience Weekends are scheduled for November 28 and 29, 2026, at HOBO hifi in Arnhem, and December 12 and 13, 2026, in The Hague. Manufacturing of the signature horseshoe-shaped cabinets occurs at the company facility in Worthing, West Sussex. To maximize rigidity and minimize vibrations, thin sheets of beech wood are layered with alternating grain directions. For models such as the 801 and 802, up to 18 layers are used to reach a thickness of approximately 27mm. These layers are shaped using model-specific heat and pressure machines, such as a press applying up to 120 tons of vertical pressure for the 802 D5 cabinet, a method intended to eliminate structural weaknesses found in traditional rectangular cabinets. The company has a long history of innovation dating back to its transition into loudspeaker design in 1966. Key historical milestones include the 1977 introduction of the DM7 with its signature separately mounted tweeter and the 1979 adoption of the 801 model by Abbey Road Studios. ~~Technical developments such as the Matrix construction, an internal bracing system designed to combat resonances, have been utilized in refined forms within the 800 Series since 1987.~~

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