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B&W 800D: Review

Posted to Speakers 2008-11-17

When Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) released the 800D flagship speaker to replace the older Nautilus 800 series (introduced in 1998), a ripple must have been felt. This speaker provides a very, very (add another very) good sound quality and a magnificent dynamic range. The 800D is also stylish (at a cost) but this speaker is both elegant and tremendously accurate. If you can afford it, this flagship loudspeaker will not disappoint.

Rating:

4.6 out of 5

Performance

The B&W 800D is a 3-way loudspeaker with a synthetic diamond 1 inch tweeter (rated as the best stiffness to density ratio), a spherical-profiled head 6 inch Kevlar midrange Marlan (mineral-loaded resin) and the dual 10 inch Rohacell (providing excellent fatigue behavior and dielectric properties) cone bass speakers. Crossovers at 350 Hz and 4 kHz and a frequency response of 32 Hz - 28 kHz ± 3dB (on reference axis) provide a dynamic performance without many peers. A recommended amplifier range of 50W to 1000W also gives you lots of options.

Ergonomics

The vented-box system enclosure is styled and formed from heavy 38mm plywood shaped into a curved cabinet with some heavy cast aluminum. Available in Cherrywood, Rosenut, or Black Ash finishes, the 800D exhibits a striking statement in any quality system. Measuring almost four feet high, it certainly will provide a prominent statement.

Summary

Make sure you find the right spot for the B&W 800D loudspeaker. Weighing in at 125 kg (275 lbs), you are not likely to want to change your mind often. Dispersion of over 60º arc (Horizontal) and over 10º arc (Vertical) will help you enjoy these speakers performance in that sweet spot. The supplied new spikes are supplied with either hard (pointed) and soft (cupped) terminations to provide placement options too.

Pros

first class imaging
magnificent dynamic range
synthetic diamond 1 inch tweeter
6 inch Kevlar midrange Marlan
dual 10 inch Rohacell cone bass speakers

Cons

There are no cons for this product