Bowers & Wilkins just blew me away with its new 801 D5 speakers heres what I made of the model after attending a demo at at High End Vienna

Date:
Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Description:
I tried the new flagship speaker in B&Ws Diamond range, and I was truly blown away.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter I attended the 2026 edition of High End Vienna and to say I saw (and heard) some incredible audio tech would be an understatement. I tried out a number of new high-end headphones, and even saw a soundbar with mechanized wooden gills but perhaps the stand-out
was hearing Bowers & Wilkins brand new floor-standing loudspeaker, the 801
D5.

This is the flagship model in B&Ws new D5 series, and its release coincides with the audio specialists 60th anniversary. It has all of the features youd expect from a model in this range: B&Ws instantly recognizable diamond dome tweeter, a luxurious futuristic design, plus exceptional sound quality. Luckily, I was able to attend a demo for the new 801 D5, and listened to Andy Kerr, Director of Product Marketing and Communications at Bowers & Wilkins, speak about what exactly makes this new model so special. Heres everything
you need to know about the speakers and a fair bit more on how I rated the listening experience. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: The latest
gem in the Diamond Series (Image credit: Future) Before I get into the demo, allow me to provide an introduction to the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5.

This floor-standing loudspeaker, which B&W says is 60 years in the making, is pitched towards both music industry professionals and the most enthusiastic audiophiles. You may like Two of the most outrageous High End Vienna speakers we've ever seen just launched, and they sit at very opposite ends of the
scale High End Vienna 2026 Best in Show awards: our favorite 11 speakers, streamers and more This beautiful hand-made floor-standing speaker ain't cheap, but I can't take my eyes off it and I haven't even heard it yet

The 801 D5 has been upgraded with acoustic, mechanical, and electrical improvements, such as space frame bracing for a more expansive soundstage,
new tuned mass dampers to limit unwanted output from the speaker, as well as upgraded wiring harnesses and crossovers for greater resolution listening.

The loudspeaker features an almost sci-fi inspired design, with new finishes available, including Dark Walnut and Warm White, and I have to say it genuinely is a joy to behold, as are the other models in the new D5 range . Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our
trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 will be available for purchase from 9 September 2026, and will cost $65,000 / 43,000 (about AU$90,000). But just how good
does the model sound? Well, I found out for myself. A listening experience like no other (Image credit: Future) At the High End Show, myself and a handful of other journalists scurried into a demo room, and prepared to experience the 801 D5 alongside Kerr, who ran through various tracks with us. Although the testing space wasnt ideal we could still hear people walking around the show I still got a great taste of what this model has to offer.

I sat in the ideal front row spot at the demo, with a pair of Dark Walnut 801 D5s connected up to Mark Levinson's 626 preamp each, as well as a Mark Levinson 632 power amp, and a premium Innuos music streamer. And the results were exceptional. What to read next KLH's new Model 4 is all the heritage hi-fi speaker I need 4 elite headphones I tried at High End Vienna including a pair with Wi-Fi and Meze's most expensive set ever Dali Sonik 1 review: entry-level bookshelf speakers that are crystal clear, fathoms deep and sound at least twice their size

We started by listening to Hit or Miss by Odetta, and I was wowed by the warm tonality of the bass, as well as beautifully balanced, natural-sounding acoustic guitars and expertly separated vocals. I was particularly struck by the life-like sound of percussion it genuinely sounded as if there was a drummer playing in the room, which is exactly what youd want from a set of ultra-pricey reference speakers.

Then, we moved onto a 2021 rendition of After Midnight by Eric Clapton, and this really showed the speakers in their best light. The D5 put up an amazingly revealing performance with top-tier musicality and detailing, but also maintained a real fun factor. Vocals were incredibly direct and true-to-life, but bass extended down brilliantly, and overall stereo imaging was spectacular.

Next up was Thom Yorkes Black Swan , and here, Kerr was keen to highlight the scale and integrity of the bass, and asked us to listen for how it hangs between the speakers and doesnt pull or lie in the corners of the room where the speakers are.

And this certainly felt like the case when listening along. Punchy, imposing bass powered through the center of the room with great intent, and I could almost feel the low-end in my soul. But as hard-hitting as the bass was, it remained agile and rhythmic.

Last, but not least, we tuned into Antigravity by Sohn, and this was perhaps the most mind-blowing track of them all. The 801 D5 delivered an intensely immersive presentation, and it felt as if bass was running through the floor (with tremendous impact). This was paired with authentic, almost raw-sounding percussion, beautifully balanced and tonally accurate vocals, plus energetic synths.

All in all, then, the 801 D5 delivered a mesmerizing sonic performance that felt every bit as premium as its price tag suggests. And with seismic yet regimented bass, deeply layered vocals, and life-like treble, Bowers &
Wilkins may have set the bar for high-end reference speakers. Follow
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