Bowers & Wilkins 802D4 and 803D4 Demo Speakers

Description

The Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 and 803 D4 represent the heart of the company’s prestigious 800 Series Diamond range, combining highly sophisticated driver technology with exceptionally rigid, resonance-controlled cabinets. Introduced in 2021, both models use the distinctive Tweeter-on-Top arrangement, a dedicated Turbine Head midrange enclosure, Continuum FST midrange technology, and Aerofoil bass drivers. The principal difference is scale: the 802 D4 uses larger 8-inch woofers and a 6-inch midrange, while the more compact 803 D4 employs 7-inch woofers and a 5-inch midrange.

The 802 D4 is essentially a reference loudspeaker designed for listeners who want much of the flagship 801 D4’s capability in a somewhat more manageable enclosure. Its two 8-inch Aerofoil bass cones provide genuinely deep, powerful low frequencies, while the 6-inch Continuum FST midrange operates in its own Turbine Head enclosure. The midrange is mechanically isolated from the bass system, helping minimize the effects of cabinet and driver interaction.

The cabinet incorporates B&W’s Reverse Wrap construction and extensive Matrix bracing. The result is a remarkably rigid structure intended to prevent cabinet coloration from masking detail. The Diamond tweeter sits in a separate solid aluminum housing above the cabinet, reducing unwanted vibration and providing exceptionally wide dispersion.

In listening, the 802 D4 is notable for its combination of tremendous resolution and surprisingly natural musical coherence. StereoNET’s review praised its bass as “very special,” noting the clarity of low-frequency information and the speaker’s ability to reproduce complex musical structures. Its final verdict called the D4 a “quantum leap over what came before,” while emphasizing that it sounded more natural and less obviously “hi-fi” than its predecessor.

Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4

The 803 D4 takes much of the 802 D4 concept and puts it into a smaller, easier-to-accommodate enclosure. Its two 7-inch Aerofoil woofers and 5-inch Continuum FST midrange still provide remarkable bandwidth and scale, while the Turbine Head gives the midrange the same kind of isolation used in the larger model. B&W describes it as its most compact loudspeaker incorporating the headed midrange design.

StereoNET found the 803 D4’s bass “rich, deep and extended – yet very fast,” while praising its seamless midrange integration, detailed but controlled treble, spacious imaging and dynamic capability. The reviewer concluded that the 803 D4 occupies something of a sweet spot in the range, offering a large percentage of the 802/801 experience while being more manageable physically and financially.

The two speakers therefore share the same fundamental character: extraordinarily clean resolution, powerful and controlled bass, precise imaging, wide dynamics and a highly neutral presentation. The 802 D4 is the choice for maximum scale and bass authority; the 803 D4 sacrifices some ultimate output and low-frequency weight in exchange for a smaller footprint and considerably lower cost. Both are demanding enough of associated equipment that high-quality amplification and careful room positioning are worthwhile.

Product Specifications

Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4

• Type: 3-way vented floor-standing loudspeaker
• Tweeter: 1 × 1-inch Diamond dome
• Midrange: 1 × 6-inch (150mm) Continuum cone FST
• Bass: 2 × 8-inch (200mm) Aerofoil cone
• Frequency range: 14Hz–35kHz
• Frequency response: 17Hz–28kHz, ±3dB
• Sensitivity: 90dB
• Nominal impedance: 8 ohms; minimum 3.0 ohms
• Recommended amplifier power: 50–500W
• Dimensions: 48.0″H × 16.3″W × 23.7″D
• Weight: 194.2 lb each

Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4

• Type: 3-way vented floor-standing loudspeaker
• Tweeter: 1 × 1-inch Diamond dome
• Midrange: 1 × 5-inch (130mm) Continuum cone FST
• Bass: 2 × 7-inch (180mm) Aerofoil cone
• Frequency range: 16Hz–35kHz
• Frequency response: 19Hz–28kHz, ±3dB
• Sensitivity: 90dB
• Nominal impedance: 8 ohms; minimum 3.0 ohms
• Recommended amplifier power: 50–500W
• Dimensions: 45.9″H × 14.1″W × 20.1″D
• Weight: 137 lb each

The 802 D4 is the more ambitious reference, while the 803 D4 may be the more practical choice for many rooms—and its performance is sufficiently close that it can reasonably be regarded as one of the strongest values within the 800 Series Diamond family.