Audio Score – Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamond (D2) – Review

AUDIO EXCELLENCE & & TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS.
With a system frequency response of –6dB at 25Hz and 33kHz, the 800’s go far down the human hearing spectrum, but on paper leave 3-6 dB against competitors. The other end of the spectrum is more remarkable, with a diamond tweeter that can deliver up to 70kHz, I have never seen a speaker going higher in this. With a sensitivity of 90 db SPL, on paper, you do not need hundreds of watts to drive them accurately. However, with a rated power handling of 1kw per speaker, B&W already suggests using as much clean power and control you can possibly afford. Overall, the specifications are excellent, with dips in the impedance below 4Ohms, better make sure you have stable amplification that stands strong and steady with the 800’s. For technical specifications and audio excellence, I give the D2’s an 8 out of 10.

DETAIL.
As explained earlier, I have moved B&W 800 series speakers in and out of my house so many times. In direct comparison to the 800 D2, I mention the 802N, 802D1, the 801D and the 803D2. I have always loved the warm sound of the 802D and there is enough detail and audiophile information which amazed me at the time. In my opinion it blew the 800N and the predecessor, the 802N out of the water. The reason was mostly the excellent diamond tweeter. Then I moved up to the 801D, and although technically the mid and high frequency drivers should be similar, there was a noticeable difference for me. The entire sound seamed much more structured, more focused and on point with the 801D’s over the 802D’s. This doesn’t mean there was anything “less” with the 802D’s, the picture was just a little bit more in the room and not as focused and monitor-like. For a shorter period, I had the chance to listen to the 803D’s and I really liked them. For me they sounded very similar to the 800D2’s in the mid- and high frequencies. They sound noticeably more “airy”, more open, but with that same focus of the 801D’s. With the D2 series I hear a difference if the covers are on the speakers. With the Nautilus and D1 series that was not noticeable for me. In the super high frequencies, the 800D2’s can become present, because of their capability to reproduce the recording. If that detail annoys you, get the D1’s or N’s. They are less accurate and therefore can be more forgiving than the D2’s. By the way, a Focal Scala Utopia (Evo) isn’t any more forgiving. It is up to the recording, not to the speaker. Where the 803D2 comes short is in mid-to sub bass. Although the specifications don’t necessarily show it, the 800’s will pull out all details of the recording, no matter at what frequency.
For me that is a clean 9 out of 10 for detail.

IMAGING.
In my room, the 803D2’s fell apart. There was never a moment where they could move enough air to deliver a full 360 degree listening experience. This is where the bigger models shine, with a clear statement: the bigger, the better. I can imagine an 803D2 delivering a similar experience in a smaller room, but not in my 65m2 living/dining area. The 800D2’s creates a very focused but also very textured sound stage. The ability to position voices and certain instruments is spot on horizontally. When it comes to depths, the 800’s benefit from their mass and create a deep, almost overwhelmingly staged sound. I have also owned a Canton Reference 1DC for a while, and in direct comparison, the D2 simply outplay them by the sheer accuracy in reproducing the sound stage. The music is textured, focused, still very airy and not at the speakers without losing any of that bass impact. If you compare them to the Martin Logan ESL 15A’S it gets interesting. The 15A’s can create a magical experience in the sweet spot that the 800D2’s can’t match. The vertical colorization of the 15A’s is the best I have heard so far. However, in my personal taste, the 800’s deliver more character, are a little bit more “in your face” without being annoying. It is a close call, with a win of the 800’s because they also sound amazing when you don’t sit in the sweet spot. They are simply not as sensitive to the room. Therefore, for imaging, I give them an 8 out of 10.

BASS PERFORMANCE.
The bass performance of the 800 Diamonds is spectacular in all audiophile ways. Bank’s Contaminated shows how accurate it hits you in the head, without a sweat. Singularity by Stephan Bodzin will move your house and shows you how textured the 800’s deliver every frequency. It is simply a bliss to listen to those rohacell-cone woofers move air. In comparison to the Canton 1DC and the 802D, there seems to be a little bit “less” at the upper bass, however I am sure the 800 Diamonds simply don’t colorize as much as the competitors. The bass is so deep and punchy, that they simply don’t have to compensate for any deficit. Bass of the 800D2 is close to the 801D’s bass, more present than what Scala Utopias can deliver and simply more accurate than smaller B&W’s. A sidenote to the 801D’s: Yes, they sound similar, however, the 800D2 are quicker in response. Overall Bass performance fills rooms up to 100m2. 9 out of 10.

SYNERGY.
You need serious power and quality to drive the 800’s up to their capabilities. But, in contrast to the predecessors, you don’t need to spend as much to get a very good sound. The D2’s seem much more generous towards the amplification and I rarely listened to more than 100 watts at 8Ohms. On my Mcintosh’s the 802D’s seemed to need multiples of power to deliver a similar sensation to the 800D2’s. Generally, make sure you feed them with quality, and you will enjoy one of the best speakers money can buy. For Synergy I would go higher if the tweeter would be a tiny bit more forgiving. Therefore, it is a 9 out of 10.

TOTAL.
The Sound Score of Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamonds is 43 out of 50. The previous generation S-Class delivers with serious clarity, tremendous detail, warm B&W bass, and a wonderful sound presentation.

At $24.000, the 800 Diamonds delivered and were one of the best speakers in the world. At the time of this review, they are harder to find, especially in mint condition. If you get a chance to get a pair for 50% of the MSRP, don’t hesitate. You get a wonderful, timeless speaker design that is still capable of playing in the audiophile champions-league. In 2021 this is a 8 out of 10 for value.

Add it all up and the scores are 28+43+8= 79 out of 100.