With the new 800 Series for its 60th anniversary, Bowers & Wilkins reaffirms its commitment to uncompromising perfection. The interplay of diamond tweeters, Space Frame Bracing, and proven developments from the Signature Series redefines audiophile excellence.

Most compact model of the 800 Series Diamond

The Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5 is a high-quality floor-standing loudspeaker of the 800 Series Diamond with a Turbine Head and combines sophisticated cabinet technology with the central sound technologies of the series.

3-Way Bass Reflex System

The 803 D5 is designed as a 3-way bass reflex system. This means that the treble, midrange, and bass each operate in their own areas, supporting a differentiated reproduction across the entire soundstage.

Diamond Tweeter and Tweeter-on-Top

The permanently installed Tweeter-on-Top places the tweeter visibly above the cabinet. In combination with the Diamond dome tweeter, this creates a particularly clear, precise, and open reproduction that brings out fine details in music recordings.

Voices and Instruments with High Fidelity

The Continuum™ cone in the midrange is designed for lifelike reproduction of voices and instruments. Especially with acoustic music, vocals, and finely recorded details, the 803 D5 shows its strength.

Further Technologies

In addition to the Diamond dome tweeter, Tweeter-on-Top, and Continuum™ midrange driver, the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5 incorporates other technologies from the 800 Series Diamond. Together, they form the technical basis for precise, controlled, and spatial music reproduction:

• Anti-Resonance Plug: This mushroom-shaped plug sits in the center of the driver instead of a normal dust cap. It specifically dampens membrane vibrations, thus ensuring cleaner mids.
• Biomimetic Suspension: Replaces the traditional fabric spider in the midrange driver with a minimalist, skeletal structure. This dramatically reduces air resistance and unwanted airborne sound behind the membrane, making voices even more transparent.
• Turbine Head: The distinctive, teardrop-shaped aluminum enclosure for the midrange driver. Its acoustically optimized shape is completely rigid and prevents cabinet resonances, allowing the sound to unfold completely freely in the room.
• Matrix™: An internal, cross-bracing skeleton made of wood or composite materials that makes the loudspeaker cabinet extremely rigid. It ensures that the cabinet remains absolutely stable and does not color the sound.
• Aerofoil™ Cone Bass Units: These woofers have a special, wing-shaped profile in cross-section. They are particularly thick and stiff where the highest forces act – the result is an extremely controlled, distortion-free, and powerful bass.
• Flowport™: The bass reflex port features small dimples (similar to a golf ball). This minimizes air turbulence during inflow and outflow, preventing airflow noise and ensuring precise, punctual bass.

Placement and Room

We recommend a minimum room size of 20 m² for the loudspeakers. In smaller rooms under 20 m², there is a risk that the two powerful 180mm Aerofoil bass drivers will acoustically overload the room. This can lead to imprecise booming and disturbing room modes. The maximum room size should be around 60 square meters. For even larger rooms, it lacks the absolute cabinet volume in the deep bass compared to its larger siblings.

The recommended distance to the wall should be at least 50 cm and a maximum of 1.50 m . An ideal range would be between 75 cm and 1.20 m.

Cabinet Construction with Acoustic Purpose

The curved cabinet shape, the massive aluminum back, the improved Matrix™ construction, and the aluminum frame bracing serve not only the design. They reduce unwanted resonances and reflections in the cabinet, so music can be reproduced more precisely and spatially.

Design and Finishes

The 803 D5 is available in Stealth Black, Warm White, Light Walnut, and Dark Walnut. The grille colors are matched: Black for Stealth Black and Dark Walnut, Grey for Warm White and Light Walnut. The matching Leather by Connolly interior underscores the series' premium claim.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Reasons to choose the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5:

• Most compact model in the 800 Series Diamond with Turbine Head
• Diamond dome tweeter and fixed Tweeter-on-Top design
• Continuum™ cone for detailed vocal and instrument reproduction
• Improved Matrix™ construction and aluminum bracing for resonance reduction
• Four high-quality cabinet finishes

What's important about the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5:

• Observe minimum room size (mentioned above)
• External amplifier must be chosen appropriately

Technical Data

General

• Product type: 3-way bass reflex system
• Dimensions W × H × D: 35.9 × 116.5 × 49.9 cm incl. plinth
• Other dimensions: Width 30.1 cm cabinet only; depth 47.3 cm incl. grille and terminals
• Weight: 63.65 kg per piece
• Frequency range: 16 Hz – 35 kHz

Features

• Diamond dome tweeter
• Tweeter-on-Top design with solid housing
• Continuum™ cone FST midrange driver
• Anti-resonance plug
• Biomimetic suspension
• Turbine Head
• Matrix™
• Aerofoil™ cone bass units
• Flowport™

Audio

• Chassis: 1 × Ø 25 mm diamond dome tweeter
• Chassis: 1 × Ø 130 mm Continuum™ FST midrange driver
• Chassis: 2 × Ø 180 mm Aerofoil™ cone bass units
• Frequency response: 19 Hz – 28 kHz ± 3 dB
• Sensitivity: 90 dB
• Harmonic distortion: < 1% 80 Hz – 20 kHz; < 0.3% 100 Hz – 8 kHz
• Nominal impedance: 8 Ω, Minimum 3.0 Ω
• Recommended amplifier power: 50 W – 1000 W into 8 Ω unclipped
• Maximum recommended cable impedance: 0.1 Ω

Finishes

• Cabinet colors: Stealth Black, Warm White, Light Walnut, Dark Walnut
• Grille colors: Black for Stealth Black and Dark Walnut; Grey for Warm White and Light Walnut

Scope of delivery

• B&W 803 D5
• Covers
• Bi-wiring bridges
• Spikes
• Rubber feet
• Mounting accessories
• Documents

• Datenblatt
• Datenblatt
• Datenblatt
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D&M Europe BV
Oude Stadsgracht 1, 5611 DD Eindhoven, NLD
logistics-eu@soundunited.com
https://www.bowerswilkins.com/de-de/homepage.html