Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 is a 3-way Passive Bass Reflex Floor-standing speaker by Bowers Wilkins. It was released in September 2026. It features a 1" Diamond dome Tweeter, 1 x 6" Midrange and 2 x 10" Aerofoil Woofer.
The D5 generation of the 801, six kilos heavier than the D4 and dearer by half. Same driver complement on paper - diamond dome, 150 mm Continuum FST, two 250 mm Aerofoil bass - in a revised cabinet and plinth.
The speaker has a frequency range of 15-28k Hz and a sensitivity of 90 dB. Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 has an MSRP of 65000$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Are you nuts? |
| Small Room | Poor |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Good |
| Very Large Room | Good |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2, Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)
Bowers Wilkins's 800 D5 Series of Loudspeakers
801 D5 is a member of Bowers Wilkins's 800 D5 series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 7 Bowers Wilkins 800 D5 models compared »
Bowers Wilkins 800 D5 Series Speakers
Frequency Response of the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 Speaker
Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 has a Frequency response range of 15-28k Hz and Power Range of 50-1000 watts. With a minimum frequency of 15 Hz, 801 D5 delivers deep bass that will likely satisfy most listeners, especially those who enjoy music. However, movie enthusiasts and music fans who prefer a full range of sound may still benefit from adding a subwoofer.
Here we have a comparison of how 801 D5's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5?
Impedance and Sensitivity
Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms but can go down to as low as
3.0 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
90 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
90dB of the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise. Work out how loud the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 plays in your room →
Minimum Impedance of the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5
Even though the nominal impedance of the 801 D5 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Bowers Wilkins is 3.0 ohms Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
What amplifier does the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
7.5–120 W
per channel into 8 ohms.
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Input Type
801 D5 has Binding post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 External Dimensions and Weight
Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 48-1/16 x 17-5/8 x 23-1/2inch (1221.0 x 447.0 x 597.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 is approximately 2668.6cm2 / 413.6inch2.
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 weighs 106.40kg / 234.1lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how 801 D5's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Weight
Floor-standing Speakers under $30000
Cabinet type and Materials
Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Port Position
Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.
Does the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 come with a Grille?
801 D5 comes with grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible.
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5.
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.