The speaker of choice for the world’s most demanding recording studios, and a legend among serious sound enthusiasts everywhere, the 800 Diamond is the top speaker in the range.
The speaker of choice for the world’s most demanding recording studios, and a legend among serious sound enthusiasts everywhere, the 800 Diamond is the top speaker in the range – and very probably the finest speaker you will ever hear. Quite simply, the ultimate loudspeaker.
You’ll find the flagship 800 Series loudspeaker at work wherever exceptional sound quality really matters, the world-famous Abbey Road Studios in London to Skywalker Sound, the Californian studio where Hollywood puts music to movies. For sheer, unadulterated realism, these professionals say it’s the best there is. And who are we to argue?
The iconic design of the flagship 800 Series Diamond speaker, with drive units housed in separate, curvaceous enclosures, has its roots back in our design for the very first 800 Series speaker - the Matrix 801. Back then we discovered that isolating the units created a much purer, more balanced sound. The same principle applies today.
| Technical features | Free-mounted diamond dome tweeter Nautilus™ tube tweeter loading Quad magnet tweeter motor Kevlar® brand fibre cone FST™ midrange Sphere/tube midrange enclosure Rohacell® cone bass Dual magnet bass driver motor Matrix™ cabinet< |
| Description | 3-way vented-box system |
| Drive units | 1x ø25mm (1 in) diamond dome high-frequency 1x ø150mm (6 in) woven Kevlar® cone FST™ midrange 2x ø165mm (6.5 in) Rohacell® cone bass |
| Frequency range | -6dB at 25Hz and 33kHz |
| Frequency response | 32Hz - 28kHz ±3dB on reference axis |
| Dispersion | Within 2dB of reference response |
| Horizontal: | over 60º arc |
| Vertical: | over 10º arc |
| Sensitivity | 90dB spl (2.83V, 1m) |
| Harmonic distortion | 2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m) <1% 45Hz - 100kHz <0.5% 80Hz - 100kHz |
| Nominal impedance | 8Ω (minimum 3.1Ω) |
| Crossover frequencies | 350Hz, 4kHz |
| Recommended amplifier power | 50W - 1000W into 8Ω on unclipped programme |
| Max. recommended cable impedance | 0.1Ω |
| Height: | 1180mm (46.5 in) (not including feet) |
| Width: | 450mm (17.7in) |
| Depth: | 645mm (25.4 in) |
| Net weight | 102kg (225 lb) |
| Cabinet: | Cherrywood Rosenut Piano Black Gloss |
| Grille: | Black cloth |
Stereophile - May 2011
"B&W continues to improve the underlying technology of its 800 series speakers and the result is apparent in the 800 Diamond's sound."
Read the full review
HomeTheaterReview.com 2010 - Best of Home Theater Awards
Winner: Ultimate Audiophile Loudspeakers
"The B&W 800 Diamond speakers are so refined that they take the 2010 award for best audiophile speakers."
The 802 Diamond is the smaller of the two 'headed' models in the 800 Series Diamond. It offers immense levels of scale and clarity, and is destined to be a favourite among audiophiles for many years to come.
The 803 Diamond might look almost as imposing as the 802 Diamond, but thanks to its smaller footprint and more traditional cabinet design, it will fit more comfortably into a home environment.
The HTM2 Diamond is the perfect cente channel speaker for home theatre systems featuring the larger floorstanding models in the 800 Series Diamond.
The DB1 is the most advanced subwoofer Bowers & Wilkins has ever produced. Perfect for home theatre, where its power is palpable, but clean and fast enough for the demands of an audiophile's hi-fi system.
Cherrywood
Rosenut
Piano Black Gloss