Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 Floorstanding Speaker
Introduction
The Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 is the flagship floorstanding speaker from Bowers & Wilkins’ 800 Series Diamond range. Positioned squarely at the high end of the home audio market, the 802 D4 is designed for serious audiophiles and two-channel/music-first home theater systems who demand top-tier resolution, dynamics and build quality. This review covers appearance, design features, key specifications, listening experience in multiple scenarios, and objective pros and cons to help prospective buyers decide if these speakers match their needs.
Model: Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 (each) — Gloss Black
Price (as listed): $17,000 (each)
Product Overview
Manufacturer: Bowers & Wilkins (B&W). Product category: full-size high-end floorstanding loudspeaker. Intended use: high-fidelity two-channel listening, audiophile-grade music systems and reference-quality home theater front speakers. These are designed to reveal musical detail with great clarity, wide soundstages, and authoritative low-frequency extension in appropriately sized rooms.
Appearance, Materials and Design
The 802 D4 presents a quietly elegant, high-end aesthetic. The example reviewed is finished in Gloss Black — a deep, reflective lacquer that emphasizes the speaker’s sculpted cabinet lines. Cabinets are heavy, rigid, and mechanically optimized to reduce resonances; internal bracing and mass are evident in the weight and inert feel of the cabinet when handled.
Notable design elements:
- 1″ diamond dome tweeter mounted in a solid-body top assembly — this visually prominent element is signature to B&W and is intended to deliver extended, ultra-low-distortion high frequencies.
- Turbine Head for the midrange — an engineered housing that isolates the midrange driver from cabinet vibration and helps control reflections and resonances for a cleaner midband.
- Dual 8″ woofers with substantial motor assemblies and a large cabinet volume — the bass section is built to deliver weight and control.
- High-gloss lacquer finish and discrete styling — looks premium and minimalist, but the finish shows dust and fingerprints and requires care.
The overall aesthetic leans conservative and elegant rather than flashy — a statement of engineering and refinement rather than fashion.
Key Features & Specifications
Important features and design highlights:
- Diamond dome 1″ tweeter — ultra-rigid dome material for reduced breakup and exceptional high-frequency transparency.
- 6″ midrange housed in the Turbine Head — engineered for controlled dispersion and low coloration in the critical midrange.
- Dual 8″ woofers — built for authoritative low-frequency extension and dynamics.
- Large, heavily braced cabinet with precision finish — aimed at minimizing cabinet colorations and maximizing mechanical stability.
- Floorstanding tower design — intended for medium to large listening rooms where full-range performance and high SPL capability are required.
- Sold individually (each) — buyers should note pricing and ordering are per speaker.
- Finish: Gloss Black (other premium finish options may be available through B&W).
- Recommended pairing: high-current, high-quality amplification and careful speaker placement to realize full potential.
(Exact numerical specifications such as sensitivity, nominal impedance, frequency response range and weight are available from the manufacturer and should be checked against the latest product documentation for planning room setup and amplifier matching.)
Listening Experience — Real-World Use
The 802 D4 is engineered to be revealing, musical, and powerful. Below are impressions from listening across multiple scenarios. Bear in mind that these speakers are demanding of room size, placement and amplification; your mileage will vary with system match and room acoustics.
Two-channel critical listening (audiophile music)
In a well-treated medium-to-large room driven by a high-quality amplifier, the 802 D4 excels at revealing micro-detail while remaining musical. The diamond tweeter produces an incredibly refined treble with superb extension and very low distortion — cymbals, string harmonics and high-frequency overtones are presented with air and clarity without harshness. The turbine-mounted midrange provides coherent, natural-sounding vocals and instruments; the midband is clear, tonally rich and unaffected by cabinet ringing. Imaging and the sense of a three-dimensional soundstage are standout attributes — placement of performers across depth and width is precise.
Dynamic music and large-scale orchestral works
The combination of dynamic headroom and dual 8″ woofers allows the 802 D4 to handle large dynamic swings with authority. Transient impact, macro-dynamics and low-frequency power are all strengths, making the speakers at home with orchestral climaxes, live recordings and dynamic rock. There is excellent control in the bass with tight attack and good extension, although achieving truly deep organ-like extension may still benefit from a subwoofer in very large rooms.
Home theater / movies
As front speakers in a reference home theater, the 802 D4 deliver exceptional clarity for dialogue and cinematic presence for soundtracks. The speakers’ ability to play loudly with low distortion makes them effective in large listening spaces; however, a subwoofer is recommended for the deepest LFE effects and to relieve the mains from extreme LFE duty.
Nearfield / small-room use
These are big, capable speakers and are generally overkill for small rooms or casual nearfield listening. In compact spaces they can dominate acoustics and produce uneven bass unless carefully placed and room-treated. If room size is limited, consider smaller models or plan thorough acoustic treatment and boundary placement to control bass energy.
Amplifier and system matching
The 802 D4 benefits from powerful, low-noise amplifiers with good current delivery. While they will play with many amps, to fully exploit the transient control and dynamic range a higher-wattage or high-current amplifier is recommended. Source quality, cabling and upstream components noticeably affect performance — these speakers will reveal weaknesses as readily as strengths in a system.
Break-in and long-term use
Owners commonly report that the speakers open up with play time — detail and bass control continue to evolve over dozens of hours. Build quality holds up to long-term use, but the high-gloss finish and chrome/metal parts require careful cleaning to avoid marks.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Exceptional high-frequency resolution and low distortion from the diamond tweeter.
- Natural, highly detailed midrange courtesy of the Turbine Head design.
- Authoritative, controlled bass from the dual 8″ woofers — very good dynamic capability.
- Outstanding imaging, soundstage width and depth for two-channel listening.
- High build quality, premium finish and durable construction.
- Versatile for both music and high-end home theater when paired with appropriate electronics.
Cons
- Very expensive — price puts them in the “serious investment” category (listed at $17,000 each).
- Large and heavy — require substantial space and careful placement; not suitable for small rooms without treatment.
- Demanding of amplification — to reach peak performance you need a high-quality, high-current amp.
- Gloss finishes show dust/fingerprints and require careful maintenance.
- May reveal faults upstream (poor source material, inexpensive amplification) — they are unforgiving of weak components.
Who Should Buy the 802 D4?
The 802 D4 is targeted at experienced listeners and audiophiles who:
- Have medium to large listening rooms and are willing to invest in room treatment where needed.
- Own, or plan to own, high-quality amplification and sources that match the speakers’ capabilities.
- Value transparency, musicality and engineering excellence and are comfortable paying for top-tier performance.
They are less suitable for budget-conscious buyers, small-room owners with limited acoustic control, or casual listeners who prioritize compactness or easy placement.
Conclusion
The Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 is a reference-class floorstanding speaker that delivers exceptional detail, musicality and dynamic authority. Its diamond tweeter and Turbine Head midrange are not mere marketing gimmicks — they produce demonstrable improvements in clarity, transient definition and midrange purity compared with lesser designs. When partnered with the right electronics and installed in an appropriate room, the 802 D4 creates expansive soundstages, articulate vocals and powerful, controlled bass.
That said, the 802 D4 is an expensive, large and demanding product. Buyers should budget not only for the speakers but also for quality amplification, cabling, stands/spikes and (ideally) acoustic treatment. If you are an audiophile seeking one of the finest commercially available loudspeakers and you can accommodate the cost, space and system requirements, the 802 D4 is an outstanding choice. If your priorities are compactness, budget, or a small-room solution, consider lower-tier models or powered alternatives.
Overall impression: world-class sound and engineering for serious listeners — unmatched clarity and presence for those who can provide the space, electronics, and budget to do them justice.
Product: Bowers & Wilkins – 802 D4 Diamond 1″ Diamond Tweeter, 6″ Midrange in Turbine Head, Dual 8″ Woofer Floorstanding Speaker (each) – Gloss Black
Price listed: $17,000 (each)
