With an impressive list of advanced technologies, including our groundbreaking diamond dome tweeter, and a comprehensive model range to suit a wide variety of applications, the 800 Series sets the benchmark in high-end audio.
Without doubt, the main talking point of the 800 Series is the diamond dome tweeter fitted to the top models in the range - those suffixed with a 'D' symbol. It's the most natural sounding tweeter there is and on its own would justify the accolade of 'significant advancement of the audio art'. But there's much more to this outstanding line-up. Indeed, it would be difficult to find such an extensive combination of core technologies in any other speaker range.
In addition to diamond for the tweeter dome, there's a new cone material for the bass drivers. Rohacell® is a light, rigid foam which, together with outer skins of carbon fibre, forms a sandwich construction of great stiffness and light weight. The material's resistance to deformation imbues the bass with incredible dynamics and its 8mm thick cross-section makes it more effective than thinner cone materials in preventing sound generated inside the cabinet from leaking out to colour the sound.
Familiar from the Nautilus 800 Series, our FST™ midrange driver has an enviable reputation for its ability to extract the finest details from the recording. Here we have improved on the version found in the Signature 800, with its powerful Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnet, by giving it a new, stronger chassis that still retains the openness of structure necessary to cut down on the reflections that can blur the clarity of the signal.
The models that do not feature the diamond dome tweeter – those suffixed by an ‘S’ symbol - benefit from a newly designed aluminium dome unit. It shares a new surround design with its diamond brother, which keeps its motion more in sync with the dome itself and extends the tweeter's range downwards, enabling us to revise the crossover configuration.
We have taken a minimalist approach to the design of all the 800 Series crossovers in order to reduce as much as possible any degradation of the signal on its way to the drivers. All the tweeters, for example, are fed by just a single capacitor, a component of the highest quality developed in conjunction with one of Europe's foremost manufacturers. This revised configuration has required an adjustment to the time alignment of the tweeters in order to keep their acoustic output in phase with the midrange, and they are positioned somewhat more forward than in the Nautilus 800 Series.
When you add to all this the proven technologies of curved Matrix™ cabinets, the Marlan® sphere/tube midrange enclosure, Nautilus™ tube-loaded tweeters, Flowport™ and vibration isolation, you have a range of speakers that epitomises B&W's mission: to create a speaker that neither adds nor takes anything away from the music - the perfect loudspeaker.
In addition to raising the performance stakes, we have introduced extra models to give more choice in configuring a complete audio system. There are four centre speakers, including an impressive floor-stander with the full sphere/tube 'head' enclosure. One of the two surround models is a switchable dipole/monopole design and there are four subwoofers. Two of these subwoofers incorporate DSP room correction and will be launched in the summer of 2005.
Throughout the range, there is a choice of three wood veneer finishes - Cherrywood, Rosenut and Black Ash.
We suggest you explore the range model by model, as some details common to several models may be mentioned in the text for just one. If you are technically minded, learn in more detail about the design and technology involved in the Series by reading the relevant entries in the Technologies section of the web site and reading the downloadable paper "The Development of the B&W 800D".
The top-of-the-range 800D incorporates all the range technologies. It has the authority and power for larger rooms and an ability to reproduce all types of programme with consummate ease.
With its 380mm (15in) bass driver, the 801D immediately suggests powerful performances, but it can equally well show a subtle and delicate side. A true audiophile performer that shows its studio monitoring background.
The 802D has all the technology credentials of its larger 800D and 801D siblings, but the use of two 200mm (8 in) diameter bass drivers allows a slimmer cabinet aspect.
The 803D brings our diamond dome technology to the very elegant curved cabinet created by Morten Warren of Native Design.
A full 3-way floor-stander, the 803S retains the new bass cone material and FST midrange driver of the larger models, but features our improved aluminium dome tweeter.
The 804S is the smallest and slimmest of the 3-way floor-standers in the 800 Series.
When there is not enough space for a floor-standing speaker, the stand- or bookshelf-mount 805S gives 800 Series sound quality in a compact system.
The ASW825 is the smallest of four subwoofers in the 800 Series.
The 380mm (15 in) driver in the ASW855 will cope with the most demanding material in larger rooms.
The versatile surround DS8S can be switched between dipole and monopole modes, either manually or remotely from the processor.
Designed specifically to match all 800 and Signature Series HTM centre speakers from 1998 onwards, except HTM1D, this elegant matching floor stand provides the ideal support.
Designed specifically to match the 805S and earlier Nautilus 805, this elegant matching floor stand provides the ideal support.
A serious centre speaker, the HTM1D has all the features to partner the 800D, 801D and 802D models.
The HTM2D is primarily designed to partner the 803D as a matching centre speaker, but brings diamond technology to partner the larger 800D, 801D and 802D if space is an issue.
With either 803S or 804S at left and right, the HTM3S is the ideal matching centre speaker.
The 2-way HTM4S complements the 805S in a well-matched yet discreet multi-channel installation.
The on-wall SCMS comes with a fully adjustable wall bracket. Primarily intended for surround use, it is equally at home as a front speaker if its shallow profile is important in blending with the décor.