News

Bowers & Wilkins Debuts New 800 Series (22/12/2004)

Radical Redesign of Entire Series Sets New Industry Benchmarks

In coordinated launch events in London and New York, Bowers & Wilkins has announced a new flagship 800 Series, due to become available worldwide from B&W's authorized 800 Series dealers on January 15, 2005. Promising even greater advances in sonic performance than those heralded in 1998 by the introduction of the groundbreaking Nautilus(TM) 800 Series, these remarkable new loudspeakers will do no less than redefine the reproduction of recorded sound.

Within their elegantly curved exteriors the new 800 models feature a rigorously developed balance of all-new technologies and refinements to existing ideas, while further incorporating the full range of detail improvements brought by the highly acclaimed Signature 800 and Signature 805.

Model Range

The new 800 Series comprises a boarder range than ever before, with new models added to reflect the continued growth of the home theatre category.

The 800D is the flagship: a 3-way system comprising a 1x 1-inch diamond dome tweeter, 1x 6-inch Kevlar FST mid driver, and 2x 10-inch Rohacell bass drivers. As befits a flagship, the 800D contains several unique refinements, most notably the ultimate in crossover capacitors using silver and gold metals.

The 801DÑalready installed in Abbey Road's famed Studio 3Ñis for those that relish the sheer power of a 15-inch bass driver, the ultimate studio or large room monitor. A 3-way system, it comprises 1x 1-inch diamond dome tweeter, 1x 6-inch Kevlar FST mid driver, and 1x 15-inch Rohacell bass driver. To improve its bass performance the new 801's cabinet is larger than that of the outgoing Nautilus 801, and yet, thanks to changes in the styling of its cabinet-base and plinth, it is noticeably less visually daunting.

The 802D continues as the most domestically sized model of the range's "headed" products. The 3-way system comprises 1x 1-inch diamond dome tweeter, 1x 6-inch Kevlar FST mid driver, and 2x 8-inch Rohacell bass drivers.

The 803D is a completely new speaker providing performance approaching the levels of the flagship 800 models and features the new diamond tweeter. Employing the elegant and very popular cabinet design of the 803 and 804 and eliminating the Marlan head, the 803D achieves prodigious bass output while, at the same time, keeping the cabinet as narrow as possible for the best possible midrange performance. Slightly larger than the 803S, the 803D is a three-way system comprising 1x 1-inch diamond dome tweeter, 1x 6-inch Kevlar FST mid driver and 3x 7-inch Rohacell bass drivers.

The 803S is a three-way system comprising 1x 1-inch alloy dome tweeter, 1x 6-inch Kevlar FST mid driver and 2x 7-inch Rohacell bass drivers. The 803S' cabinet, and its internal Matrix, are revised to enhance stiffness, with a resultant increase in weight of some 25 lbs.

The 804S is the entry-level three-way model in the 800 Series and comprises 1x 1-inch alloy dome tweeter, 1x 6-inch Kevlar FST mid driver and 2x 6.5-inch Rohacell bass drivers.

The 805S builds on the huge success of the Signature 805, offering greatly improved performance from the same cabinet design. Like its predecessor it is a two-way system comprising 1x 1-inch alloy dome tweeter and 1x 6.5-inch Kevlar bass/midrange driver. As before, a matching speaker stand is available.

The new 800 Series' SCMS model is derived from the 805S to offer 800 Series performance from an on-wall location. Intended for use as a rear channel surround speaker, it comprises 1x 1-inch baffle-mounted alloy dome tweeter and 1x 6.5-inch Kevlar bass/midrange driver. The SCMS comes complete with a wall bracket that allows both vertical and horizontal adjustment.

The HTM1D is the new flagship center channel of the 800 Series. ,Referred to internally as "The Hummer" (one look shows why!), it for the first time, offers the Marlan head unit of the flagship 800 models in a center channel model. It comprises 1x 1-inch diamond dome tweeter, 1x 6-inch Kevlar FST driver and 3x 8-inch Rohacell bass drivers.

The HTM2D, another all-new model, delivers the diamond tweeter in a more conventional cabinet. It comprises 1x 1-inch diamond dome tweeter, 1x 6-inch Kevlar FST driver and 2x 7-inch Rohacell bass drivers.

The HTM3S builds on the outgoing Nautilus HMT1 and comprises 1x 1-inch alloy dome tweeter, 1x 6-inch Kevlar FST driver and 2x 6.5-inch Rohacell bass drivers.

Similarly, the HTM4S evolved from the previous Nautilus HTM2, and is nearly identical acoustically to the 805S. It comprises 1x 1-inch alloy dome tweeter and 1x 6.5-inch Kevlar mid/bass driver.

The DS8 is the 800 Series' unique new rear-channel speaker, engineered to deliver both dipole and monopole operation, selectable by a 12V trigger for fully automatic modal integration, or via its mechanical switch. It comprises 3x 1-inch alloy dome tweeters, 2x 4-inch Kevlar midrange drivers, and 1x 6.5-inch Kevlar bass/midrange driver.

The ASW875 (1x 15-inch) and ASW865 (1x 12-inch) subwoofers are similar; each coupling its Rohacell bass driver to a 1000-watt power amplifier and integrates B&W's digital room correction system. The ASW825 sub is derived from the outgoing ASW800, with the upgrade of a 12 in Rohacell cone driver.

All of the new 800 Series models are available in Cherrywood, Rosenut and Black Ash wood finishes.

Availability:

January 15, 2005 for all models except the ASW875 and ASW865 subwoofers, which will be available Spring 2005.

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices (each):

800D $10,000 801D $8,000 802D $6,000 803D $4,000 803S $2,750 804S $2,000 805S $1,250 HTM1D $8,000 HTM2D $4,000 HTM3S $2,500 HTM4S $1,300 DS8S $1,500 SCMS $1,100 ASW 825 $2,500 ASW 865 $3,200 ASW 875 $4,000

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