The most compact 800 Diamond D5 with a separate head, for more typical room sizes.
The 803 D5 brings the Turbine Head layout to a smaller cabinet than the 801 and 802 D5.
The pair of Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5 speakers combines, in each enclosure, the Diamond dome on top, the Continuum decoupled in the head and two Aerofoil units for the bass. The D5 changes include updated internal reinforcement, plus a top plate in aluminium fitted with a damping collar. There are four finishes, all new: Stealth Black, Warm White, Dark Walnut and Light Walnut, with Leather by Connolly trim.
Key features
- Three-way vented design: 25 mm Diamond tweeter, 130 mm Continuum FST midrange, two 180 mm Aerofoil bass drivers
- Frequency response 19 Hz-28 kHz (±3 dB), 16 Hz-35 kHz at -6 dB; sensitivity 90 dB
- Nominal impedance 8 ohms (3.0-ohm minimum); recommended amplifier 50-500 W
- Height 1165 mm with tweeter and plinth; width 301 mm (plinth 359 mm); depth 473 mm with grille and terminals (plinth 499 mm)
- Weight 63.7 kg per speaker; bi-wire terminals
How it is built
As on its larger siblings, the midrange works isolated from vibration and the tweeter sits in its own housing above the cabinet, with its first break-up mode moved to 70 kHz. Here the midrange and woofers are smaller in diameter, which reduces width and weight. Biomimetic Suspension and an Anti-Resonance plug control the midrange cone, while the damped plate, Matrix with Space Frame and a sturdy spine keep resonance and reflections in check. A Flowport tunes the volume; drive units, crossover and wiring have been revised.
Planning the room
For placement the base is what counts, wider and deeper than the cabinet: that is the real footprint. The weight is still considerable, but clearly lower than the 802 D5, and the more modest proportions suit living rooms and spaces of medium size. Before final wiring, try out the distance from the wall and the angle towards the listening seat.
Leave room behind for connections and double cable runs. In a multichannel system the HTM82 D5 completes the front, placed below the screen. The grille is black on the dark finishes and grey on the light ones, worth considering if the speakers stay uncovered.
