Authorized dealers for Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4

Resolution A/V — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
3mA Audio — online and in-store — Houston, Texas, United States (website)
Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
Accessories 4 less — online and in-store — Apopka, Florida, United States (website)
Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
Acoustica — online and in-store — Chester, England, United Kingdom (website)
Acoustipower — online and in-store — Markham, Ontario, Canada (website)
Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
ADVANCE ELECTRONICS — in-store — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (website)

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Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4

Name: Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4
Brand: Bowers & Wilkins
SKU: 1538
Rating: 95 (27 reviews)

View at Bowers & Wilkins

Specifications 26 reviews & sources

95/100

Deliciously Crispy

Sound Quality

96/100

Build Quality

97/100

Value for Money

92/100

The 802 D4 combines controlled bass, open midrange expression and ultra-resolving treble, creating a vivid three-dimensional presentation that stays composed at live-like levels. Rafael Todes found it more natural and integrated than its predecessor, while hi-fi+ highlighted its emotional force and holographic imaging. This is full-range reference sound with genuine musical momentum.

Pros

Deep, fast and exceptionally controlled bass delivers full-range authority without sacrificing tonal detail.

Sweet, accurate treble and an open, weighty midrange reveal fine detail without the harshness associated with earlier generations.

Expansive, precisely layered imaging remains stable even at very high listening levels.

Exceptional cabinet finish, bracing and mechanical engineering support genuinely reference-class build quality.

Cons

At 88.1kg each, these speakers need a large room, sensible access and specialist help for installation.

They benefit from careful incremental positioning to achieve their best bass balance and imaging.

Their revealing, monitor-like character can expose compressed or poorly recorded material.

A substantial run-in period is needed before the treble fully focuses and excess resonance subsides.

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What Reviewers Are Saying

"The 802 D4 speakers grossly exceeded my expectations in nearly every way."

— Future Audiophile

"A quantum leap over what came before, current 800 Series owners and B&W newbies alike owe it to themselves to hear this."

— StereoNET United Kingdom

"They are precise, visceral, and highly recommended."

— Audiophile Style

"The sound produced is both rich in the small details that define the nature of the instruments, voices, recording method and production as well as the power that gives dynamics real impact."

— hi-fi+

SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 96/100

Reviewers describe an unusually complete, reference-level presentation: deeply controlled bass, open and expressive midrange, sweet yet exceptionally revealing treble, and expansive, precisely organized imaging. Its character is highly transparent and monitor-like, but reviewers also found it emotionally engaging, physically authoritative, and more forgiving of imperfect recordings than expected.

Bass

97/100

The twin 8-inch bass system earns repeated praise for going very deep while retaining exceptional control, speed, tonal variety, and separation. StereoNET calls the low bass controlled and varied, while hi-fi+ found it nuanced enough to distinguish the character of individual instruments without blurring low-frequency detail; Future Audiophile says a subwoofer is unnecessary for satisfying full-range listening.

Mid

96/100

The midrange is consistently described as open, transparent, detailed, and convincingly weighty. Future Audiophile heard it as solid, punchy, and accurate, while StereoNET praised the believable body and nuance of strings and guitar; Audiophile Style particularly highlights the extra life and layers brought to vocals.

Treble

95/100

Reviewers find the diamond tweeter exceptionally resolving and airy without the stridency associated with some earlier 802 generations. Future Audiophile praises minute-detail retrieval without excess brightness, and StereoNET describes the treble as accurate, focused, gentle, and notably sweet once the speakers had run in.

Soundstage Imaging

96/100

Imaging is a major strength, with reviews citing notably wide staging, substantial depth, and sharply placed three-dimensional images. hi-fi+ describes instruments occupying clear individual spaces and the speakers throwing shapes into the air, while Audiophile Style heard a wider stage with less demanding toe-in than its previous reference.

Dynamics

96/100

The 802 D4 is repeatedly portrayed as effortless with both microdetail and large-scale musical force. It stays composed at very high output, delivering visceral impact and substantial air movement without audible smearing; Future Audiophile reports it remained unfazed beyond 100dB.

Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.

Build Quality

97/100

The cabinet, finish, and mechanical execution receive emphatic praise. StereoNET calls the finish among the finest available at any price, while Future Audiophile considers the parts and build quality unmatched; hi-fi+ details extensive bracing, decoupling, metalwork, and carefully executed structural improvements.

Value for Money

92/100

At $34,000, the 802 D4 is plainly a costly loudspeaker, but reviewers broadly regard the outlay as justified within this rarefied market. hi-fi+ argues that serious rivals struggle to compete and may cost roughly twice as much, while StereoNET explicitly calls it good value and Audiophile Style reports no buyer's remorse despite the substantial expense.

Reviews & Sources

Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.

Forum Mentions

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Specifications

Net weight: 88.10kg (194.2 lb)
Dimensions: Height: 1218mm (48 in) Width: 413mm (16.3 in) Depth: 602mm (23.7 in)
Technical features: Diamond tweeter Solid body Tweeter-on-Top Continuum™ cone FST Matrix™ Anti-Resonance plug Biomimetic Suspension Turbine™ Head Aerofoil™ cone bass units Flowport
Description: 3-way vented-box system
Drive units: 1x Ø25mm (1in) Diamond dome high-frequency 1x Ø150mm (6in) Continuum cone FST midrange 2x Ø200mm (8in) Aerofoil cone bass units
Frequency range: 14Hz to 35kHz
Frequency response: 17Hz to 28kHz (+/-3dB from reference axis)
Sensitivity: 90dB (on axis at 2.83Vrms at 1m)
Harmonic distortion: 2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m on axis) <1% 70Hz – 20kHz <0.3% 100Hz – 20kHz
Nominal impedance: 8Ω (minimum 3.0Ω)
Recommended amplifier power: 50W – 500W into 8Ω on unclipped programme
Max recommended cable impedance: 0.1Ω
Cabinet finishes: Gloss Black White Satin Rosenut Satin Walnut
Grille finishes: Black Grey Black Grey

Bi-Wire Capable

Manufacturer's Description — Bowers & Wilkins

Built to similar proportions as the flagship 801 D4, the 802 D4 offers much of the performance of its sibling, including the same Turbine™ Head enclosure for its midrange drive unit, yet is more affordable overall.

Diamond Tweeter
Solid body Tweeter-on-Top
Continuum™ Cone FST
Anti-Resonance Plug
Biomimetic Suspension
Turbine™ Head
Matrix™
Aerofoil™ Cone Bass Units
Flowport™

Absolute elegance

802 D4’s svelte proportions and beautiful painted or real-wood-veneer finishes make for an elegant living-room companion – but one that doesn’t compromise on performance. Perfect for reference-grade stereo listening and an excellent choice in home theatre applications.

Aerofoil™ bass cone

Our Aerofoil bass cone technology remains an outstanding solution to the conundrum of combining low mass and high stiffness in bass cones, thanks to its carbon-fibre skin and variable-profile foam core. Now, we have added the foam Anti-Resonance Plug for lower distortion and even cleaner bass.

Aluminium top-plate

Every stereo model in the new 800 Series Diamond™ range has a significantly upgraded cabinet with an all-new aluminium top-plate. This also provides a perfect mounting point for all-new Leather by Connolly trim, with luxurious black leather for dark cabinets and light grey for lighter finishes.

Decoupled midrange assembly

Like its floor-standing siblings in the new range, 802 D4 has a dedicated midrange cone using three key Bowers & Wilkins technologies: the Continuum™ cone, Biomimetic Suspension and midrange decoupling, the latter ensuring minimal interference from the operation of the loudspeaker’s bass drivers.

The science of sound

Innovation is at the heart of everything we do. We question, we examine, we understand and then we evolve. We use computer modelling to explore and reimagine every aspect of loudspeaker design. Learn more about all the technologies that combine to make 800 Series Diamond so special here.

One of our best

802 D4 is a very special loudspeaker in its own right, with a thrilling blend of performance and style that other loudspeakers will find hard to emulate. Only one model in our range can best it – the flagship 801 D4, which has 250mm (10-in) bass cones in a more substantial low-frequency enclosure.

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Authorized dealers for Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4

Resolution A/V — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
3mA Audio — online and in-store — Houston, Texas, United States (website)
Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
Accessories 4 less — online and in-store — Apopka, Florida, United States (website)
Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
Acoustica — online and in-store — Chester, England, United Kingdom (website)
Acoustipower — online and in-store — Markham, Ontario, Canada (website)
Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
ADVANCE ELECTRONICS — in-store — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (website)