I attended the 2026 edition of High End Vienna and to say I saw (and heard) some incredible audio tech would be an understatement. I tried out a number of new high-end headphones, and even saw a soundbar with mechanized wooden gills… but perhaps the stand-out was hearing Bowers & Wilkins’ brand new floor-standing loudspeaker, the 801 D5.
This is the flagship model in B&W’s new D5 series, and its release coincides with the audio specialist’s 60th anniversary. It has all of the features you’d expect from a model in this range: B&W’s instantly recognizable diamond dome tweeter, a luxurious futuristic design, plus exceptional sound quality.
Luckily, I was able to attend a demo for the new 801 D5, and listened to Andy Kerr, Director of Product Marketing and Communications at Bowers & Wilkins, speak about what exactly makes this new model so special. Here’s everything you need to know about the speakers — and a fair bit more on how I rated the listening experience.
The latest gem in the Diamond Series
Before I get into the demo, allow me to provide an introduction to the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5.
This floor-standing loudspeaker, which B&W says is “60 years in the making,” is pitched towards both music industry professionals and the most enthusiastic audiophiles.
The 801 D5 has been upgraded with “acoustic, mechanical, and electrical improvements,” such as space frame bracing for a more expansive soundstage, new tuned mass dampers to limit unwanted output from the speaker, as well as upgraded wiring harnesses and crossovers for greater resolution listening.
The loudspeaker features an almost sci-fi inspired design, with new finishes available, including Dark Walnut and Warm White, and I have to say — it genuinely is a joy to behold, as are the other models in the new D5 range.
The Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 will be available for purchase from 9 September 2026, and will cost $65,000 / £43,000 (about AU$90,000). But just how good does the model sound? Well, I found out for myself.
A listening experience like no other
At the High End Show, myself and a handful of other journalists scurried into a demo room, and prepared to experience the 801 D5 alongside Kerr, who ran through various tracks with us. Although the testing space wasn’t ideal — we could still hear people walking around the show — I still got a great taste of what this model has to offer.
I sat in the ideal front row spot at the demo, with a pair of Dark Walnut 801 D5s connected up to Mark Levinson’s 626 preamp each, as well as a Mark Levinson 632 power amp, and a premium Innuos music streamer. And the results were exceptional.
We started by listening to Hit or Miss by Odetta, and I was wowed by the warm tonality of the bass, as well as beautifully balanced, natural-sounding acoustic guitars and expertly separated vocals. I was particularly struck by the life-like sound of percussion — it genuinely sounded as if there was a drummer playing in the room, which is exactly what you’d want from a set of ultra-pricey reference speakers.
Then, we moved onto a 2021 rendition of After Midnight by Eric Clapton, and this really showed the speakers in their best light. The D5 put up an amazingly revealing performance with top-tier musicality and detailing, but also maintained a real fun factor. Vocals were incredibly direct and true-to-life, but bass extended down brilliantly, and overall stereo imaging was spectacular.
Next up was Thom Yorke’s Black Swan, and here, Kerr was keen to highlight the scale and integrity of the bass, and asked us to listen for “how it hangs between the speakers and doesn’t pull or lie in the corners of the room where the speakers are”.
And this certainly felt like the case when listening along. Punchy, imposing bass powered through the center of the room with great intent, and I could almost feel the low-end in my soul. But as hard-hitting as the bass was, it remained agile and rhythmic.
Last, but not least, we tuned into Antigravity by Sohn, and this was perhaps the most mind-blowing track of them all. The 801 D5 delivered an intensely immersive presentation, and it felt as if bass was running through the floor (with tremendous impact). This was paired with authentic, almost raw-sounding percussion, beautifully balanced and tonally accurate vocals, plus energetic synths.
All in all, then, the 801 D5 delivered a mesmerizing sonic performance that felt every bit as premium as its price tag suggests. And with seismic yet regimented bass, deeply layered vocals, and life-like treble, Bowers & Wilkins may have set the bar for high-end reference speakers.
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harry.padoan@futurenet.com (Harry Padoan)
