Bowers & Wilkins 805 D5

The 805 D5 is the most compact loudspeaker in the 800 Series Diamond range — and the one that most consistently surprises people who hear it for the first time. Small in stature, it is not small in ambition. Equipped with the same Diamond dome tweeter and Continuum cone technology as its larger siblings, the 805 D5 makes a compelling case that stand-mount loudspeakers need not concede anything meaningful to floorstanders in the areas that matter most.

Diamond Dome Tweeter

The Diamond dome tweeter pushes break-up frequency to 70kHz — well beyond the limits of human hearing, but the engineering headroom this creates is audible in every register. Treble is open, precise and entirely free of the hardness that afflicts lesser tweeters under pressure. Mounted in the Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top enclosure, it is completely isolated from the cabinet below, so what you hear is the tweeter alone, uncoloured by resonance from the main cabinet.

Continuum Cone

The 165mm bass/midrange driver uses Bowers & Wilkins' Continuum cone — a proprietary woven material developed to sit between the previous Kevlar cone and the Diamond dome in the signal path. The cone operates in FST (Fixed Suspension Transducer) configuration, eliminating the conventional surround and the coloration it introduces. Voices and acoustic instruments in particular benefit: transients are cleaner, timbres more accurately rendered.

Cabinet Engineering

The 805 D5 cabinet is formed from a single continuous curve, braced internally with an upgraded Matrix design that reduces resonance across the frequency range. Aluminium Space Frame Bracing and an all-new aluminium top section stiffen the structure further. A solid aluminium spine locks the curved form in place, minimising the cabinet reflections that blur fine detail. The Flowport reflex port is tuned to extend bass performance despite the compact enclosure.

Finish and Stand

The 805 D5 is available in Stealth Black, Warm White, Light Walnut and Dark Walnut, each with matching Leather by Connolly trim. Bowers & Wilkins make a bespoke FS-805 stand specifically for this loudspeaker — it is not an afterthought, and we would always recommend budgeting for it alongside the speaker itself.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The 805 D5 suits listeners who want genuine 800 Series performance in a room that cannot accommodate a floorstander — or those who prefer a stand-mount on principle. It rewards careful amplifier matching; the 88dB sensitivity and 8Ω nominal impedance make it straightforward to drive, but it will scale with the quality of electronics above it. It is not a budget compromise — it is a deliberate choice, and a very good one.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind.

Martins Hi-Fi is the second oldest Bowers & Wilkins dealer in the world. The 805 D5 is available to audition at our Norwich showroom — we would encourage you to bring your own music and take your time with it.

When you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris and Tim — experienced specialists who can advise on this product and your whole system.

Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.