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Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4
For listeners who crave the performance of an 800 Series Diamond tower speaker but prefer a more conventional aesthetic, the 804 D4 is the perfect choice. Its new cabinet and plinth make it our best-performing 804 yet.
Classic quality
804 D4 is perhaps more conventional in appearance than other floor-standers in the 800 Series Diamond range, but it’s every bit as sophisticated. Its new Reverse-Wrap cabinet is both a mechanical and acoustic revolution in its class, and its new plinth ensures rock-solid, accurate bass response too.
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.
Reverse Wrap cabinet
Instead of a conventional loudspeaker box, the cabinet in 804 D4 is made from a continuous curved section of wood, with the drive units mounted at the heart of the curvature. This stiffer, more inert structure resists mechanical resonances far better and also ensures better dispersion of sound.
Aluminium plinth
A great speaker needs a rock-solid foundation. The new 804 D4 uses a downwards-firing Flowport exiting on to a solid aluminium plinth complete with a steel constrained layer damping sheet, which controls unwanted resonance. It also has greatly upgraded spikes for maximum stability and durability.
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.
Dealers selling Bowers & Wilkins near you
With laser-like focus on spatial cues, the 804 D4 delivers industry-leading imaging and a lively, tuneful low end. Reviewers praise its detailed midrange and improved dynamic articulation, driven by a refined mid unit and extended tweeter-on-top housing. Tom Martin and David Price note the airy treble and premium build, making it a compact flagship that excels at staging and musical engagement.
Pros
- Exceptional, wide and deep imaging that places instruments convincingly in space.
- Clear, coherent midrange with refined driver integration for natural-sounding vocals and fundamentals.
- Fast, musically engaging dynamics and transient definition that add life and rhythmic precision.
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Cons
- Upper midrange/treble has a slight brightness on some recordings, which can expose digital glare.
- Won't match the deepest slam of larger flagship floorstanders — bass is tuneful but somewhat conservative in absolute power.
Sound Quality
93/100
Bass
93/100
Dual 6.5" Aerofoil woofers and downward Flowport yield deep, well-controlled extension into the upper 20Hzs per measurements. Reviewers noted low-frequency articulation and lack of boom but also called bass 'limited in power' relative to larger designs; overall very capable for a mid-tower.
Mid
94/100
Multiple reviewers praise clarity, transparency and lack of midrange coloration; the FST mid and crossover work deliver clean, lifelike fundamentals and vocal presence with excellent coherence across the midband.
Treble
90/100
Diamond tweeter provides air, detail and focus; several reviewers noted an elevated upper-mid/treble character that can sound bright on some recordings and with tube amplifiers, and toe-in mitigates audible edge.
Soundstage Imaging
96/100
Consistently lauded as exceptional: wide, deep and precisely focused imaging, with images that lift off the speakers and stable layering—described as best-in-class for the price range by multiple reviewers.
Dynamics
93/100
Reviewers report excellent transient speed, timing and dynamic articulation; captures micro and macro dynamics well though absolute low-end slam is somewhat constrained by cabinet size and conservative bass tuning.
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Build Quality
95/100
High-end construction: multi-layered beech cabinet, aluminum spine, decoupled longer tweeter housing, premium crossover components (Mundorf). Finish and engineering elements repeatedly praised.
Features Connectivity
80/100
Passive baseline applied.
Value for Money
86/100
Priced at ~$15k/pair; reviewers call it high but competitive relative to flagship models, offering exceptional imaging and build for the tier—strong performance per dollar for buyers prioritizing soundstage and midband clarity.
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