Bowers & Wilkins 805S Speakers (2007) — Specs & History

A bookshelf loudspeaker in Bowers & Wilkins' 800 Series, featuring Kevlar® bass/midrange cones and Nautilus tube-loaded tweeters for high-resolution sound.

Overview

The Bowers & Wilkins 805S is a bookshelf speaker in the company's flagship 800 Series. It uses a Kevlar® cone for the bass/midrange driver and a Nautilus tube-loaded aluminium dome tweeter to achieve detailed, neutral sound reproduction. The speaker is designed with Matrix bracing inside the cabinet and a Flowport™ bass port to control resonance and airflow. It delivers a frequency response of 49Hz–22kHz (±3dB) and has a sensitivity of 88dB spl (2.83V, 1m), making it well-matched to amplifiers providing 50W–120W into 8Ω. The 805S is known for its transparency, coherence, and dynamic capability, revealing subtle details and integrating its drivers seamlessly without coloring the sound.

Specifications

Frequency Response	49Hz – 22kHz (±3dB on reference axis)
Sensitivity	88dB spl (2.83V, 1m)
Nominal Impedance	8Ω (minimum 4.6Ω)
Recommended Amplifier Power	50W – 120W into 8Ω on unclipped programme
Dimensions (H x W x D)	425mm (16.7 in) x 238mm (9.4 in) x 351mm (13.8 in)
Weight	10.5kg (23.1 lb)
Crossover Frequencies	4kHz
Drive Units	1x ø25mm (1 in) Nautilus™ tube-loaded aluminium dome high-frequency unit, 1x ø165mm (6.5 in) Kevlar® cone bass/midrange unit
Cabinet	Matrix bracing, Flowport™ bass port
Finishes	Rosenut, Cherry, Black Ash, Wenge

Design

The 805S uses a Nautilus tube-loaded aluminium dome tweeter designed to minimize resonance and extend response into the ultrasonic range, supporting high-resolution formats like SACD and DVD-A. The bass/midrange driver features a Kevlar® cone for rigidity and low distortion. Matrix bracing reinforces the cabinet structure to reduce unwanted vibrations, while the Flowport™ bass port manages airflow to reduce turbulence. The crossover is engineered to blend the drivers with precision, contributing to stable imaging and seamless tonal integration.

Context

The 805S is part of Bowers & Wilkins' 800 Series, a line recognized for incorporating advanced technologies from flagship models into more compact designs. The original Nautilus 800 Series became one of the best-selling high-end speaker ranges worldwide, establishing a reputation for technical innovation and sonic accuracy.