Andrew Robinson has posted a review of the Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers ($2400) at HomeTheaterReview. His conclusions:
At $24,000 a pair, the new Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series 800 Diamond loudspeakers are not going to be for everyone due to their financial commitment and sheer size. But I promise you the new 800 Diamonds will be or at least should be on every audiophile's bucket list. They are a true reference grade product that compete with and in many ways outperform everything in their class as well as embarrass loudspeakers costing twice as much. While there may be little that visually distinguishes them from their predecessor, the 800D, I assure you the little changes that have been made internally, together add up for some big sonic changes.
The new 800 Diamonds are just a little faster, a little more open and more detailed. They're more transparent, seem to plunge deeper and possess greater dynamics, not to mention they image better, cast a wider, more detailed soundstage and seem more refined visually. On paper there is little to no difference between the old 800Ds and the new 800 Diamonds, but where it matters most, the listener's emotional connection to their favorite source material, be it music or movies, the 800 Diamonds are the better speaker.
While I may be able to cross the 800 Diamonds off my bucket list, I won't be letting them go anytime soon. Would I highly recommend the 800 Diamonds? No. I recommend, if you have the means, that you simply buy them.
You can read the full review here.
