Bowers & Wilkins just blew me away with its new 801 D5 speakers — here’s what I made of the model after attending a demo at at High End Vienna

Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 setup with pre-amps, power amp, and music streamer.

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.