New! B&W 805D $5000pr

          The B&W 805D is the latest version of this renowned CLASSIC bookshelf sized speaker. The D denotes that it uses B&W’s DIAMOND tweeter. Abbey Road and Lucas Film engineers among many, feel the DIAMOND diaphragm offers the sweetest, smoothest sound available- with no BITE.

          When B&W came out with DIAMOND tweets earlier this decade, it offered them within models 800, 801 and 802. They sounded great and were warmly received. They have sold well and lived up to virtually all expectations. But they were only available in large speakers that would run you $12k pr and up.

          From the first day the DIAMONDS were announced, I’ve been emailing B&W approximately quarterly to ask, “Where the hell are my 805Ds?!” Like a lot of you, while I’m spoiled enough to have a rock’em sock’em system, I actually do more critical listening in a smaller room (17x17) while on the computer and doing paper work for the store. I tell myself that I’m hiding out from my family in the interests of the business. They tell me they have banished me to the man cave. Either way, it works.

          In January 2010 B&W announced it was updating the DIAMOND line and would AT LAST be listening to me. Sure, I’ll take 100% of the credit for beating them into making the 805 into an 805D. That would be me and about a million other audio nuts around the world!

          With the DIAMOND tweet, 805D has that smooth sound its bigger brothers have had. You might expect that a more expensive tweeter would give you brighter top end. But it doesn’t. It sounds more extended- yet softer and more “beautiful.” It isn’t the least bit fatiguing. Play your favorite female singers (Eva Cassidy) and some great string music (Tchaikovsky’s 6^th Symphony, 4^th movement). You’ll fall in love immediately!

          B&W has also designed the new 800 range to be gorgeous WITHOUT the grills, as well as with the grills on. Most of us die hards like the grills off for a bit more intimate sound. Now there are no holes on the face of the speaker to accommodate the grills. The grills affix magnetically- if you choose to use them. I don’t.

          I’m reluctant to call anything “the best.” There are a lot of fine speakers on the market. B&W isn’t the only company making good speakers. Yet it’s tough to resist the temptation of dubbing the 805D the best small speaker on the market!