B&W 804S review

Exceptional in certain areas, but not as rounded as the very best under £3000 Tested at £2700.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Exceptional in certain areas, but not as rounded as the very best under £3000

Pros

  • +

    Deliver an impressive amount of bass

Cons

  • -

    Not as cohesive as we would like between the bass, mid and treble

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Skim through the spec sheet for these B&W speakers and the 90dB/w/m sensitivity and 8 ohm nominal impedance won't give much of a clue to the 804Ss' thirst for watts.

However, drive them with anything less than a 150-watt amplifier and you'll find the sonic results rather flat. Get things right though by using something like our 300 watts per channel reference Brystons, and they really come to life. And we mean really…

Favour the low frequencies

In certain areas these B&Ws are outstanding: their midrange is wonderfully fluid and transparent, while all kinds of music is delivered in a fast, detailed and incredibly articulate fashion.These 804S floorstanders also deliver an impressive amount of bass, and their treble is alluring. ­

To criticise, we'd like greater midrange bite and better cohesion between the bass, mid and treble. However, they're still a lot of fun.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test

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