When Bowers & Wilkins founder John Bowers rolled into Abbey Road Studios in 1980 with the original 801, he wasn’t just hawking another high-end speaker—he was setting a new standard for accuracy in professional monitoring. The engineers at Abbey Road got it instantly, and the 801 became their reference. Fast-forward 45 years and six generations of 800 Series speakers later, and this long-standing partnership is getting a very limited, very luxurious tribute.
Enter the 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition—a bespoke take on the flagship 801 D4 Signature, dressed to impress in Vintage Walnut veneer and rich red Connolly leather. That splash of leather isn’t just for show; it nods to Studio Two’s control room and the well-worn chairs that’ve seated generations of legendary artists.
Only 140 pairs will be made, and each comes with a unique rear plate and a coffee table-worthy book full of rare photos and stories chronicling the intertwined legacy of B&W and Abbey Road. So yes, it’s a statement piece. But it’s also a serious loudspeaker, engineered for those who don’t just listen to music—they demand to hear it exactly as it was meant to sound.
Giles Pocock, Vice President of Brand Marketing at Bowers & Wilkins, commented on the launch:“We’re immensely proud of our long-standing partnership with Abbey Road, and the 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition is a fitting tribute to that legacy. It’s not just a loudspeaker—it’s a celebration of everything we’ve achieved together over the past 45 years.”
Jeremy Huffelmann, General Manager of Abbey Road Studios, added:
“Our relationship with Bowers & Wilkins has always been rooted in a shared pursuit of sonic excellence. The 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition is a beautifully crafted reflection of our history and a testament to the values both brands hold dear.”
Long live accurate sound—and long live this very British partnership.
What the 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition Is Based On: The Upgraded 801 D4 Signature
The 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition doesn’t just appear out of thin British air—it’s based on the 801 D4 Signature, the top-of-the-line bruiser in Bowers & Wilkins’ latest Signature lineup. Think of it as the souped-up, studio-certified version of the already formidable 801 D4—the same model used at Abbey Road, but now with more engineering flex and a few posh tweaks for those who want their loudspeakers with a side of acoustic overkill.
At its core, it still leans on the brand’s proven formula: Diamond Dome tweeter, Continuum Cone FST midrange, and dual 10-inch Aerofoil Cone bass drivers. But those bass drivers aren’t just copy-paste from the 801 D4—they’ve been upgraded with beefier magnets for more punch and less wobble.
The top plate under the Turbine Head now features a redesigned aluminum structure that’s been skeletonized and stuffed with damping material to keep resonance in check. Translation: less cabinet noise, more midrange detail, and a whole lot of smug satisfaction if you’re the kind of listener who claims to hear “air” in a jazz trio.
Port noise? Also taken care of. The new aluminum-cast port means the bass comes out tighter, cleaner, and with less of that whooshing turbulence that makes lesser designs sound like they’re gasping for air.
Of course, no Signature model would be complete without a reworked crossover. B&W slipped in upgraded bypass capacitors to squeeze out even more transparency, because that’s what you do when your customer base is buying interconnects that cost more than a used Honda.
And for those worried about harming their precious tweeters: the new FEA-optimized grille mesh adds extra protection without dulling the Diamond Dome’s sparkle. It’s stiffer, more transparent, and still manages to let the high frequencies sing without needing a security detail.
In short: the 801 D4 Signature is a hot-rodded 801 D4—and the 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition takes that blueprint and adds some studio-grade swagger, collector’s appeal, and the kind of sonic credibility that makes audio reviewers swoon and bank accounts cry.
Specifications: Bowers & Wilkins 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition
- System: 3-way vented-box system
- Cabinet Finish: Vintage Walnut with Red Leather by Connolly trim
- Limited Edition: 140 pairs worldwide
- Drive Units
- Tweeter: 1x 25mm (1″) Diamond Dome, Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top
- Midrange: 1x 150mm (6″) Continuum™ cone FST™ with Anti-Resonance plug & Biomimetic Suspension
- Bass: 2x 250mm (10″) Aerofoil™ Profile bass cones
- Performance
- Frequency Response (±3dB): 15Hz – 28kHz
- Frequency Range (-6dB): 13Hz – 35kHz
- Harmonic Distortion (90dB, 1m on axis):
- <1% (30Hz – 20kHz)
- <0.3% (100Hz – 20kHz)
- Sensitivity: 90dB (2.83Vrms, 1m)
- Nominal Impedance: 8Ω (minimum 3.0Ω)
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 50W – 1,000W into 8Ω
- Max Recommended Cable Impedance: 0.1Ω
- Dimensions & Weight
- Height: 1221mm (48.1″)
- Width: 451mm (17.8″)
- Depth: 600mm (23.6″)
- Net Weight: 100.6kg (221.8 lbs)
The Bottom Line
The 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition isn’t just a loudspeaker—it’s a sonic cathedral where 45 years of studio wizardry and British engineering swagger collide. Generations of legendary albums were mixed and mastered on the 800 Series at Abbey Road, so this isn’t just gear, it’s a bloody heritage piece wrapped in wood and metal. At a casual $70,000, it’s priced for folks who park Bentleys out front and treat their listening rooms like mini concert halls—not your average Spotify subscriber’s budget. But hey, if you’re rolling in that kind of dough, you get exactly what you paid for: sound so true and refined, even your butler will nod in approval.
Price & Availability
The Bowers & Wilkins 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition is available to order now for $70,000 USD (£55,000 | €60,000). Only 140 pairs will be made—because history (and flawless sound) doesn’t come cheap.
For more information: 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition
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Anton
June 19, 2025 at 3:27 am
A $20,000 premium over the standard version feels rather excessive. Nice looking speaker and most understand the long term relationship between the two, but that’s a very expensive loudspeaker.
Ian White
June 20, 2025 at 10:31 am
Anton,
You’re paying for a piece of history. And you either love the finish and premium over the standard model or you don’t.
IW