One of my favorite places on Earth is the North County region of San Diego. Sound United (right before they got bought by medical technology company Masimo for a cool $1,000,000,000) moved to a sleepy little cul-de-sac in Carlsbad, with two other neighbors that are near and dear to this avid golfer’s heart: Taylor Made and Adidas. The Kingdom, Taylor Made’s super-fancy driving range, is literally right across the street, but the coolest toys in early June were on display in the Masimo reference listening room thanks to legendary speaker company Bowers & Wilkins.
Over the years, Bowers & Wilkins have released limited-edition Signature Series versions of some of their top-level speakers. We’ve got a pair of the Bowers & Wilkins 702 Signature speakers being reviewed now, but this event was for two Signature speakers from the 800 Series, including the bookshelf (stand mount) format Bowers & Wilkins 805s and the reference Bowers & Wilkins 801 towers.
What Does One Get When Investing More Cash Into a Signature Series Bowers & Wilkins Loudspeaker?
- Andy Kerr and his team of over 100 engineers in the United Kingdom have improved the metal hardware that attaches the massively and wonderfully over-engineered tweeter assembly to the main speaker cabinet. This may seem small, but you could actually hear the difference in the openness of the midrange between the Bowers & Wilkins 805s and their new Signature brethren.
- The port on the two Bowers & Wilkins 800 Signature Series speakers has been redesigned to deliver less-congested bass. Again, in a volume matched A/B test, you could hear the difference in this audiophile Pepsi Challenge. It was subtle but it was there.
- Bowers & Wilkins found a way to use a lot less metal in their protective tweeter covers. I am not sure if our photos show this effectively or not, but the new protective covers for the very expensive Bowers & Wilkins tweeters have about 25 to 30 percent less metal, allowing the tweeters to perform more like they didn’t have covers on them while still protecting the tweeters.
- There is a gorgeous deep blue paint option as well as California Burled Walnut. Bowers & Wilkins uses robot sanders to get much of the amazing luster on their speakers, which are then finished by hand with some of the most subtle sand paper (3000 grit) to provide a showroom-level shine that you’d expect on a McLaren, Rolls, or Bugatti. The wood veneer is a very eco-friendly option made from a laminate that is quite luxurious and exotic looking.
- Custom paint colors are available at a possible additional expense and time delay. The one that you might not know about is a Pearl Abalone finish that was created for the 30thAnniversary of the Nautilus speaker but can be had on the 800 Series. It is stunning and arguably worth the extra money if you are going Signature Series. Hell, it would be worth the money and wait time on standard Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series D4 speakers like the 802 D4s that I have in my living room right now.
- The historical resale value of Bowers & Wilkins Signature Series speakers is often higher than standard offerings. The enhanced performance and design touches help preserve value, but the somewhat limited edition nature of the Signature speakers are where the extra value is found.
Exact pricing isn’t available today for the two Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series Signature speakers but the 801 Signatures are expected to be $45,000 (up from $35,000 in the current D4 offering). Not all speakers in the Bowers & Wilkins 800 line will get Signature Series treatment, but all will remain available in the form of less-expensive but still pretty fantastic D4 series offerings.
What is Unique About Bowers & Wilkins Signature Series Speakers
Bowers & Wilkins Signature Series speakers represent a focused effort by the company to offer refined versions of its core products, with enhanced design, upgraded materials, and tighter production tolerances. These speakers are not separate models but rather elevated versions of existing speakers within the Bowers & Wilkins lineup, particularly from the 700 and 800 Series. They are developed and assembled in the U.K. and are positioned as collector-grade offerings aimed at buyers seeking both acoustic and visual refinement.
The “Signature” designation dates back to 1991 with the launch of the Silver Signature loudspeaker, created to commemorate the company’s 25th anniversary and to honor founder John Bowers. That product helped define what Signature versions would become—limited or special editions featuring refinements not found in standard models. Over time, Bowers & Wilkins has applied the Signature label to a small number of products, most notably within the 800 and 700 Series lines.
One of the defining aspects of the Signature Series is the use of upgraded crossover components. These typically include improved capacitors, resistors, and internal wiring, selected for tighter tolerances and better heat and signal handling. The changes are often based on feedback from studio and high-end home users, as well as internal testing from Bowers & Wilkins’ Steyning Research Establishment.
Cabinet finish is another distinguishing element. Signature models often feature exclusive wood veneers or high-gloss lacquered finishes that are not available in standard production. Examples include the Datuk Gloss and Midnight Blue Metallic finishes used on the 700 and 800 Series Signature editions. These finishes require additional manufacturing time and involve more hand-finishing, contributing to the limited production runs.
The tweeter-on-top housing, seen in both 700 and 800 Series Signature models, is milled from solid aluminum and decoupled from the main cabinet to reduce resonance. In Signature versions, this component may be acoustically identical to the standard offering but is often color-matched to the upgraded cabinet finish or given a more refined texture or polish. These aesthetic choices are consistent across all Signature products and are part of their visual differentiation.
Signature speakers also typically receive small structural or damping modifications. This might include refinements to the internal bracing, changes to damping material, or updates to how drivers are mounted to the baffle. These adjustments are designed to reduce resonance and improve the overall clarity and neutrality of the sound.
While the core acoustic architecture remains similar to their standard-model counterparts, the incremental refinements across materials, components, and assembly processes result in subtle but measurable improvements in performance. Signature versions are often reviewed as having slightly wider imaging, improved high-frequency detail, or a more transparent midrange compared to the non-Signature versions of the same model.
The Signature Series is produced in limited quantities and distributed through select Bowers & Wilkins dealers. The intent is to offer a more curated and exclusive version of the company’s already established high-performance loudspeakers, without straying from the core design philosophy or the acoustic goals of the original models.
