Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D4
Centre-channel speaker
B&W largest centre-channel speaker is designed to partner the 801 D4 and 802 D4.
A powerful performer, it has both the scale and the mid-range extension to perfectly match the quality of its illustrious stablemates.
At the centre of it all
The centre-channel speaker is arguably the most important in home theatre – and the Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D4 has an enviable array of advanced technologies to reinforce that point, including Solid Body tweeter-on-top, a decoupled Continuum™ Cone midrange drive unit and twin 200mm (8in) Aerofoil™ bass cones.
Aerofoil bass cone
Their Aerofoil bass cone technology remains an outstanding solution to the conundrum of combining low mass and high stiffness in bass cones, thanks to its carbon-fibre skin and variable-profile foam core.
Now, they have added the foam Anti-Resonance Plug for lower distortion and even cleaner bass.
Diamond dome tweeter
One of their most significant accomplishments over the past two decades, the ultra-stiff, supremely accurate Diamond dome tweeter is the perfect combination of low mass, exceptional stiffness and outstanding accuracy. 15 years after they introduced it, they haven’t found a better tweeter dome technology.
Aluminium bass pods
HTM81 D4 mounts two Aerofoil bass cones in twin solid aluminium bass pods, each of which is clamped into an aluminium plate fixed to the stiffest part of its curved cabinet.
Formed as single pieces of metal, these stiff structures provide the perfect mechanical location for those powerful bass cones.
Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D4 specifications
Technical features
Diamond tweeter
Solid body Tweeter-on-Top
Continuum™ cone FST
Anti-Resonance plug
Biomimetic Suspension
Matrix™
Aerofoil™ cone bass units
Flowport
Description
3-way vented-box system
Drive units
1x ø25mm (1in) diamond dome high-frequency
1x ø150mm (6in) Continuum cone FST midrange
2x ø200mm (8in) Aerofoil cone bass units
Frequency range
20Hz to 35kHz
Frequency response
28Hz to 28kHz (+/-3dB from reference axis)
Sensitivity
90dB (on axis at 2.83Vrms at 1m)
Harmonic distortion
2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB,1m on axis)
<1% 80Hz – 20kHz
<0.3% 100Hz – 20kHz
Nominal impedance
8Ω (minimum 3.0Ω)
Recommended amplifier power
50W – 500W into 8Ω on unclipped programme
Max. recommended cable impedance
0.1Ω
Dimensions
Height: 334mm
Width: 847mm
Depth: 371mm
Net weight
32.20kg
Finishes
Cabinet:
Gloss Black
White
Grille:
Black
Grey
Brand
Bowers & Wilkins
Bowers & Wilkins
1960s: Humble beginnings
The sleepy coastal town of Worthing in South England might not look like a hotbed of 1960s freewheeling experimentation, but for audio fans it’s a place that’s synonymous with innovation.
Thanks to the first Bowers & Wilkins speakers built here in the early years of the company, music lovers could experience albums such as Sgt. Pepper and Pet Sounds in new, mind-expanding depth and clarity
1966: Beginings
John Bowers begins assembling speaker systems in the workshop of his electronics shop in Worthing, South East England
Following an inheritance of £10,000 from a satisfied customer, John Bowers sets up his own loudspeaker company
1966: P1
The first Bowers & Wilkins loudspeaker. The profit from P1 allowed the company to invest in new calibration equipment
1968: Domestic Monitors
The DM1 and DM3 were launched to bring high quality audio to more customers, at an affordable price point
1970s: A decade of milestones
With the company established and growing fast, Bowers & Wilkins developed its reputation for innovative design backed up by world-leading R&D.
They introduced new forms and design concepts including Tweeter-on-Top, new cone materials such as Aramid fibre, and it all culminated in the launch of the iconic 801, soon to become the reference speaker of choice for many of the world’s leading recording studios
1970: DM70
With its curved cabinet, the DM70 changed the shape of loudspeaker design
1980s: The application of science
Extensive investment in research led to the establishment of the company’s dedicated R&D facility in Steyning.
The era of MTV pop superstardom and bombastic stadium rock also saw Bowers & Wilkins buck the trend and introduce something small and unobtrusive: the “compact monitor”, or CM1
1990s: Rewriting the rulebook
The 1990s saw the pioneering work of the Steyning research team realised in spectacular fashion with the launch of Nautilus™, a speaker that rewrote preconceived notions of speaker design.
It also saw major product launches at both ends of the spectrum, with the unveiling of the highly regarded entry-level 600 Series and the flagship Nautilus 800 Series
2000s: Expansion in to new categories
The decade that brought us iPods and smartphones saw them embrace the new world with the launch of the iconic Zeppelin.
They also expanded into the car audio category and transformed the performance of their 800 Series with the development of the Diamond-dome tweeter
2015: 800 Series Diamond
The latest version of their flagship introduced a complete redesign and revolutionary new technologies, such as the Continuum™ cone
