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Bowers & Wilkins 801 Floorstanding Loudspeakers Overview: Today why not delight in a piece of audio history with this pair of original Bowers & Wilkins 801 loudspeakers, available now at Len Wallis Audio. Launched in 1979, these speakers represented a landmark in audio technology as B&W's first professional monitor loudspeaker—a testament to four years of groundbreaking research and uncompromising design. This example presents in very good condition, clearly maintained with care, preserving their historic value and fine performance. Described by B&W as project developed "without regard to any

Our Thoughts RADAR AI

The A$4,000 asking price for these used Bowers & Wilkins 801 speakers is ambitious, sitting well above the A$3,219 75th percentile and the A$2,914 median from your ground-truth database. This represents a clear premium over the typical used market, where bargain deals cluster near A$2,609 and fair values hover around A$2,914. While not a bargain, the price reflects the high-end status of the 800 Series, though buyers should expect to pay significantly more for newer generations like the D4, which retail near A$64,900 to A$84,900.

The 801 remains a well-regarded benchmark loudspeaker, renowned for its precise midrange, low distortion, and Abbey Road legacy. Its 3-way design delivers exceptional resolution and tonal refinement, making it a worthwhile buy if the A$4,000 price includes original accessories, original-owner condition, or a rare finish. However, given the price exceeds the median, buyers should verify the condition carefully, as aging components or missing grilles could undermine the value. If the listing is clean and complete, it offers a genuine opportunity to own a classic high-end speaker at a fair, albeit premium, price.

Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.

About Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins, the esteemed British hi-fi brand, traces its origins to 1966 in Worthing, West Sussex, when John Bowers founded the company with a £10,000 bequest from a satisfied customer, Miss Knight, who admired his hobby-crafted loudspeakers. Previously, Bowers and Roy Wilkins had run an electronics rental shop after meeting in the British Army during World War II. This fortuitous legacy fueled Bowers' obsession with acoustic perfection, launching the P1 as their inaugural product and establishing a foundation of relentless innovation in speaker design.

The brand excels in premium loudspeakers across categories like floorstanders, bookshelves, and studio monitors, with iconic lines such as the 600 Series for accessible excellence and the legendary 801, adopted as Abbey Road Studios' reference in 1979. They also produce high-end headphones like the P5 and Zeppelin, formation audio systems, and select electronics, prioritizing driver technology, cabinetry, and precise engineering over amplifiers, turntables, or cables.

Positioned firmly in the high-end market, Bowers & Wilkins commands reverence among discerning audiophiles and professionals for its clarity, musical truth, and uncompromised fidelity. A staple in both consumer and studio environments, it embodies British precision engineering, blending heritage with cutting-edge research to sustain its status as a benchmark for premium audio excellence.

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