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---FOR LOCAL PICKUP IN MADISON, WISCONSIN ONLY---If you're interested in demoing these speakers in person or have any questions, please call/email/message the shop beforehand with any inquiries:For sale is a pair of original B&W 801F loudspeakers from 1987. This pair of speakers is in excellent condition and comes with preinstalled caster wheels, and all original shipping boxes. Manufactured in the UK, this is an original version of the iconic 801F series speakers. It features a separate Matrix stlye housing for the 1" metal dome tweeter and 5" Kevlar midrange drivers. The sealed enclosure houses a 12" polymer woofer. These speakers have 87db sensitivity into 8 ohms, and a recommended power rating of 50W. No service was required for these speakers. Please review all images and descriptions prior to purchase.These speakers are fully functional. All features have been inspected, tested, and verified by HiFi Haus in Madison, WI.Specifications:Method: 2-Way, 2-Speaker, Sealed Type, Floor TypeUnits Used: For All Bands: 38 cm Special Cone Type (420A)For high pass: 7.5 cm cone typeImpedance: 8 ΩFrequency characteristic: 35 Hz to 18 kHzLowest resonance frequency: 27HzAllowable input: 45WOutput sound pressure level: 100dB/W (New JIS, 1m on axis)Crossover frequency: 2.5kHzEnclosure Material: American Pine PlywoodExternal dimensions: Width 520x Height 650x Depth 430 mmWeight: 77lbsHave any questions? Please reach out to us directly. Brick and mortar shop located in Madison, WI. All items are tested, cleaned, and serviced before listing. This item is NOT available for shipping. Thank you for looking!
US$2,499 is ambitious versus your used-market anchor: it sits well above the US$2,268 75th percentile and far over the US$568 median, so this is priced at the top end rather than as a bargain.
That said, these are respected speakers with real pedigree: the 801 series is known for масштабed, authoritative sound, deep bass, and the kind of effortless dynamics that still make sense for serious two-channel systems. If the cabinets, drivers, and surrounds are genuinely clean and all original, the upside is in getting a classic flagship-grade speaker that can still play big and composed. At this price, I’d want clear evidence of originality, fully working units, and no hidden restoration needs.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
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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