Limited Edition Abbey Road x Bowers & Wilkins 801 Revealed

Taking Bowers & Wilkins's current flagship 801 D4, the British speaker company has given just 140 pairs of this special model an Abbey Road makeover.

This means a 90dB sensitive (on axis at 2.83Vrms at 1m), 3-way vented box design 1221x451x600mm [HxWxD] floorstander with a 1-inch diamond dome tweeter, 6-inch Continuum cone FST mid and a pair of 10-inch Aerofoil Profile bass drivers said to cover a 6dB 13Hz - 35kHz frequency range and 15Hz - 28kHz ±3dB frequency response.

David Price reviewed the 801 D4 Signature last year, which he compared with the standard version thusly:

It retains the original model's great sense of architectural correctness, with everything laid out clearly and precisely before you within the soundstage. Yet stereo images are more precisely focused, and the depth perspective is even better.

We're told that the 801 Abbey Road speaker cabinet's vintage walnut finish has been inspired by the traditional interior of the storied studios and "iconic musical instruments" that have played a massive part in Abbey Road's storied 94-year history.

Meanwhile, the bespoke Connolly red leather trim serves as a nod to both the aesthetic of the world-famous control room in Studio Two and the red leather chairs used throughout the building.

The 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition also features a commemorative rear faceplate indicating its limited-edition number. Additionally, a "unique, specially commissioned" book detailing the history of the two brands and their collaboration is included in this special package.

Within these pages, you can read how this longstanding collaboration between the studio and speaker company started in 1980 when John Bowers took his then-new 801 speakers to Abbey Road to demonstrate how they had been designed for domestic hi-fi and pro-studio use. As the story goes, the engineers at Abbey Road immediately understood its value and adopted it as their monitor of choice, becoming the first recording studio in the world to use the 801.

Since then, six generations of the 800 Series have called Abbey Road their home.

The 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition are available to order now for £55,000 /€60,000 / US$70,000 / AU$100,000 per pair.

For more information visit Bowers & Wilkins