Bowers & Wilkins HTM81 D4 Centre Speaker

Our largest centre channel speaker is designed to partner the 801 D4 and 802 D4. Small wonder, then, that it’s such a powerful and whole-hearted performer, with both bass power and midrange extension that perfectly matches the quality of its illustrious stablemates.

Available with an optional matching floorstand (FS-HTM D4, sold separately) for the perfect installation.

 

At the centre of it all

The centre-channel speaker is arguably the most important in home theatre – and the 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.

 

800 Series Diamond

This is not just another speaker range. Each new generation of 800 Series Diamond is a landmark event for Bowers & Wilkins. This is our benchmark, our icon; the most advanced range of loudspeakers we know how to make, equipped with all of our most sophisticated technologies and designed to deliver the upmost in sonic realism. For us, the 800 Series Diamond is everything we know, and everything we are.

 

 

Diamond Dome Tweeter

One of our 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 we introduced it, we haven’t found a better tweeter dome technology.

 

Solid Body Tweeter Assembly

The latest incarnation of our iconic Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top housing features an elongated form with a longer tube-loading system, producing an even more free and open sound with high frequencies. As before, the carefully decoupled housing is milled from a single solid block of aluminium to better resist resonance.

 

Reverse Wrap Cabinet

The new HTM81 D4 may be a centre-channel speaker, but it shares the design DNA of its stereo siblings, including the Reverse Wrap cabinet and Matrix™ bracing. The combination of the two technologies ensures a quieter, more acoustically efficient and better-sounding speaker than ever.

 

Matrix

Matrix bracing uses interlocking panels to reinforce loudspeaker cabinet walls in all directions internally, reducing resonance and creating a more believable soundstage. Every model in the new 800 Series Diamond benefits from an upgraded Matrix design that combines solid plywood construction with aluminium bracing to reinforce key stress points.

 

Biomimetic Suspension

Sometimes, making a big difference takes unconventional thinking. For decades, we thought nothing could improve on the sound of our famous yellow Aramid Fibre midrange cones, but eventually our Continuum cone technology changed our minds. Now, we’ve turned our attention to another crucial element in a loudspeaker cone: the fabric spider.

 

Our all-new Biomimetic Suspension revolutionizes midrange cone performance by greatly reducing the unwanted air pressure and coloration that a conventional fabric spider can generate. The result? Midrange transparency you wouldn’t believe possible.

 

Continuum cone

Thanks to its composite construction, the Continuum midrange cone avoids the abrupt transitions in behaviour that can impair the performance of a conventional drive unit. The result is a more open, neutral performance that delivers voices and instruments with precision and transparency.

 

Aerofoil™ bass cones

Our 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, we have added the foam Anti-Resonance Plug for lower distortion and even cleaner bass.

 

Decoupled Midrange assembly

HTM81 D4 has a dedicated midrange cone using three key Bowers & Wilkins technologies: the Continuum cone, Biomimetic Suspension and midrange decoupling, the latter ensuring minimal interference from the operation of the loudspeaker’s bass drivers. The result is outstanding clarity.

 

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.

 

 

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

 

Technical Features

Diamond tweeter

Solid body Tweeter-on-Top

Continuum cone FST

Anti-Resonance plug

Biomimetic Suspension

Matrix

Aerofoil cone bass units

Flowport

 

Frequency range

20Hz to 35kHz

 

Frequency response (+/-3dB from reference axis)

28Hz to 28kHz

 

 

Sensitivity (on axis at 2.83Vrms at 1m)

90dB

 

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: 334 mm

Width: 847 mm

Depth: 371 mm

 

Net weight

32.20kg

 

Finishes

Gloss Black cabinet with Black grille

White cabinet with grey grille