TrueScaleAudio
Compare speakers at true scale
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Front view — side by side at true scale
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4vsKEF Reference 1 Meta
The Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 and the KEF Reference 1 Meta stand at nearly the same height, around 44.0 cm tall. On footprint the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is the wider cabinet (22.8 cm versus 20.5 cm). At 88 dB against 85 dB, the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is the easier load to drive and plays louder from the same amplifier. The Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 reaches deeper in the bass, down to 42 Hz versus 45 Hz. The Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is front-ported and the KEF Reference 1 Meta is rear-ported. On price, the KEF Reference 1 Meta sits higher — about $10,000 a pair against $8,000 for the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Bowers & Wilkins | KEF |
| Model | 805 D4 D4 | Reference 1 Meta Meta |
| HiFi ladder position | #170 of 215 bookshelf | #172 of 215 bookshelf |
| Height | 440 mm | 440 mm |
| Width | 228 mm | 205 mm |
| Depth | 373 mm | 422 mm |
| Weight | 15.55 kg | 18.2 kg |
| Enclosure | bass-reflex-front | bass-reflex-rear |
| Drivers | 1× 25 mm tweeter (diamond dome), 1× 165 mm mid-bass (Continuum cone) | 1× 25 mm tweeter (MAT aluminium dome), 1× 125 mm midrange (aluminium cone), 1× 165 mm woofer (aluminium cone) |
| Frequency — low | 42 Hz | 45 Hz |
| Frequency — high | 28000 Hz | 35000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 85 dB |
| Impedance | 8 Ω | 4 Ω |
| Recommended amp | 50–120 W | 50–200 W |
| MAP (USD) | $8,000 / pair | $10,000 / pair |
| Where to buy | Check availability ↗ | Check availability ↗ |
| Brand website | bowerswilkins.com ↗ | international.kef.com ↗ |
| Product page | Open product page ↗ | Open product page ↗ |
Larger value highlighted in green. For low-frequency extension, lower Hz = greater bass reach, so the deeper side is highlighted.

