Bowers & Wilkins (as they now like to be known) have revamped their XT speaker range promising improved sound and a new finish, as well as a completely new floorstanding model. The new series is crafted in aluminium, which B&W claims offers ‘perfect’ driver cabinet properties by virtue of being both lightweight as well as strong and stiff.
The new slimline XT8 is a three-way floorstander can be used as either a stereo pair or as part of a surround system with the other models in the range.
It contains several B&W technologies which have trickled down from more expensive models, notably the Nautilus Tapering Tube tweeter, mounted inside the cabinet to reduce time smearing, and B&W’s Fixed Suspension Transducer (FST) technology, which is designed to enhance musical definition. There’s also a woven Kevlar driver for the midrange and two meaty 5in paper/Kevlar bass drivers.