B&W DM22 Bookshelf Speakers – Walnut Veneer, Made in England

$595.00

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Description

B&W DM22 Bookshelf Speakers – Walnut Veneer, Made in England

Made in England, the Bowers & Wilkins DM22 is a classic early-1980s sealed-enclosure, two-way bookshelf speaker renowned for its balanced, natural sound and precise imaging — a genuine piece of British hi-fi heritage that continues to impress decades after its introduction.

Produced between 1981 and 1984 at the Bowers & Wilkins factory in England, the DM22 was designed with the kind of rigorous acoustic engineering that established B&W as one of the world’s most respected loudspeaker manufacturers. The sealed-box (acoustic suspension) enclosure delivers tight, controlled bass with excellent transient accuracy — a characteristic that makes these speakers particularly rewarding on rock, acoustic, jazz, and classical recordings alike.

At the heart of each cabinet sits a 160 mm BW200/22 cone mid-bass driver paired with a 26 mm TW26/22 polyester-weave dome tweeter. The polymer dome construction minimises resonance, resulting in smooth, detailed high-frequency reproduction that avoids the harshness sometimes associated with metal-dome alternatives. The Walnut veneer cabinetry presents beautifully and speaks to the craftsmanship of the era.

Both speakers have been thoroughly inspected and tested to confirm full functionality. The cabinets, grilles, and drivers are all in good condition, with the drivers presenting particularly well. The narrow metal trim strip along the top front edge of each cabinet shows some light wear — visible under close inspection but unobtrusive in typical use and in no way affecting performance.

These are an excellent choice for a dedicated stereo listening room or as the foundation of a high-quality two-channel system, and they reward careful amplifier matching — any quality integrated or receiver in the 20–100 W range will bring out their best.

Specifications:

Design: Two-way, sealed enclosure (acoustic suspension), bookshelf

Low-frequency driver: 160 mm (6.3 in.) BW200/22 cone

High-frequency driver: 26 mm (1 in.) TW26/22 polyester-weave dome

Frequency response (±3 dB): 70 Hz – 20 kHz

Sensitivity: 87 dB (2.83 V @ 1 m)

Nominal impedance: 8 ohms (min. 6.4 ohms)

Recommended amplifier power: 10 – 100 W RMS

Finish: Walnut veneer

Country of manufacture: Made in England

Dimensions (per speaker, W x H x D): 10.2 x 19.9 x 10.2 inches (260 x 505 x 260 mm)
Weight (per speaker): 20.5 lbs (9.3 kg)

A true classic from Bowers & Wilkins’ early 1980s lineup, the DM22 delivers clarity, depth, and finely controlled bass in a beautifully crafted Walnut veneer cabinet — Made in England, and built to last. This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of genuine British hi-fi history at a price that represents outstanding value.

Backed by Radique Audio’s 90-day warranty and our perpetual trade-back policy, you can purchase with confidence.

Additional information
Weight44 lbs
Dimensions14.2 × 26.4 × 24 in
About brand
B&W at Radique
We service B&W, too. Bring us your own B&W speakers and subwoofers for repair, servicing or restoration (speakers up to 80 lbs each), with a 90-day warranty on the work. See our Audio Service page

Bowers & Wilkins began in Worthing, England, in 1966, founded by John Bowers. The name comes from the Worthing electrical shop he ran with Roy Wilkins. Its 800 Series monitors have been used at Abbey Road Studios since 1980, Abbey Road says. We carry B&W towers, bookshelf speakers, centre channels and stands. We've had more than 200 B&W listings so far. Every used B&W here is inspected, tested and serviced as required, then photographed in-house and covered by our Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and Perpetual Trade-Back Program. Don't see the model you want? Tell us on First Dibs and we'll email you when one arrives.

The Bowers & Wilkins story, 1966 to today

John Bowers founded B&W in Worthing, England, in 1966, after hand-assembling speakers at the electrical shop he ran with Roy Wilkins. Its first speaker, the P1, used B&W's own cabinet and crossover with bought-in drivers, and the DM1 and DM3 "Domestic Monitors" followed in 1968.

Kevlar and the 801. B&W identified Kevlar as a cone material in 1974, and the DM6 of the mid-1970s used Kevlar cones. The original 801 monitor of 1979 to 1980 made its name in recording studios: Abbey Road says it was the first studio to use it, in 1980, and has used the 800 Series ever since.

Matrix and Nautilus. The Matrix cabinet bracing arrived in the mid-to-late 1980s. John Bowers started the project that became the Nautilus, the spiral-shell flagship, before he died in 1987, and it launched in 1993. The first 600 Series followed in 1995, and diamond-dome tweeters arrived in 2005.

New owners. EVA Automation bought B&W in 2016, Sound United in 2020 and Masimo in 2022, and in September 2025 HARMAN, a Samsung company, completed its purchase of Sound United. The 800 Series Diamond D5, unveiled in June 2026, is built in Worthing.

A Canadian connection. Classé Audio of Montreal was part of the B&W Group from 2001 until B&W closed its Montreal headquarters in 2017.

Which B&W is which?

DM (Domestic Monitor), 1968 onward: from the DM1 and DM3 to models such as the DM6 and DM7. The DM prefix carried into early 600 Series names.

600 Series (1995 to today): B&W's entry hi-fi line; the 2020 Anniversary Edition was its seventh generation. The 606 belongs here.

CDM (mid-1990s to about 2003): such as the CDM 1, with a metal-dome tweeter and a Kevlar cone.

700 Series (about 2003 to 2006): Nautilus technology at mainstream prices, such as the 703 and 705.

CM Series (2006 to 2017): such as the CM1 and the CM4 towers, replaced by the 700 Series S2 in 2017.

800 Series (from 1979 to 1980): from the original 801 through the Matrix, Nautilus 800, Diamond, D3, D4 and D5 generations.

Nautilus (1993): the spiral-shell flagship, still made in small numbers.

Buying used B&W: what to check

Tweeter domes. B&W used metal-dome tweeters in the CDM, 600 and CM lines, and owners report squashed domes. Inspect each dome closely.

Original tweeters. Some CDM-era tweeters are discontinued, and rebuilt or substitute tweeters change the sound. Ask whether the originals are fitted.

Woofer surrounds. Owners report rubber surrounds that have hardened with age. Press each surround gently: it should feel supple.

1970s DM models. Expect crossover capacitors in a 40-year-old DM to need replacing.

Where it was made. The 800 Series is built in Worthing; the 600 and 700 Series are made in China. Check the label before calling a B&W "made in England".

Everything we list is inspected, tested and serviced as required here, and comes with our warranty.