Two of the most outrageous high-end Vienna speakers we've ever seen have just been released, and they're at very opposite ends of the scale.

High End Vienna brings even more speakers
Kanto Tuk Grand brings premium boxes mounted on a ‘burled’ wooden support
Bowers & Wilkins bets on the formidable science fiction aspect

I am convinced that there are two types of speakers, and all the pomp and ceremony of High End Vienna has not convinced me otherwise. Two new high-profile, high-priced listings prove me right, too.

Type number 1: the box. Many speakers are essentially well-reinforced boxes filled with drivers that sit on shelves or stands. There is nothing wrong with that; It’s a simple look, and today it’s Kanto Audio who is waving the cute and slightly eccentric cuboid flag with their new Grand Tuk.

This new pair of $999.99/£799.99 (approximately AU$1,600) speakers will go on sale sometime this summer. Don’t worry, we’ll spend more time with Kanto Audio in a moment, but we have someone else to meet.

Bowers & Wilkins Series 800 Diamond D5

The Bowers & Wilkin 800 Series Diamond 801 D5 on orange background.

(Image credit: Bowers and Wilkin)

Let’s start with the large range, so I can share a photo of a Dalek to prove my point. The Diamond D5 series consists of the flagship which, as already noted, has no price or release date, although that doesn’t specifically mean it won’t be released; We’re just waiting for the details. Instead, you can buy a similar model, the 802 D5, which is “more affordably priced”: $45,000/£32,500 (around AU$66,000) for a pair.

Naturally, it’s a floor, as are the 803 D5 (MSRP $35,000/£25,500, which converts to about AU$52,000) and the 804 D5 (MSRP $25,000/£16,500, which converts to about AU$37,000).

Also showing up to the party, albeit without a leg to stand on, was the 805 D5, $15,000/£10,000 (approximately AU$10,000): a pair of stand-mounted speakers.

Rounding out the range are two three-way center channels for home cinema: the $15,000/£10,000 HTM81 D5 (same conversion as above) and the $12,000/£8,000 (around AU$16,000) HDM82 D5. Both are designed to be used alongside mainstream products: the HTM81 works with the 801 and 802, while the cheaper model goes with the “cheaper” speakers.

So why are these things so expensive? Well, the big selling point is the use of Bowers & Wilkin’s Diamond Dome tweeter, which is that little microphone-like detail on top. It is designed to provide reference-quality sound at the highest ends.

Clearly, all of them have also been meticulously designed (which is why they look so unusual) and come with impressive (if varied) additional speakers. These are certainly high-end, professional-grade audiophile pieces of kit, but there’s something for the rest of us at High End too…

Kanto Tuk Gran

The Kanto Tuk Grand mounted on a chimney.

(Image credit: Kanto)

Let’s move on to everyone’s favorite Star Wars character: Kanto Tuk Grand. This new bookshelf speaker offering costs $999.99/£799.99 (around AU$1,600) per pair and, after the Bowers & Wilkins, looks cheap.

As I mentioned before, it’s our most traditional example in this article, but there’s a reason audio companies return to this tried and true version. Kanto, the company tells us, has spent time perfecting the design of this cabinet, both to improve the sound and to “belong” in the space in which you place it.

As for the specs (because there is only one product, we can talk about its specs without creating a massive list), it has a 28mm x 35mm Air Motion Transformer tweeter and a 6-inch aluminum cone. It achieves a frequency response range of 40 Hz to 22 kHz and an output power of 160 W.

There’s a good range of connection options here – you can connect them via 2 RCA or optical cables, as well as USB-C, with the latter two allowing for 24-bit/96kHz playback. You can also pair it via Bluetooth 5.4 as the Tuk Grand supports atpX Adaptive, AAC and SBC.

Regarding the design, it is relatively basic compared to the Diamond guys, but the simplicity is underrated (a lower price is No underrated, although I still wouldn’t call Kanto “cheap”).

The Kanto Tuk Grand was introduced alongside three of Kanto Audio’s second-generation speakers, which will be released between summer and fall, but make no mistake: the Grand is the star product here.

The Kanto Tuk Grand on the right and Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series Diamond D5 on the left.