802 D3 vs 803 D3 vs Sopra 3 vs Sopra 2

What are you using for power. and what's your total budget?

My budget for the speakers is 20K max.  Would like to stay around 17.  My current power is a Mcintosh MA5300 (100 Watt).  I know I'll need more but there is no budget for that for a few months.  The plan is to find a MC462 or a used MC452 and then use my MA5300 as a preamp.

I have not heard the 802d3 but heard the 802d2 and the 803d3. If feel the low bass was much stronger on the 802d2 for what it is worth. Not a same room or system but heard both many times in different systems and my opinion of the bass has not changed.  If you have the cash and don’t want to run subs (or even if you do want subs) bigger is almost always better until you sit too close for the drivers to integrate right.


Other thoughts:

It is all about how far you sit from the speakers and how many seats you want to cover. Small rooms suck no matter what. A 20-30z wave at 85db is the same no matter what size driver it came from so having a large room is a good thing to a point. 
You could take the speakers outside and set them 9’ from each other and sit 9’ away and they would sound fine. Now you would lose your room gain in the bass. That is where the problem is, none of these speakers produce flat low bass without room gain and it is hard to predict how smooth that room gain will be.  
I have a 650sq/ft listening room and subs with an active crossover will make life better. You can get it just right very easily with active crossovers or dial it to preference. I can’t recommend active subs/crossovers enough for large rooms. The 803d3 with a pair of good subs hooked to a JL CR-1 crossover would be amazing, verging on a super system assuming the upper mids of those B&W don’t bother you. Just keep the subs out of the corner. 

What does active crossover mean?

On an overall balance, these are bright-ish speakers.  In too big a room you may find that neither has enough bass without help.

Also, the Sopras have a significant impedance dip, like so many other Focals, at 100Hz.  They really do need a stiff amp to sound at their best.  If you go this route, avoid too much toe-in.  Focals tend to sound smoother and image better pointed way behind your head.  B&W's on the other hand like you to be below the tweet.

Haven't heard from OP since 2-15-21.

Hmm...

Pretty sure his wife has changed her mind by now...