I have been a B&W owner for several years and 'know the house sound.' I recently purchased the 805D's after selling my 805S' and 804S'- and what an amazing upgrade. It has everything to do above simple asesthetic upgrades; although it is important to note that the build-quality is top-notch. With McIntosh electronics and MIT cables (same kit with my prior systems- the 805D's perform head and shoulders above their predecessor. An airyness to the high frequencies; astounding low levls with new woofer modifications. The mid-range is a bit more recessed and relaxed than previous designs. But, to that- a bit more natural sounding. Previously, I had to run a subwoofer to complete what I was missing in my 805 set-up; but no more. The question is are the worth the 5K price tag. I love them and could easily be playing these for a long time to come.