B&W 804D vs 803S

Before getting stuck in the B&W brand look elsewhere as well.

Thanks Stringreen for your useless response to the OP's question. Both of the speakers you mention would be a step up from the 805. The 804D is the more modern of the two you mention while the 803s an older version but higher up the 800 series. The 803s differs quite significantly from the newer 803D both in the tweeter (diamond versus aluminum) but the newer 803 also has a much better bottom end. But as you are mentioning the 803s vs 804d my recommendation would be to go more modern and get the 804D. Quite a nice speaker by any standards.

Thanks, Spinaker01. Reason for my asking is that there's about a $2000 difference between the 803S and the 804D. I just dont know if the new version is worth the extra money for what I do (movies & TV) and how my setup is currently situation (non-dedicated room). Is the diamond tweeter that much better?

The other option is I could get a generation one version of the 803D for about the same price as the brand new 803S. Are there significant improvements between gen one and current?

Stringreen --- I've looked at others, but I have to keep the wife happy with the aesthetics of the system. Since I have a matching center speaker and B&W in-ceilings for the surrounds (while same brand, probably has very little impact), I'm not looking to have different cosmetic looks. At the moment, I don't want to put out the cash required to upgrade my left, right, AND center. If you have suggestions for replacing all 3 front speakers, while keeping the same sound quality within, while coming in at the same budget of my current upgrade suggestions, please feel free to give your input. Thanks.

Without question, the Diamond version 804 is a better choice over the older 803s. The Diamond tweeter has a much smoother response and faster transient speed over the aluminum tweeters. This all translates (IMO) to a more realistic presentation right down into the midrange.