I don't think you can generalize. There does seem to me to be something aggressive in the upper midrange of the 801N which I found to be completely missing in the 802N, for example. I heard both at different times paired with the Classe Omega and Levinson 332(?). If the 801Ns had had the 802Ns balances, or the 802Ns the 801Ns over-all presence, I would have bought one or the other. I thought they were quite different, however, and anyone who thinks the 801s are just big 802s, or the opposite, is going to be disagreeably surprised if they don't listen carefully to both.
B W monitors too bright?
In another thread I have been coming accross comments that current production B&W CDM & Nautalis are bright. I have owned nothing but B&W my whole life and have always found them very natural. Am I perhaps missing something? That last bit of sparkle is absoulutely required to my ear. I have only found electrostatics, maggies or the new Nautalis 804s to be more pleasing than my CDM1-SEs. Any comments?