B&W 'New' 800 Series

I compared the 802D2 vs 803D3 head to head on full mcintosh system. Neither had the upper hand in terms of physical positioning in the room.

I thought the new D3 series was better overall, possibly 25% better per my Dad who was in the room with me and is not an audiophile.

1. Denser vocals, denser and more palpable images.
2. Disappears readily... it was really spooky how the speaker does not seem to speak for itself.
3. Less hash and less grain. I own the 802D2 and I am very familiar with the sound... the new 803D3 sounds less colored and more natural.
4. There is less etch to the sound.... more round and more natural IMO.

WIhtout a doubt, the D3 is better.

I think enough to justify the change in price and I am sure to buy one shortly.

I own the 802D3 and they are very good speakers.  I don't know what else I would want from a speaker in their price range.  They disappear easily and image like crazy in the right room with the right lateral and vertical smear controlled.  I am very happy with these speakers.  They respond well to cable changes, source changes, preamp changes, and amp changes.  

I run them with Emm labs Dac2x/TSDX transport combo, Cary SLP05 preamp, and Boulder 2060 with Audioquest WEL power cords and speaker cables... only thing I'm weak with is completing the rest of my room treatments (need diffusors) and bass traps, and I need some good XLR... 

@lalitk 

Yep I use GIK... On an email back and forth with Glenn Kuras.