B&W 'New' 800 Series

German magazine Stereo did the review of the 800D3 in Nov 2016:

"Such a sound experience is a scarce commodity even for a staunch STEREO editor with 40 years of his own hi-fi story. She has grown to my heart, this B & W. I took them out of the foyer with my pallet, unloaded their 2 x 116 kilograms, took part in mea- surement and photo-shooting, kept them carefully and carefully set up in the listening room,
Long with changing electronics and to enjoy. She is not an annoying diva, plays at a high level, but lets you know whether the cable or the component is spontaneous.
To call the new 800s a further top loudspeaker, would probably fall short, it is much more an absolute dream and thus the currently most favorable STEREO top reference at all!

I did listen to a non broken in 802 D3 yesterday for 20 minutes at the Magnolia, Long Island. Even with the mediocre solid Macintosh gear and Audioquest cables, the sound was really something special, effortless (given high power amp). Little 2D ish but speakers were not properly positioned, just couple of feet from the back wall, toed-in, which I hate, bit they had just 20 hours of play time on them, so it was obvious they sound had plenty of room for further refinement. Me and my lady friend who is classical pianist just sat mesmerized, and I thought nothing would "WOW" me at this stage of the game..... Something special indeed. I can’t even imagine what the sound will be like after 500 hours of the break in and with reference class EL 34, or 845 based tube amps and proper wire !!!!

I don’t know which particular model those were , I d think those were pretty in top of the line range monoblocks 500 watts per channel, judging by the needles, but I could be mistaken....to me all those Mac amps sound bland, flat and lifeless. Of course your experience may vary... But even with those amps you could tell the sound  of the new 802 D3s is  something exceptional, and I don’t throw epithets like that easily..

Also apparently some folks in Europe modify their crossover to the much better sonic results

From what I am hearing from folks in whose ears I trust that have listened to the 800 D3 extensively, the opinion is that 800 D3s are "giant killers" surpassing designs costing in high six figures..... Proper break - in and speaker cables are the key as well as the appropriate amplifier .... None of Classe, Mac, rotel, Bryston & other mediocre & bland amps.... Cardas golden cross appears to be a great match as are Magnan Type 4s, both in true bi wire mode, without usage of the jumpers on its terminals... FM Acoustics are apparently great on these as are german Symphonic Line monoblocks, solid state...Tube side: Mastersound tube monoblocks and VTL EL-34s & Manley monoblocks and Jadis monoblocks  & PA150 appear to give be great sonic match.... The only store in the NY tri state area that has 800D3s is the Stereo Exchange, so I ll go and will give them a brief audition sometime next week,....

@gregkohanmim

Stereo Exchange was moving?!!!!! Really!!!??? Where? I think they own the whole building.... Wow, its either things must be moving really slow for them , or they decided to sell their most lucrative location in SOHO...

I would think they keep the 800D3 in their showroom ZERO.. Did you ask to listen to them? I ve seen the new 802& 803s there as soon as those came out.... Their main listening rooms usually are locked and blocked from the public , you have to ask for a demo...

Well, get them from a dealer in Jeysy :) Or Delaware & NH . They will deliver anyhow..... They will (should) also deal unlike arrogant ny pricks .... No, I am not into vinyl , but thanks for the tip .. :)

Diamond series get bad rap, often because of the poor demo & ancillary equipment... If you choose your speaker wire and amps carefully you shoud do fine... The current series are little more forgiving & less harsh in mid treble ( even unbroken), way less synthetic soudnding, so I think you will like them... As an alternative you may consider Chario Serendipities, now we are also talking absolute sound refinement at relatively "sane" pricing, given current $/euro exchange rate ... Chario’s treble might be more up your alley, and they have other advantages over 800D3 , but its strictly IMHO of course ....

@dave_b

What were the demo components? Were speakers fully broken-in (at least 500 hours) ? If known ...

Anyone in NY/NJ area with a pair of broken in 800D3s willing to let me to take a listen in a non sale & audiophile friendly environment,   as there are  no dealers  thar have 800D3 s on demo in NY.... I ll bring a bottle of very "decent" cognac  for us to savor to sweeten the senses ;)   Thanks