KEF Reference 5 vs. B&W 802 D3 speakers - which one better? your knowledges & opinions

Kentrent:  while it’s true that the R900 is a very good speaker and its tonal balance is similar to the Ref 5, there is indeed a significant difference between the two.  I have heard the Ref 3s against the R900s (they didn’t have the Ref 5s but it stands to reason the 3 and 5s are similar tonally and in resolution).  While they Reference and R series have a similar “voice”, the Reference offered significant improvements in resolution (detail), and clarity that was very easy to hear in comparison.

Speaking with a KEF representative and reading some of their literature on the Reference series, it would appear that some of the improvement in clarity is due to a significantly better coincident driver and crossover for the midrange and tweeter, and some is due to better (non resonant) cabinet construction. KEF are thoughtfully engineered speakers - you get what you pay for at each price point. 

I would actually suggest the gap is much wider in performance between the Reference series and the R series than it is between the Blade and the reference. I have done this exact comparison.  The Blade is 2x the reference in price.  As in all things - diminishing returns as you move up.  

Make sure you let them break in.  If you don’t love them after a few hundred hours, then you can consider what next.  But, I’d politely suggest it won’t be the speakers that will be your weak link.  

My $.02.
mgrif

@mgrif104 thank you so much for your insight.  The deminishing return is greatly different from the R900 to the Reference 5, unlike from Reference 5 to Blade?? That’s good to know.   KEF is thoughtfully and well engineer and highly technological speakers is part of the reasons why I chose KEF over the B&W.  Thank you for your post. This is the kind of feedback i need to hear. 

Guys!!! 
So I’ve been listening to the Reference 5 for 3 days now and I’m liking it so far.  
I’m upgrading from R900.  The R900 is a very good sounding speakers itself.  Comparing to the Ref5 it’s definitely not catching up.  Listening to the R900 makes me feel like I’m in front of a small limited stage where each instruments are cluttered close together whereas the Ref5 is a large stadium and instruments are good distance away from each other - its like you can walk thru each instruments and hear each of them distinctively.  The soundstage is incredible on the Ref5 - very holographic.  I’m using the long ports and the Bass is tight and deep- u can feel its thundering in your chest.  Bass is much refine, tight and more responsive but at the same time soft and free of distortion.   Treble is much more sharper and clearer.  The best part is I can hear some other instruments in the song that i didnt hear it on the R900.   Overall, I’m really liking it and starting to falling in love.  I’m glad I chose Kef - Ref5.  Although, i still wanna compared it with the BW 802D3 one day.   

Im also curious to see how this speakers sounds with the solid state McIntosh MA8900.  What do u guys think?? 
Mine is the Rosewood and it just looks so beautiful with my McIntosh Mc2152 and c70 equipments.  Love it guys!! Thanks again 

kentrent,
Very glad you like the Ref 5s, especially after all the worrying and second guessing . As we’ve discussed, they will get better over time. The holographic soundstage is what  initially sold me.  The Rosewood finish is beautiful. Since I’m spending lots of time at home these days , I’ve been listening to my Ref 5s for many hours every day. Several months ago, I replaced an older Audio Research tube amp with a solid state Krell. Both amps produced great sound and, if anything, the Krell is better. The more I listen, the happier I am with the sound of the KEFs. I predict it will be the same for you.  Enjoy them. 

KEF!

or Dynaudio