Well since you are a "Bigkid" you can handle what I'm about to tell you. The Matrix II Series of B&W 80X all sucked. They had slow bass, gluey midrange, and terrible sounding aluminum tweeters. My best recommendation is to upgrade to B&W Nautilus 802's.
But, if you absolutely love them and can't part with them, then try this. Contact George Short at North Creek Music Systems ( http://www.northcreekmusic.com ) and ask him if he can put together all the parts for an upgraded crossover...new 8 ga. or 10 ga. coils, new Zen or Crescendo cascaded capacitor ladders and upgraded wire to go from the box that holds the new outboard crossover to the drivers. Also, order his book "North Creek Cabinet Handbook" $5.00. Replace all the crappy foam inside with Deflex or spray on "Road Kill". Fill the bottom couple inches with sand and glue mixture and remove the binding posts on the back of the speaker; it will go into the crossover box. Cover up the hole.
If you do all this, they should be 100% better everything but looks...they will still be ugly. But at least they'll sound good.
But, if you absolutely love them and can't part with them, then try this. Contact George Short at North Creek Music Systems ( http://www.northcreekmusic.com ) and ask him if he can put together all the parts for an upgraded crossover...new 8 ga. or 10 ga. coils, new Zen or Crescendo cascaded capacitor ladders and upgraded wire to go from the box that holds the new outboard crossover to the drivers. Also, order his book "North Creek Cabinet Handbook" $5.00. Replace all the crappy foam inside with Deflex or spray on "Road Kill". Fill the bottom couple inches with sand and glue mixture and remove the binding posts on the back of the speaker; it will go into the crossover box. Cover up the hole.
If you do all this, they should be 100% better everything but looks...they will still be ugly. But at least they'll sound good.