I drove my pair with a levinson 23.5 amp (200w/ch) with wonderful sound.
the midrange driver (kevlar) is still very relevant, and the bass extension, esp.
with an alignment filter, is still difficult to top, although the bass driver lags a bit behind the other drivers (which are very fast reacting). Of course you can further modify them with better crossovers, and good stands are absolutely essential- i had sound anchors with tip-toes that worked VERY well.
Of course, when i upgraded to Eggleston Andra speakers, the superior integration of the drivers was instantly noticeable from the 1st note, but comparing $5K speakers to $14K speakers isn't fair. OTOH if you give up size for quality, you can get great sound for $4K-$5K, just without deep bass.
the 802's are also a great choice- quicker bass with the same level of quality, and less money.