What speakers to get? Focal or B&W

Jamesw20 is probably right that you most likely would not get the most musically from either pair of speakers with an A/V receiver.

I've heard the Focal profile 918 with a $2500 Krell integrated at a local Tweeter store + the sound was fantastic, very open, lifelike, detailed, transparent and dynamic with a huge sound stage. For a while, I was seriously considering picking up a pair.

I'm almost always underwhelmed by B&Ws when I hear them. They tend to sound lifeless and stiff in the low end to me. I suspect they require very high end amplification in order to sound equally good.

I've owned several pair of b&w's and find the treble to be thin. Again, I think proper amp matching would help.

05-20-08: Mapman
I've found the B&Ws are very British....more laid back and refined with what I've found to be a very "warm" sound.

05-20-08: Jamesw20
I've owned several pair of b&w's and find the treble to be thin.

That just shows how subjective this matter will be(in everything audio) when it comes to giving thoughts on how a particular component would sound. I fall into Mapman's category although I am pretty sure a lot of folks would also agree with Jamesw20 on the thin treble of the B&W's, which generally implies "brightness" as opposed to a warm sound.

With that amplification you shouldn't get anything more revealing than a B&W 804S

If you're looking at Focals, take a look at the Twin 6 BE's. I have a pair in my recording studio and brought them in to my living room to try them with my stereo. They sound incredible and are active to boot so you would save $$$ on amplification.