B&W 'New' 800 Series

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 !!!!

@kot, what mediocre McIntosh amps BB paired 802D3's with?

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..

Reviewing the videos on the B&W website the ultra refined construction
techniques appear extremely well thought out and executed. I find it impressive.

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,....