Are Bowers and Wilkins speakers overpriced?

paulgardner - When you say tuning of upstream components, what are you referring to? Things like tube rolling? Adding an EQ? Room treatment? Thx

Paul - yes but it depends. let me explain, but its getting outside of your OP question. I break it down between big rocks and smaller rocks. Bigger versus smaller expected changes.

For example you mention tube rolling.
I consider tube rolling a smaller rock. It’s a refinement, of what you already like. You're on the same road.
Now going from Solid State to Tubes, and Vice Versa - that is a bigger rock. That is a change in the road. Now IMO, one can (and I have and do) run B&W 800 series with Tubes and SS, it just depends on the size of the room and your listening style.

make sense?

Yep. Makes perfect sense. I’ll admit the 805 d3 did sound a bit bright initially but since changing over to a tube power amp and tube phono stage, I’m very happy with the results. I recently picked up a Herron VPTH-2A. I truly love it. I’ve only had it a month or so and cannot find a single fault. 

@Nigel squires

1 - I don't like B&W that much. You can't argue personal taste.
2 - They are not objectively neutral - Proven in measurements
3 - B&W has changed their curves over time - Again, proven.

1. You havent heard them in every room or with every cable or with every amp so how can you say you dont like them based on a quick demo? have you heard them after their crossover have been modified? I'm assuming you havent?

2. there is no such thing as neutral. No matter how you tune a speaker, the recording will also affect what you hear so there is no inherently neutral speaker.

3. You are arguing that the curves are deliberately designed that way. There is no evidence of this. You are also using stereophile to support your claim about the curves. Response can vary depending on how you do measurements. One reviewers measurements do not mean its conclusive. You havent even mentioned off axis response. You are wrong erik. 

@erik
+1
Bob

I have owned 8 pairs of speakers over the past 15-17 years. I have also heard over a hundred of speakers at dealers, friends’, and audio shows. Currently own 803 D3 and could not be happier with them. I kept going back the 800 series Diamonds, until I finally took the plunge I don’t regret.

Having said this, two important observations:

1) Speakers are highly personal. Get those YOU like. There are no one-size-fits-all speakers.

2) Components, and most importantly components matching, matter. A lot. They can make or break a speaker.