BW 801 D4 or BW 802 D4 + 2 subs

Subs always subs. electronic music can only be played properly with subs…. Not kidding. 
 

Anyway, I listened to the 802D4 on McIntosh Mac611 mono blocks and McIntosh 2700 tube preamp. It was ok, the bass was fine, no major complaints, mids were a touch thin (tipped up a bit). Then I came home and listened immediately the same songs on my Revel 228be, McIntosh MC462, with two JL E112 subs highpassed at 60hz. Honestly my much cheaper system was better, much better. The bass was well beyond the depth, quality and slam the 802d4 without subs could not touch. I also think the Revel are more natural/smooth sounding but they do give up some detail next to the 802D4. I would expect the 801D4 to come up short next to subs too. 

The capacitors in the 801 are a bit better still and sound a bit cleaner 

if you can afford them. My dealer Perrotta consulting  carryB&W and give excellent service as well as pricing plenty of low bass.

Personally 801. I much prefer completely coherent sound across the spectrum. B&W has put a huge amount of effort into making these things the best they can… flat to 15hz. Why add subs to the mix when they are unnecessary. 
 

Also, from the  aesthetic point of view, single towers are much more elegant. I remember finally getting rid of my subs… both from an aesthetic and sonic perspective… a much cleaner and more elegant solution!

May I suggest that you go to the next step above B&W. The engineer responsible for most of the finest technologies at B&W left when B&W was sold and eventually formed (with a partner) Vivid Audio. Vivid has refined these technologies and taken them to the next step.  Rather than a B&W 801 D4 ($35K) or 802 D4 ($14K) with subs, go with the Vivid Audio Kaya K45 ($19K), K90 ($28K), or Giya G4s2 ($34K).  Regardless of what specifications might tell you, the bass response of each of the three models is simply amazing. These speakers offer another level of transparency, detail, and the ambience of the recording. If you had been considering the B&W 801 D4, you should here the Vivid Giya G4s2. Next level performance.