B&W 805 D3

Just as a quick aside, the d2 to me seem brighter.  Off axis the d2 might sound better on a quick casual listen because it is more engaging in that sense.  But sit in the sweet spot in the right room in the right triangulation and positioning of the speakers... And the d2 are not even close to the d3.

i listened to 802d2 vs 802d3.
i listened to 802d2 vs 803d3.

i have also heard those 800d2 maybe 20x in an effort to buy them... The 802d3 is a better transducer, no contest.

But all my opinion.

i ran my 802d2 on several amps, I wanted to make sure I was optimizing them.  I used Cary 211FE tube monos, Classe M600 monos, and Boulder 2060 stereo amp.

I heard both, same setups, same everything except the speakers.  I am not a B&W fan, but the d3 805s were amazing.  The slight nasal and closed in character of the d2 (to my ears) is completely gone in the d3.  

I think Joey V said they're 25 percent better.  To me, and my non B&W loving ears, it was the difference between a speaker I could appreciate but would never own, to a speaker I'd be proud to own.

Everything just sounds so much bigger!

Heard it again today...

Close your eyes and you're there.  Tried it with the SF Olympica 3 today... Didn't work.  Sounds great... But the 802d3 just recreates all the little ambient information and creates a believable event.

Something I could not completely do with the 802d2 or the 800d2.  

That last 25% of delta change, that's it.  I think the guy posting before got it right.  It differentiates a great speaker from a good one.

Putting my money where my mouth is.  Placing my 802d3 order this weekend.