I am very impressed with the B&W 801 Series II loudspeakers with our crossover fix. Actually I am amazed at how much they have responded to improvements in our electronics over the years. Recently compared them to a new set of B&W 800Ds on our electronics, and although the 800Ds did exhibit even better transparency and image solidity (wonder how much was because the 800Ds are nearly 200 pounds each heavier), the 801s still have a better bass reach and transparency and there was nothing there to make me want to part with $20,000 for a new set of speakers.
Funny how we came by this set of 801s. Years ago a guy brought them out bouncing around loose in the back of a pickup truck for repair. The looked like they had been stored in a room being repainted (covered with white wallboard dust and more - really nifty on a black finish). One blown woofer, two blown tweeters, one blown midrange, one mangled woofer grill, fix the B&W crossover blunder, and needed lots of work to clean up, but still a repair bill within reason. The guy never picked them up or paid for the repairs. Even ignored registered letters to him. Geeze.
They have been working fine here ever since and we use them to evaluate what the much smaller Biro L/1s can't do (namely bass reach and absolute power handling).
Frank Van Alstine