I guess what I like most about the Matrix 805 is the way they disappear in my living room. I have listened to many speakers in my search and none disappear like the 805. Not even the 801. When I listen to my music, I do not want to listen to a speaker, but to a performance. All I have to say is this is the bargain of a lifetime for music lovers, not disco dancers. In my opinion, you will look a while to find anything this musical. You may also pay thousands more. The only criticism I could possibly make is the addition of a subwoofer possibly for orchestral performances and surround sound. I wouls rather separate the extreme low frequencies anyway.

I've lived with the 805's for about 3 years now in conjunction with an ASW800subwoofer. Pretty much the sound of the 801's for half the price. Possibly a bit clearer than the 801 and a bit more neutral. Highly recommended if you can still find them.
Associated Equip.
Conrad-Johnson PF2 pre-amp
Conrad-Johnson MF2100 amp
Linn LP12 Valhalla
Adcon GDA600 DA w/phillips transport
MIT/Monster/PAC cables

i had the 805's for about a year. i buy my speakers at a store which offers a full credit towards the purchase of your next and better pair when you return your current speakers within a year. for this reason, it was just a matter of time before i had to return them, after all i AM an audiophile. however, to this day these speakers did things i havent heard matched by any other speaker. the coherency and time alignment were outstanding obviously due in part to the speakers single bass/mid driver, a closely positioned tweeter and a high quality , well executed crossover. there was no boxiness or coloration. when you "knock" on their sides its like knocking on concrete. to really take advantage of their rigidity and solidity you must have a very solid and heavy stand. i built mine from concrete, coupled to ceramic tile by a rigid yet slightly flexible putty like substance making for an incredibly stable and vibration free platform. as far as small speakers go these cant be beat for an overall big and graceful sound. while some may prefer more bass and or volume the sonic quality and clarity they give bass and mids is hard to fault. in the end i wanted a speaker capable of playing a little louder. for an audiophile who isnt very concerned with volume i highly recommend them. for those who want a similar sound at a higher volume, the next speaker up, the 804's are an excellent choice and a real bargain. i had those too but ultimately traded them in for a pair of martin logan sl3's which i am very happy with. how can i love the b&w's so much and still have traded them in? i said upfront i was an audiophile Not a sane or rational person!
associated equipment:

Aragon 4004 mk2
Aragon 18k preamp
California Audio Labs dx1 cd
Mit 330+ interconnects and terminator 2 bi wire
ears that spend too much time analyzing and obsessing over audio performance

I have owned B&W speakers in the past (Matrix 802 II) and once worked for a dealer, and the 805 was quite the little miracle. Quick, with decent bass, and wonderful soundstaging, the latter very stable across the frequency spectrum. A friend moving overseas left me in the care of his 805's for about six months, and I found them highly enjoyable, especially with tube amplification.Associated equipment:
CAL Labs Tercet mk.III
VTL ST 40/40 Integrated
Kimber PBJ
Kimber 4VS

Great speaker. Agree with all comments above, including the concern about a little more bass response, the perennial problem with accurate mini-monitors, of course. I know that -- provided you like its overall presentation - the Krell KPS20iL can solve the 805's "bass problem" in a flash. I don't, so I'm stuck. Curious to know if anyone has gotten satisfactory bass by driving them with higher powered amps...My Krell KSA 50s, for all its other qualities, doesn't seem quite enough. Based on Muse Kastanovich's fairly recent review of the new Pass Labs Aleph 3 (at $2300!),I wonder whether THAT's the way out. I don't recommend the 804, though solid rumor says its been "altered" and so may be worth a second listen. Used to be too heavy in the upper bass. And the rest of the 800 line just can't, at least in my modest quarters, get the music out into the room the way 805's can. I think it's significant that the 805's have never been "upgraded" by B&W. They got it right the first time. I give them five stars because I think their only weakness can be fixed. Just haven't quite figured out how to do it yet. Advice??

Footnote to following review: name and email address somehow left off. Sorry.

The more I listen to other brands, Martin Logan, Theil, JMlab, Totem, KEF etc., the more sense it makes to buy B&W.I have compared many different models in the same price point, and realized that the absolute best buy for the dollar are the B&W Matrix speakers. The sound staging, clarity, and accuracy, are incredible in comparison. In most cases, the speakers compared were more money than the B&W.
Being a large company, B&W can concentrate on R&D and mass produce an excellent product.
The 805 with Target R1 stands were less money than the 804 model. If I add the ASW sub, I can get real close to the sound of the 801. If AC3 is an issue, than I can purchase the HTM (an 805 on its side) and 805's for the rear channel. Equal acuracy, excellent dispersion, wide sound stage, huge volume, all around best sound.

B&W 805 is a best buy. It's not too big for a small room. It's not too small for a large room.This loundspeaker can give you a very close female voice.
I used too love Roger LS3/5 but those speaker doesn't have enough lower bass.
B&W 805 give you very clean bass respond and the keflar cone that used in the midrange will performed very well.
You'll fine a superb speaker but you won't find it in this B&W 805 price..

I too am a huge fan of the B&W 805s. I like their open presentation, their wide sound staging, the best I've heard in my small room (11 x 12 feet), their tonal balance, just a little too bright, good solid articulate bass, and great midrange. In addition, I think they are very fairly priced; especially when compared to other Stereophile products which are highly rated and sell for $1600 and a lot more. These speakers replaced a pair of $3,200 ProAc Response 2s and they outpreform them in almost every way except for dynamic range. On the average I prefer the 805s dyanamics, comapred to the ProAcs, but in complex orchestral passage that become quitge loud the 2s excel, while the 805s compress a bit. But this is the only area where the ProAcs, in my opinion, outpreform the 805's. The 805s are more detailed, especially in the treble, the ProAcs are fairly weak in this area; their treble is compromised by a smearing in the lower treble, of course they are regions of the ProAc's treble which are tilted up, giving it a sense of greater detail, but which gives violins an unnatural added steeliness. ProAc's bass too gives a sense of great depth, but it too does not have the natural timbre that the 805s do. The mid-range of the 805s, I think, is superior, though it does not have the forwardness of the ProAcs, and many may prefer the less laidback sound of the ProAcs. I don't. I also like the fit and finish of the 805s real wood veneer cabinets; although the binding posts which are non-standard size are a pain in the neck, finding spade lugs which fit properly. Of course, the 805s are replaced in their line by the Nautalis 805 which I have not heard, but if they are as good as the 805s should be a must audition. And used 805s are available from those who think it necessary to upgrade, it should represent good valuable.
Therefore, for a good value and supreb speaker, I enthusiastically give the B&W Matrix 805s five stars.

If you are looking for a pair of bookshelf speakers that has detail, big sound, smooth and hides itself as it sounds try the Matrix 805 of B&W. It is a full range speaker that has satisfied a good number of audiophiles. I use it currently as a surround speaker driven by a B&K ST3030 Power Amp. I had tried it several times on two channel listening (especially vocal recordings of Linda Rondstadt and Carol Kid) and I would always be amazed at the way it would sound, natural and life-like. It is now in the rear of my system because I use a pair of 803's on the front.