Upgrade from B&W 802D1 to Focal Utopia Scala Evo

haha!  
 

Are they getting any better or still not happy with them?

Really don’t see a difference after 250 hours on them. Again, I’m not listening to them for that 250 hours, so perhaps my brain has not adjusted to them under the guise that the speakers are ’breaking in’.

Maybe I need my head to listen to them for 250 hours to ’break-in’ my brain, or i could hit my head on a wall for listening to these ’used car salesmen’ that sell speakers in perfectly tuned rooms and electronics and tell you that your equipment is very similar. Oh, and the no return policy....but a 1-week trade in policy of 50%.

Patience, Grasshopper. You're going to love them. Guaranteed. Remember that they're brutally revealing of anything upstream. You'll have to bring your sources up to the same level and that can take time. The hardest part of owning truly transparent speakers is that they hold up a mirror to everything — including your own expectations. B&W's house sound is musical and forgiving in a way that's immediately likeable. The Utopias don't give you that comfort blanket. Give yourself time to stop listening for what you're missing and start hearing what's actually there. It's a different and ultimately more rewarding relationship with your music.

Trouble is, I used all my stereo funds on these speakers. This was the last piece in my upgrading for retirement. I am not in a position to change or 'upgrade' my electronics

It's taken me at least 10 years if not more to get my system more or less up to speed, going one piece at a time. First big item was replacing my Audio Research  amp with a Conrad Johnson ART-SA. Tube amplification works very well with the Scala's. A cable here, interconnects there. Second major upgrade was swapping a CJ ET5 for an ART 88. Third was a really nice cartridge for my TT. Keep at it. In the meantime my DAC died and now I'm searching for a replacement. I've been playing vinyl exclusively for 6 months. Good recordings sound wonderful. Bad recordings don't. Good luck. Audio nirvana is attainable and the Scala's are a great foundation.