In 2007, the B&W 802D was awarded "Best Loudspeaker £5000+" by Hi-Fi Choice. The judges praised the speaker for its effortless sound and enormous scale, noting that it makes almost all other speakers seem unreal.
In a 2006 review, Smarthouse described the 802D as one of the best speakers ever built, noting that the model probably outperforms B&W's previous flagship model, the Nautilus 800.
A 2016 customer feedback on the IsoAcoustics website mentioned that after installing the GAIA I isolators on his B&W 802 Diamonds, sound reproduction improved significantly, with a more open soundstage and improved detail.
A 2012 review on Sound & Vision praised the B&W 802 Diamond for its performance, build quality and value.
A 2010 review on SoundStage! Hi-Fi, it was noted that B&W speakers work best with high-current, solid-state amplification, and that brands such as Krell, Mark Levinson and Classé are suitable candidates for the 802D.
A 2006 review on Hi-Fi Advice noted that the 802D has a darker balance and that the diamond tweeters are more accurate and dynamic, but also more relentless.
A 2005 review on The Absolute Sound noted that the 802D, combined with McIntosh components, offered impressive sound reproduction and was the best-selling high-end speaker in its price range.