Why on earth would somebody buy speakers they don't like and then try to fix the problem with an equalizer?
It makes
vastly more sense to buy speakers you like in the first place, so that no such bandaid is needed!
It is not a band-aid when used within proper scope. The 802D is an extremely linear device with no audible resonance, as opposed to most speakers, which have audible resonances that distort timbre -- due to far lesser engineered cabinet systems for the most part.
However, an absolute linear amplitude response is not often favored for general commercial music, which typically has a presentation that is not from a natural perspective(close micing emphasizes high frequencies, and generally, most studio microphones used have upper mid and or high frequency emphasis on top of that, in addition to any further equalization that may be applied in the studio by the engineer during mixing, then later on by the mastering engineer in another stage). As many perceptual researchers discovered, most test subjects find the response of a slightly de-emphasized upper-mid/high frequency response, as measured at the listening position, as being perceived as more neutral. A precision equalizer allows accurate shaping of the response to one's personal preference. You can consider the B&W 802D as given example here, as being a blank slate, and being as such, is ideal for an equalizer.
It is a non-efficient method to attempt to find a speaker that is 'perfectly' balanced tonally to one's tastes; one can apply the balance themselves, and with great accuracy/precision with high quality equalization equipment. A far more productive (and accurate) process to achieve ideal preference.
-Chris
