B&W Nautilus

[Diapason]

I popped into Cloney yesterday morning and finally got to hear the fabled Nautilus speakers. Let's just say they lived up to billing with effortless sound, amazing control, and a presentation that invites you in. If I had the means they'd definitely be on the list. You should go hear them while you can.

[Georgi]

I was there week or two ago, listened two and half tracks, and left with mix feelings, nether like them or not like them. Not bad, but wasn't there the WOW effect. Don't know, maybe there is something wrong with me these days. :)

[Diapason]

That's interesting, Georgi. Maybe I was in an extra good mood because I had just started 2 weeks Christmas holidays! But still, so many times I've been underwhelmed by flagship speakers, so I know the feeling.

I still really liked them, though...

[mcq]

I popped in for a listen on Friday afternoon and really liked what I heard. It’s a very lively, energetic sound but in no way excessively bright. Bass was full and very well controlled but what impressed me most was the integration between the drive units. The diamond tweeter in the B&W 800 series makes a beautiful sound but I always found it drew too much attention to itself and the integration between the drive units was not as seamless as it should be. The integration between the Nautilus drive units, on the other hand, is perfectly judged. All drivers speak with the same voice. I played some tracks by the Brad Mehldau trio and I was really, really impressed. Not just the best B&W speaker I have heard but some of the best speakers I have ever heard.

The drawbacks, however, are obvious. The speakers make quite a stunning visual statement in the room and their looks will divide people. And then there is the matter of driving 4 drive units per channel. The 4 Rotel Michi stereo amps did a wonderful job and are priced attractively at UK£5400 each and the Rotel Michi preamp (with a very smooth sounding integrated DAC) at UK£3300. However, it all takes up a lot of space (and there is also the matter of the external crossovers as well). Personally, I love the simplicity of a single integrated amp and a single source and I would prefer a more elegant speaker design like my Kharmas.

But what a sound those Nautilus made!

[Georgi]

Nice write up.
I don't want to be get wrong. They are nice indeed, I do like the look of them.
Maybe the music which was on at the time, didn't do anything for me.
The first track I heard was some random artist which was playing on.
The second track Ivan put on, was that soundtrack music from Batman movie 'Why so serious', which didn't do anything for me, to 'understand' the speakers.
Then, I have been ask, 'What I think about the speakers', my honest answer was, 'Don't know, need more time with them, to understand them'.
Then some other people took the attention, becouse I wasn't potential buyer.
And that's all.

[mcq]

We all have our own opinions, Georgi, and they are all equally valid. When you are listening to a pair of speakers as expensive as the Nautilus, you have to be ruthlessly honest with yourself and ask yourself, how will these speakers sound at home, in my room and with my music? The B&W house sound is certainly not for everybody and there are many other options to consider. You really have to trust your own personal responses because, in the end, you are spending your own money.

[Ciaran]

I heard them last week too, and I was very impressed. Timbres were beautiful, every instrument independent of every other, very solid tuneful bass perfectly integrated into the sound. Lots of air between the instruments. But a bigger room might suit them better, I did have the feeling that I was too close. But having seen pictures of them in B&W ads for so many years, it was fascinating to finally hear them. The engineering in them has gone all-out and the results are very successful. But you'd need a nice big listening room and lots of power amps!

[tony]

Those speakers are 55K sterling! It just wouldn't matter what I thought of them the price is just something I could never contemplate.
Interesting to see Paul you have changed out your Jadis. I always thought the same about the DA88S. The notion of all those valves just seemed too much even if I was prepared to spend that level of money. The Jadis I50 would probably be enough for whatever speakers I would ever own and the wattage is acceptable but my DA50S warms up the room a lot during the summer.

Without hearing them I would be inclined to think the same as Ciaran about the need for a very big listening room and preferably a detached house.
Will have to try and get out for a listen before they depart. Anybody know how long they are on demo for?

[Diapason]

They'll be there for a while yet, I believe. You'll be able to hear them in January.

[tony]

They'll be there for a while yet, I believe. You'll be able to hear them in January.

Will pluck up the courage to wander out so. Find it very hard as Noel has me sussed as a complete non Cloney spender!