B&W iconic loudspeakers: Nautlius.
I am lucky to have the Nautilus 802, but the true icon is the Nautilus. A Snail Shaped loudspeaker, with an incredible sound I had the pleasure to listen some 15 years ago. And an iconic design ,too. If I had the place... If only! Best, Nicolas ...
802’s are VERY nice...
My living room is an acoustic disaster...I have linns but small...it’s the grados that I listen to when I’m serious about the quality...coupled with a Linn dac and quboz 24 bit streaming the sound is ok.
Not to mention walls with no outlets and no place to hide cables
I just have Klipsch horns and old Luxman gear Cazalea
Have you ever tried acoustic correction?
I have made excellent experiences with the optimizers from French company Trinnov.
You should give it a try.
The Trinnov litterally "removes the walls". A Trinnov plus a pair of capable subwoofers and your 802 will sound like a 200k speaker ! I did that change lately in my system and the sound evolution was from excellent to worldclass! Best, Gerard ...
802s are really cool. I was very into high-end high-fi gear quite a while back.
Changing living situations (read: different house, kids) had me depart from dedicated separates and listening areas. I’ll get back into it some day....
Well, the 802 are no slouch.
I auditioned the 802 Diamonds before going for the CM10. I think the 802s are super sexy. But the Nautilus... they look like they are straight from Alien... I would love those.
Beautiful sculptural quality to those speakers.
Alas, I wish my neanderthal ears could parse sound quality. I once tried at a local high end audio store and gave up as my ears are just not tuned for nuances like tone and separation that the amazing store owner was attempting to get me to understand. We...
I am the same.
That doesn’t stop me from appreciating the excitement and enthusiasm of audiophiles but I would rather spend the money on a lovely watch or a vintage car
These are really superb speakers.
I remember,many years ago when they were introduced,I had the pleasure to assist to a demo in presence of the developing engineer Laurence Dickie. One of the best demos I ever attented!
Interesting: Often true WIS are also Connaisseurs on other levels... 👍🏻🔆😆
E.g. HIFI! B&W Loudspekers and especially the 8 series are/is top. I have 2 soubwoofers from B&W. The Loudspekers are from Proac, Often the limiting factor is indeed the acoustic setting of the room - and not the loudspeakers! Personal preferences, as lot...
Curious as to whether you've heard Cabasse . . .
. . . Spheres, Nicolas. I have, once, almost twenty years ago. Phenomenal . . . ...
I've never heard a four-way disappear . . .
. . . as completely as Le Sphere. Not saying they're for everyone, but everyone should experience them. They're that compelling . . .
Auditioned Cabasse speakers many years ago, but not the Le Sphere. I am partial to French speakers. They have a fast, transparent sound. Not too fast like Swiss speakers and electronics. In the end of chose JM Lab Focal Utopias.
If you like the speaker disappearing effect, try out the omni-directional speakers/systems from MBL. They will be my retirement hifi system once the kids grow up and provided they are still around ...
Heard MBLs once about thirty years ago at CES . . .
. . . and spoke with the owner/designer, whose name now escapes me. Other than having to build a room to take full advantage of their design properties, the one factor that would hinder acquisition is sustainability. Fixing them in the event of a mechanic...
Big fan of these and
the other old school B&W's including your 802's and my first series Silver Signatures. Yes, some might call them colored, but, to me, they bring out the beauty in music. It's not just the slight "fatness" in the lower mids, there is just something rig...
They are more "Wow"
more dynamic, more resolving, technically far superior. But, to me, they lack the warmth and soul of the older lines.
Always thought the design was cool, but to be honest, figured the sound wasn't that great.
Not that it couldn't be, but I always figured they were all style and no substance.
