The Two Best Speakers In The World Face Off! Which One Is The Winner?
Dec 14 '01
The Bottom Line Read the review to find out!
This review will focus on the two most widely known speakers in the world. By most, they are considered the greatest ever built, but they aren't the most expensive. They both cost around $10,000 a pair, so because of the price similarity, I will compare the Magnepan MG20.1 and B&W Nautilus 801 series speakers.
BACKROUND
-Magnepan MG20.1-
*Magnepan is different when it comes to making speakers. Instead of making conventional box speakers, Magnepan uses Magneplanar technology (Hence the name). This means that the speakers are flat, and use ribbon drivers. Some people say, "Once you hear Magneplanar speakers, you will never go back to box speakers." Without doubt, these speakers from Magnepan from the cheapest to most expensive prove themselves worthy. All of the models from Magnepan are 2-Way ribbon speakers except for the Magnepan MG20.1 which are 3-Ways. The neatest thing that I noticed about Magnepan 2-Way speakers is that they hit all the frequencies like any good 3-Way would from any other brand. Now, imagine that kind of sound coming from a Magnepan 3-Way! Wow, it was so amazing. Without doubt, the Magnepan MG20.1 had some of the cleanest sound I've ever heard... But I'll get to that later in the sound comparisons. In conclusion, the Magnepan MG20.1 is a 3-Way speaker that costs about $10,000 a pair.
Here is technical info:
*Frequency Response - 25-40kHz +-3dB
*Max Power - 100 Watts to 250 Watts
*Sensitivity - 85dB/500Hz /2.83v
*Ohm Impendance - 4 Ohm
-B&W Nautilus 801-
*A direct competitor to Magnepan. The B&W Nautilus 801 have been existent for a while using the superior technology from B&W. B&W is actually an old company, but they used the brightest scientists back in the 1960s to create the greatest speakers. B&W also makes speakers that have gorgeous styling. The B&W Nautilus 801 is one of the nicest and different looking speakers on the market. The ones that I've used had a wood-grain cabinet. They look like a really big subwoofer with a weird looking speaker on top. The type of speaker specification for it is a 3-Way vented speaker. It has a massive 15" woofer that drives the bass, a 6" kevlar cone midrange, and a 1" metal dome tweeter. Without doubt, the B&W Nautilus 801 is capable of hitting all the bass notes that you could want. The high-range is pretty good, but you can do better for the price. The midrange is simply amazing. Overall, this is a speaker that will truly impress your friends, the sound stage is one of the best in the world!
Here is technical info:
*Frequency Response - 37Hz - 20kHz ± 2dB on reference axis
*Max Power - 50 Watts - 1,000 Watts
*Sensitivity - 6dB at 23Hz and 30kHz and 3dB at 29Hz and 22kHz
*Ohm Impendance - 8 Ohm
TESTS
***NOTE: Tests were done using top-of-the-line McIntosh components.***
-Magnepan MG20.1-
*Low-Range - The Magnepan MG20.1 handled like it was supposed to regarding bass. Obviously, you would get a powered subwoofer to accompany any of these speakers. However, if let's just say you were using stereo with no other speakers, the Magnepan MG20.1 would provide you with the right amount of bass. However, the Magnepan MG20.1 speakers were eclipsed by the B&W Nautilus 801 speakers in my opinion regarding bass. The B&Ws were able to pound out much more bass, yet they were capable of integrating into the music beautifully with no distortion, and the bass was very realistic. Still, the Magnepan MG20.1 do give quite a lot of bass.
*Mid-Range - This was one of the greatest points of the Magnepan MG20.1 speakers. In my opinion, these speakers have the sweetest and most realistic sounding vocals that you can find. Without doubt, both speakers handled great with the midranges, but the Magnepan MG20.1 simply went the extra mile. I watched The Matrix on DVD, and these speakers handled the midrange incredibly. They were able to give all the action sounds that I was craving. With music, you really hear the vocals and the instruments. I know some speakers that drown out the midrange with bass, but the Magnepan MG20.1 give you incredible vocals, instrumentals, and good bass at the same time. They simply handled better than the B&Ws here.
*High-Range - The tweeter is one of the most over-looked parts of the speaker. However, it is incredibly important. For example, I tested the overall frequency responses with the song Dancing Queen by ABBA that focuses on vocals, lot's of instrumentals, and the bass at the same time. There wasn't too much emphasis on the high-ranges in that song, but then I tried Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye and Classical Gas by Mason Williams. I have never heard high frequencies like this. The Maggies were able to give me all the details I wanted to hear. The high-frequencies sounds so smooth and delicate, it was simply amazing.
-B&W Nautilus 801-
*Low-Range - Without doubt, the B&W Nautilus 801 speakers were superior in the lower ranges. They were able to pump out more bass than the Maggies. They also had a cleaner sounding low-range all thanks to the amazing 15" woofer. That thing is huge! However, if you really need a lot of bass, you should use a powered subwoofer. So therefore, you can have bass from the Maggies that is just like the B&W Nautilus 801 with the help of a powered sub. Overall, the B&W Nautilus 801 really did a great job in the low ranges.
*Mid-Range - The midrange lagged slightly behind the Maggies. Still, the B&W Nautilus 801 speakers can create a simply incredible clear midrange. It uses a 6" kevlar cone to drive the midranges, and they truly come out very clean and smooth. The vocals and instrumentals are superb on these speakers. I played Star Spangled Banner by Boston on these and the Maggies, and the guitar instrumentals that the B&W Nautilus 801s pumped out were out of this world. Very comparable to the Maggies. However, when it comes to vocal realism, you can't beat the Maggies.
*High-Range - The B&W Nautilus 801 speakers use a 1" metal tweeter. It is good, but I've seen better. It obviously hits the high-frequency notes precisely, but there seems to be more emphasis on the high notes with the Magnepans. Still, the B&W Nautilus 801 provide superior high ranges compared to other speakers. It is crystal clear, and it isn't much worse than the Maggie's high frequencies.
THE VERDICT
-In Conclusion-
*Well, if I could spend $10,000 on speakers right now, I'd have to go with the Magnepans. They had more emphasis on the higher ranges. I know that bass can always be taken care of with a powered subwoofer. But really, for $10,000 you simply can't go wrong. B&W and Magnepan are not like Bose, these are truly some of the greatest speakers in the world. However, I like the Maggies better because the midrange and high ranges are cleaner, and the vocals are also the most realistic with the Magnepans. However, the B&Ws are capable of giving out more powerful bass. Overall, any of these speakers will make you happy. But if you really love vocals and instrumentals, then the Maggies will suit you best.
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