Great sound and excellent reproduction
Written: Jan 28 '00
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Pros: Great sound and excellent reproduction
Cons: Expensive
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| tfung's Full Review: B&W Nautilus 801 |
Since its introduction in 1979, the original B&W 801 has gained a reputation as a benchmark against which other speakers are measured; the firm's $40,000/pair Nautilus speakers, with their unforgettable "space mollusk" shape, debuted about five years ago. Combining design elements from the two models into one product line and pricing the hybrid somewhere in between, B&W rolled out the Nautilus 800 Series earlier this year.
Less ostentatious in appearance than their snail-shaped ancestor, the models in the new series also come at a (relatively!) modest price, with the top-of-the-line Nautilus 801 costing a little more than a quarter of what the original Nautilus did -- but double that of its Matrix Series predecessor. It remains to be seen whether audiophiles find the improvements on an already outstanding speaker like the Matrix 801 to be worth a 100 percent price hike.
Of the seven models in the new line, the flagship Nautilus 801 most clearly displays its dual heritage. The spherical black enclosure around the 6-inch mid-range driver recalls the curves of the original Nautilus, and has the same tapered-tube design to absorb the driver's backwave. On the other hand, the 15-inch bass driver is encased in a box that looks entirely traditional apart from its semi-elliptical cross section; B&W claims that the curved back preserves the acoustic advantages of the Nautilus's handcrafted spiral tube without its exorbitant production cost. Inside the box is a legacy from the other parent: The echo-dampening Matrix system, a feature of the 800 series since 1987. The Nautilus 801's frequency response is rated at 29 Hz-25 kHz and sensitivity is 86 dB. Recommended amplifier power is 50-1000 watts.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 11000
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Epinions.com ID:
tfung
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Member: Terence Fung
Location: Brighton, MA
Reviews written: 93
Trusted by: 31 members
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