Does B&W really sell the horn shape Nautilus ?

[HTguy]

I always want to hear the Horn shape Nautilus but I can't find any dealler carrying it. Does B&W really sell these buautiful speakers? Can someone share the experience of touching, feeling, and enjoying these speakers

thanks

CN

[Sim reality]

Have you tried contacting B&W directly?

I am guessing that they don't get a lot of requests for a speaker that needs to be tri-amped with electronic crossovers very often... It's probably a "made to order" item.

[greggz]

About a year ago when I got to chat with a rep from B&W he said that they sell, on average, a pair of the Nautilus “snails” each month. They are hand assembled by one person at the B&W factory.

A rumor I heard was that the CFO of Microsoft bought 7 of them for his HT setup.

As far as seeing them at a dealer, I would think your chances are pretty slim. Most dealers don't have anything above the 802's on display. If you were going to see them I suspect it would be at dealer in NYC or SanFran or similar major city where the odds of selling them merit having a pair on hand.

[Sim reality]

BTW: I am sooo jealous... I doubt I will be able get beyond the 803S in my lifetime nevermind the Horn shaped Nautilus...

[greggz]

...a speaker that needs to be tri-amped

Actually they need to be quad-amped. :E

[dortiz]

I was just there at B&W and sure enough they were painting a pair to go out. Yes they sell about a pair a month. Its a custom order through the dealer. They do not have them out to listen. There was time they did a road show but not anymore.

[Sim reality]

Actually they need to be quad-amped. :E

I was curious so I looked up the specs... I think the 2 tweeters are considered 1 drive unit but still that would be 3 :E

Are the specs out of date or are the not using diamond tweeters on it?

[greggz]

The Nautilus owners manual is on the B&W website. They show 4 amps in the picture and it says "Each Nautilus will require 1 separate amplifier channel for each drive unit."

http://www.bwspeakers.com/downloadfile/speakermodel/DONE_nautilus.pdf

The Nautilus was introduced in 1993 and has not been significantly revised like the new 800 series... yet. 2006 is B&W's 40th anniversary. Perhaps we will see a new Prestige-line model or two released next year.

[Stoney]

Wow, I didn't realise the Nautilus was so rare. The last time I was at the dealer here in Albuquerque they had a set. I've never bothered to listen to them. I think I'll have to make it a point to listen to them next chance I get.

[Trevor]

I have never seen the Nautilus, but the dealer here in Albuquerque has the whole line of 800 series. Someone told me that they once had a set of the shell shaped nautilus but that was years ago.

[Cowanrg]

gregg,

you are correct... that microsoft person has those and is using classe omega monoblocks to amplify the system. must be pretty impressive...

[greggz]

7 speakers at $20,000 a piece and 28 amps (4 amps x 7 speakers) at $10,000 a piece. Man 'o man, I'm in the wrong line of work.

[Stoney]

Trevor;
It has been a while since I was in the showroom at Hudsons. Sounds like I missed my chance.

[audioqueso]

7 speakers at $20,000 a piece and 28 amps (4 amps x 7 speakers) at $10,000 a piece. Man 'o man, I'm in the wrong line of work.

Half a million dollar system. That's just sick. lol