Snail Nautilus

[fatcat]

I have been planning to upgrade to the 802D or 800D, but am in the rare position of having a wife pushing me for the Nautilus (the snail). It's simply a dramatic piece of sculpture, even if you never turn it on, and is probably the most extraordinary speaker ever made from a design point of view. My concern is whether its sound measures up to its unusual form, and how it compares to B&W's more recent designs (800D, for example). Another concern is how it will blend with a center speaker, and which one would work (HTM1D?). We are 90% music listeners, so the surround sound considerations are not as crucial. We also have plenty of space, although the acoustics are average and difficult to improve.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Are we nuts?

[cal264]

Not nuts at all .... Pleasing the wife is important and besides, either choice will be an awesome choice. Lets face it, they are all great speakers and if money is not the primary factor, go for it. Life is good ....

JV

[Race Car Driver]

I think you need a full setup with the Snails.

Yes I think your nuts, and yes, if I had a wife pushing me for those, i wouldnt look back!!! Your a lucky man!!

Not that I have ever seen them for sale.....


Oh yea, pics are a must!

[jericho]

I think those snails are really the ultimate speakers when we talk about design but looking at the components I think you're better with the Diamond series because the technology of those speakers is newer compared to the tweeters as well as the bass speakers used in the snail.
But as we all know, the WAF is a very important factor!! And with those snails you can't go wrong if money is not the problem, because you'll need minimum a pair or two of very powerfull amplifiers!!

[Joey_V]

You'd probable be the only one with the Snails in this forum...

I wonder if you could ask BW to have an updated version of the Snail, complete with Diamond tweeters.

JOey

[fatcat]

The Nautilus definitely require quite an investment in amps, in fact 8 in total for a front pair. Top-quality multi-channel might be a possibility, but the bass channels probably require a separate 500-watt mono-amp.

My wife is more attracted to their design, really. She would prefer no speakers, of course, but if we must, then better the snails than a pair of Watt Puppies (beautifully sounding but very ugly speakers in my opinion).

Jericho -- your comments match my concern. I also wonder if the Nautilus will be upgraded anytime soon with the most recent innovations featured in the Diamond series...? Better to wait, in that case.

There is a store where I live that sells the Nautilus; in fact, they have a pair in stock. I will request to have them set up (no easy task) and see how they sound verses the Diamond. It could take a bit, but I am in no rush.

[ShadowZA]

Wow! This is indeed a great opportunity, fatcat. :T If music is your passion and you can afford it (and not mess with your retirement investments), then, imho go for it ... if you find its sound acceptable to you. Please will you tell us your thoughts on the sound of the Nautilus as well as what amplification you intend to use.

And ... if you DO get a pair of these beauties ... please, please let us see some pics.

Good luck

[corbelli]

You are a lucky men.... Go for snails... quickly! No disadvantages in my opinion... I have two pais of 801 Matrix S3 and that is my golden dream...

A pair of snails...Woooowwww ;x(

[Joey_V]

If you can swing it... swing ALLLL the way! Go snails or go home!

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the 800d VS Snail though...

[WI Rotel]

I'm glad someone has the disposable income to buy 40K speakers. But please, whatever you do, do not refer to them as the snail nautilus, the term is obscene, especially if you can afford them (given the less than humble pen name). No other BW is named The nautilus. The name is inspired from the semblance to the cephalopod known as a chambered nautilus. Its like calling the Gioconda the Leonardo chick. How gauche! :smackbutt:

[Race Car Driver]

oke: Mmm, Snails

[Sim reality]

I'm glad someone has the disposable income to buy 40K speakers. But please, whatever you do, do not refer to them as the snail nautilus, the term is obscene, especially if you can afford them (given the less than humble pen name). No other BW is named The nautilus. The name is inspired from the semblance to the cephalopod known as a chambered nautilus. Its like calling the Gioconda the Leonardo chick. How gauche! :smackbutt:

Blame it on the marketing genius that named a speaker, a technology and a series of speakers the same name :M

[Russ L]

Escargot????? mmmm yummy : Fatcat- I think you would need another Nautilus as a center channel to match the sweet sound of the 2 mains. A tidy sum 30k/speaker +20k/speaker in amplification :E I read a review that said that they blow away the 800 series but can't remember if that was the D series or the former800s. Apparently there is no sweet spot in the room EVERYWHERE IS A SWEET SPOT So I don't know if you would need a center! If I find the review I'll post it on this thread. Anyways yer the man...errrr cat! ;x( -Russ

[Russ L]

A BMW costs 100k so why not B&Ws? I'd rather have the speakers.

[fatcat]

Russ -- I would love to see that review if you can find it. Thank you all for your comments. I agree about the "Snail" term, but the reality is that if I posted using only the name "Nautilus," many readers would not understand to what I was refering.

I will be traveling for a bit but will post once I have an opportunity to compare the sound. I will also inquire with B&W as to their future plans with the Nautilus.

[audioqueso]

Nah, you could get away and power it with a Pioneer A/V receiver.




Just kidding! lol

[Race Car Driver]

Well..... all amplifiers sound the same... and a watt is a watt.......................... 8O

[caleb]

Well..... all amplifiers sound the same... and a watt is a watt.......................... 8O

And a watt is a What?????

LOL

[Jeff]

Fat Cat, regarding a future center speaker. If you decide to go with The Nautilus. I would forgo the center speaker and wait until your new Nautilus is broke in. At that point, I would borrow a center speaker from your dealer.

Given your consideration of speakers, I would think your HT processor is more than adequate. Imaging shouldn't be a problem without the center channel. With no other speaker matching the Nautilus aesthetics, serious consideration should be given to bypassing the center. Just imagine a 60 inch plasma tv with The Nuatilus on both sides! It would be a beautiful thing!
A center channel seems unnecessary both functionally and aesthetically.

Jeff

[fatcat]

Jeff -- interesting point. The HTM1D is a beast of a center speaker, but sonically and visually completely different from the Nautilus. There is no question that the best look would be the two Nautilus with two SCMS unobtrusively hanging on the back side walls.

However, I have experimented with altering the surround mix (in my current set-up with a McIntosh MX-135) to reduce the weight on the center speaker, but the reality is that there is a difference. Still, considering music is far more important to me than movies, I should probably forgoe a center speaker and see how it all sounds.

I still think the whole notion of the Nautilus is nuts, considering the rarity and complexity of these speakers, but life is short.

[Joey_V]

...but life is short.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Life has its priorities and I feel that as long as you arent circumventing Priority #1, then you're welcome to have your cake and eat it, too.

Priority 1 - Take care of yourself and your family.
Priority 2 - Get super speakers.
Priority 3 - Give us a review of said speakers... i.e. the Snails.

:T

[akhter]

I have been planning to upgrade to the 802D or 800D, but am in the rare position of having a wife pushing me for the Nautilus (the snail). It's simply a dramatic piece of sculpture, even if you never turn it on, and is probably the most extraordinary speaker ever made from a design point of view. My concern is whether its sound measures up to its unusual form, and how it compares to B&W's more recent designs (800D, for example). Another concern is how it will blend with a center speaker, and which one would work (HTM1D?). We are 90% music listeners, so the surround sound considerations are not as crucial. We also have plenty of space, although the acoustics are average and difficult to improve.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Are we nuts?

;x( ;x( ;x( ;x( ;x( ;x( ;x( ;x( ;x( ;x(
Snails...just the thought sends shivers down my spine. There was the matrix, then the Nautilus and then the 800 series, but only one snail. I would actually pay to demo those speakers (give them a hug after words).

Ok...I'll stop before I embarass myself any further...
;x( ;x( ;x( ;x( ;x( ;x( ;x( ;x( ;x( ;x(

[Kobus]

Just in case there might be somebody that does not know what this masterpiece looks like.

[RebelMan]

My concern is whether its sound measures up to its unusual form, and how it compares to B&W's more recent designs (800D, for example).
...
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Are we nuts?

There was a report published about a year ago ranking the top fifty (or so) mostly reference quality loudspeakers. The Wilson Alexandria X-2 came in at number one. I don't recall exactly where in the top ten the B&W 800D landed but I do recall it being listed a notch or two above the Nautilus.

I suppose this means the Nautilus II will need to be comprised of nothing but diamond drivers to retake the crown! :E

[Ade]

There was a report published about a year ago ranking the top fifty (or so) mostly reference quality loudspeakers. The Wilson Alexandria X-2 came in at number one. I don't recall exactly where in the top ten the B&W 800D landed but I do recall it being listed a notch or two above the Nautilus.

I suppose this means the Nautilus II will need to be comprised of nothing but diamond drivers to retake the crown! :E

Damn, it's ugly; http://www.soundstagelive.com/factorytours/wilson_x2/

[WI Rotel]

The nautilus is a sculpture that happens to radiate great sound, not the other way around. To tell the difference between it and the 801 you would probably have to be an elephant or a bat. I did audition them while stationed in Germany. Of course the sound is spectacular, but no better than the other 801's. By the way, personally, I think they are quite ugly but they would probably go quite well fit right in the Tony Montana school of decor:rofl:

[Gump]

Damn, it's ugly; http://www.soundstagelive.com/factorytours/wilson_x2/

Ade,
Yea, I think I saw one of those in an old episode of "Lost In Space" :lol: .

Fatcat,
To Snail or not to Snail....Think of all the interesting conversations they'll generate when you have guests over 8) .

[Andrew M Ward]

I listened to a pair of Snails in Dallas TX, in a retail environment and they sounded as good as anything I've ever heard, diamond tweeters or not, the speaker is amazing.

They have: 6 Classe’ CA-M400’s and one CA-2200 powering them

Each driver had a cam400 and the tweeters shared the ca2200
It’s nice, I suggest you have a listen if you get a chance…

[greggz]

There was a report published about a year ago ranking the top fifty (or so) mostly reference quality loudspeakers. The Wilson Alexandria X-2 came in at number one. I don't recall exactly where in the top ten the B&W 800D landed but I do recall it being listed a notch or two above the Nautilus.

If I recall that was from a German publication called "Audio" and the X2 ($125,000) was #1 and the 800D ($20,000) was #2. Someone had posted a scan of the list here in the forum but it appears to be gone now. I think the "snails" were #4 but I'm not certain.

[RebelMan]

I heard that a gentleman in California has SEVEN Nautili and TWENTY EIGHT Classe' CA-M400's driving them. Now that is something to ;x(

[Indytown]

I heard that a gentleman in California has FIVE Nautili and TWENTY Classe' CA-M400's driving them. Now that is something to ;x(

From the picture does the Snail have a ceramic mid-range? - Indy

[VictorHRS]

If I recall that was from a German publication called "Audio" and the X2 ($125,000) was #1 and the 800D ($20,000) was #2. Someone had posted a scan of the list here in the forum but it appears to be gone now. I think the "snails" were #4 but I'm not certain.

Actually in german Audio´s list, the Nautilus are no longer listed. When they were, they received 99 points. For reference, the top speaker is WA Alexandria X2 with 109 points, followed by Focal Grande Utopia Be 104, Wilson Audio Watt / Puppy 7 + Watch Dog 103, Sonus Faber Stradivari Homage 102, Burmester B 100 102, Canton Vento Reference 1 101, B&W 801 D 101, B&W 800 D 101, Wilson Audio Watt/Puppy 7 101. These are all the speakers they have in their Reference Class nowadays. Their High-End Class starts with B&W 802D, with 99 points. :T

And I had the oportunity to hear the Nautilus again at my dealer today, simply amazing!!!!!! ;x( They were being driven by one Jeff Rowland 304 each, eletronics were top of the line Meridian. These speakers are pure art.....

[RebelMan]

Victor, that is the list I was referring to. Do you have a copy available to post? Like greggz mentioned it is no longer available on this forum.

[VictorHRS]

RebelMan, there you go:

http://rapidshare.de/files/27558801/aud0606_p0230_Bestenliste.pdf.html

It´s a monthly list that comes with Audio german magazine. It 1000 components. Another german magazine, Stereoplay, runs a similar list too. Very interesting.

[NMG]

I heard the snails once and they were stunning. If you can afford them, I say go for it!

[Race Car Driver]

I heard that a gentleman in California has FIVE Nautili and TWENTY Classe' CA-M400's driving them. Now that is something to ;x(

So what your telling me is that guy doesn't have any money and is scraping to get by..... :lol:





Man, can only imagine...

[RebelMan]

So what your telling me is that guy doesn't have any money and is scraping to get by..... :lol:

Well, from what I was told he is gainfully employed and may just be one of my bosses!!! Of course that would put him pretty high up on the totem pole. So high up in fact that I don't even know his name. OUCH!

Man, can only imagine...

I heard that.

[RebelMan]

RebelMan, there you go:

http://rapidshare.de/files/27558801/aud0606_p0230_Bestenliste.pdf.html

It´s a monthly list that comes with Audio german magazine. It 1000 components. Another german magazine, Stereoplay, runs a similar list too. Very interesting.

EUREKA! Thanks Victor!

[alebonau]

Melbournians will remember one of the city department stores actually had the snails in a glass box outside demo rooms. Pure sacreliege ! it was bad enough parked outside the bose and HTIB demo rooms, let alone in a glass box.

not sure if they were fully working specimens or just mock-ups, empty snail shells. They eventually dissapeared. Who knows where they went. maybe one of the teenage shop assistant kids who work there took them home becasue they looked cool ! hehe

anyway thats the closeset I ever got to the snails. would be awesome to have a listen to them in a decent setup I reckon.

[beehive]

Russ -- I would love to see that review if you can find it. Thank you all for your comments. I agree about the "Snail" term, but the reality is that if I posted using only the name "Nautilus," many readers would not understand to what I was refering.

I will be traveling for a bit but will post once I have an opportunity to compare the sound. I will also inquire with B&W as to their future plans with the Nautilus.

hi, just a thought...dont you guys think they were acoustically design
like a COCHLEA? its the snail like thing in the inner ear? 8O

Some ANATOMY here....

[NonSense]

Theil/"Small" might suggest that it's an infinite baffle.

[sikoniko]

I heard steve ballmer (microsoft) has 7 for his 7.1 system.

[RebelMan]

I heard steve ballmer (microsoft) has 7 for his 7.1 system.

My source wasn't certain if the gentleman was with IBM (my employer) or Microsoft. If you heard that it was Steve Ballmer then I think that is the same guy my source was thinking, he couldn't remember his name either. UNREAL! My respect for Steve just went up a notch. LOL

[RebelMan]

From the picture does the Snail have a ceramic mid-range? - Indy

I am not sure. There is some speculation to this but I haven't found anything to confirm it. B&W refers to it as "flat-fronted lower midrange driver". Anyone else?

[RNKC]

I am incredibly envious of anyone who can:

1) Buy The Nautilus
2) Buy all those amps necessary to drive them!

So hats off to you fatcat! And whatever you do, keep the wife! :W

I read somewhere that with The Nautilus, you don't have to toe them in as much / at all. i.e. You can place them with the faces in line and the imaging is still supposed to be perfect.

It's interesting that The Nautilus hasn't been updated with diamond everything, let alone tweeter. Then again, perhaps it's just so good that it doesn't need updating.