Snail Nautilus

[fatcat]

RNKC -- I inquired to B&W about the possibility of them updated the Nautilus with some of their latest diamond technologies etc.

Their response:

"Thank you for your enquiry. There are currrently no plans to change the Nautilus speaker in any way. "

[VictorHRS]

I have a friend that has been to the B&W factory and he told me that they had a large area in the plant that nobody could get into and see what they were doing. He inquired about it but they politely wouldn't tell him. He specullates that this is the place where the sucessor to The Nautilus is being designed.

[fatcat]

VictorHRS -- when was your friend at the factory? I find it difficult to believe that B&W will not update their prestige line, although perhaps they are working on something entirely different from the Nautilus.

[RNKC]

I guess when you think about it, B&W has something of a history of abandoning their ultra-high end products in favour of something new, as opposed to updating them.

Examples - Matrix 800 and the 808. Is the Nautilus next?

[Andrew M Ward]

I have a friend that has been to the B&W factory and he told me that they had a large area in the plant that nobody could get into and see what they were doing. He inquired about it but they politely wouldn't tell him. He specullates that this is the place where the sucessor to The Nautilus is being designed.

This is not correct

[sikoniko]

I believe the guy who developed the nautilus is no longer with b&w. that would be my guess on the reason why there are no changes to it.

[VictorHRS]

This is not correct

Why do you say that, Andrew? Can you share with us your correct infromations, since mine are not correct? I would appreciate that, since your post added nothing to the discussion.

fatcat, my friend was there in April. He told me this in between the lines, because he is my B&W dealer and would love to sell me the Snails, he knows I absolutely love these speakers.

RNKC, I think it's very likely, since it's been more than 12 years from its release to the market. Although there been reports saying that Nautilus is selling as good as it has been for the last decade, B&W can no longer claim that they are at the abolute top of cost no object speakers design. And I think that's something their marketing department would love to claim.

[Andrew M Ward]

Why do you say that, Andrew? Can you share with us your correct infromations, since mine are not correct? I would appreciate that, since your post added nothing to the discussion.

fatcat, my friend was there in April. He told me this in between the lines, because he is my B&W dealer and would love to sell me the Snails, he knows I absolutely love these speakers.

RNKC, I think it's very likely, since it's been more than 12 years from its release to the market. Although there been reports saying that Nautilus is selling as good as it has been for the last decade, B&W can no longer claim that they are at the abolute top of cost no object speakers design. And I think that's something their marketing department would love to claim.

No problem: I love them as well; I too would enjoy a pair.

1) A $40K speaker would never be compared to say a $250K Wilson, right? it's certainly not a cost no object speaker in that sense, although I think there was over 4 million in tooling, design and engineering spent to create the Naut-Snail...

... What the Snail provides is an active crossover quad amplified speaker at a fraction of the world market standard price ($150K and up) and will maximize performance in complex listening environments. Its price does not even bring it into the middle of the Wilson range for example... Yet it is consistently argued as one of the worlds best sounding speakers (and there are lots of very expensive speakers out there)

2) At the B&W facility in Worthing England there are dozens of "large areas" where the public tours and dealer tours cannot get access to, so assuming that Naut-Snails are being re-designed there is a presumption. Again, as open and friendly as B&W is - and willing to show the public their hard work and quality production - there are many areas where nobody gets to go.

3) B&W cannot improve the Naut-Snail at anywhere near the $40k price, it is as it shall remain (for a long time) and frankly does not need an improvement in my opinion...the retooling would be ridiculous

4) All of the Naut-Snails are basically hand made one at a time by a very small team, and can been seen right on the main floor frequently. The Naut-Snails still sell at a pace that keeps them back-ordered and quite busy.

5) The dealer tour was in June this year

[RebelMan]

All of the Naut-Snails are basically hand made one at a time by a very small team, and can been seen right on the main floor frequently. The Naut-Snails still sell at a pace that keeps them back-ordered and quite busy.

You're not kidding!

[VictorHRS]

No problem: I love them as well; I too would enjoy a pair.

Thanks for the info, Andrew! :T They also look good in white before being painted....

[Russ L]

3) B&W cannot improve the Naut-Snail at anywhere near the $40k price, it is as it shall remain (for a long time) and frankly does not need an improvement in my opinion...the retooling would be ridiculous

:amen: :amen: :amen:
Why change the Nautilus-Snail? Unless it was an improvement of the "snail" shape but I doubt thats needed. The snail shape gives the B&W Naut an advantage that no other speaker at any price can match unless they imitated the design exactly. Some speaker elements can't be improved! Sheer genius! ;x( -Russ

[Stevebez]

I think its a classic that should not be "improved"... like trying to touch up the mona lisa...

If they go for something as a new flagship they need to adopt a completely new design concept.

If I had the space and the resources I would love a pair ... even if it was just for a formal lounge and stereo only listening room....