B&W N805 vs....
Posted by: Boekster on 27 July 2003
Hi,
I'm currently looking for a new set up and a came across the B&W Nautilus 804 loudspeakers. I dragged my jaw out of the store, leaving a nice, clean stripe on the floor. I was stunned, and the most accurate districption is arguably: In Love. Biggest problem was, my set wasn't capable of driving the N804, in terms of quality. So I went searching for a newe stereo set. In first instance, I went to my local hi-fi store to listen to the Arcam A85 and CD72T. Not knowing I would be pleasantly surprised.
The salesman had an Naim set present, and while it was driving a set of Allae, which were certainly not my taste. I did like the sound, though the Allae sounded 'dull' (no discussions please
). Since B&W wasn't sold at the store, I decided to head to a different store, with the set in mind.
The next test was the Naim set (NAP180, would have been a NAP200 if they had that, NAC202, CD5) on the N804. Stunned again! Marvelous sound! I also tried the 805 Sig, but I missed some bass, so i sticked with the 804's. I also tried the Arcam set, but it wasn't even near the Naim set, even with a P75 and A85 in bi-amp situation. It was crushed even worse when the flatcap2 kicked in. The Naim set won the draw bij far.
Next tiem I tried the FMJ series. Closer to the Naim set, but still not what I was looking for. I missed the detail of the Naim, so I still sticked with Naim.
A fewe months passed since a had my last listening session, and I was getting a bit more open minded about the speakers. The only ones I heard were the N804, N805 sig (and N803, but I hated that for some strange reason), and a set of Audio Physic Spark III's lately. I had no comparisson, because it wasn't at the dealer that sold B&W. But now I intend to listen to some different sets of speakers, in the same class.
Since the set has actually been chosen, (that will be the Naim set I described earlier, NAP200, NAC202, CD5) I wanted your advice on a nice set of speakers. Some demands:
- Floorstanders, I like some bass.
- Not to large, I don't have a lot of room. Especially depth is a critical factor. 50cm is about all I can spare.
- Maximum cost of 4000 Euro's.
- I like detail, dynamics, a fair amount of bass, and I want the music to come alive!
My taste is vary varying, and I listen to all kinds of music, including pop, rock, light metal, celtic, classical.
So I'd like to hear all of your opinions, criticism, advice and tastes!
Thanks
.
Well, darn, I accidentily mistyped my title! Should have been N804, oh well
...
[This message was edited by Boekster on SUNDAY 27 July 2003 at 18:27.]
I'm currently looking for a new set up and a came across the B&W Nautilus 804 loudspeakers. I dragged my jaw out of the store, leaving a nice, clean stripe on the floor. I was stunned, and the most accurate districption is arguably: In Love. Biggest problem was, my set wasn't capable of driving the N804, in terms of quality. So I went searching for a newe stereo set. In first instance, I went to my local hi-fi store to listen to the Arcam A85 and CD72T. Not knowing I would be pleasantly surprised.
The salesman had an Naim set present, and while it was driving a set of Allae, which were certainly not my taste. I did like the sound, though the Allae sounded 'dull' (no discussions please
). Since B&W wasn't sold at the store, I decided to head to a different store, with the set in mind.The next test was the Naim set (NAP180, would have been a NAP200 if they had that, NAC202, CD5) on the N804. Stunned again! Marvelous sound! I also tried the 805 Sig, but I missed some bass, so i sticked with the 804's. I also tried the Arcam set, but it wasn't even near the Naim set, even with a P75 and A85 in bi-amp situation. It was crushed even worse when the flatcap2 kicked in. The Naim set won the draw bij far.
Next tiem I tried the FMJ series. Closer to the Naim set, but still not what I was looking for. I missed the detail of the Naim, so I still sticked with Naim.
A fewe months passed since a had my last listening session, and I was getting a bit more open minded about the speakers. The only ones I heard were the N804, N805 sig (and N803, but I hated that for some strange reason), and a set of Audio Physic Spark III's lately. I had no comparisson, because it wasn't at the dealer that sold B&W. But now I intend to listen to some different sets of speakers, in the same class.
Since the set has actually been chosen, (that will be the Naim set I described earlier, NAP200, NAC202, CD5) I wanted your advice on a nice set of speakers. Some demands:
- Floorstanders, I like some bass.
- Not to large, I don't have a lot of room. Especially depth is a critical factor. 50cm is about all I can spare.
- Maximum cost of 4000 Euro's.
- I like detail, dynamics, a fair amount of bass, and I want the music to come alive!
My taste is vary varying, and I listen to all kinds of music, including pop, rock, light metal, celtic, classical.
So I'd like to hear all of your opinions, criticism, advice and tastes!
Thanks
.Well, darn, I accidentily mistyped my title! Should have been N804, oh well
...[This message was edited by Boekster on SUNDAY 27 July 2003 at 18:27.]
Do you have a link to the specifications and some pics? I'm curious .
.I'm afraid you can forget about Neat, Boekster.
There's hardly any Neat dealer in Holland, let alone any dealer that also has Naim in tha house. So, that makes auditioning pretty hard.
By the way, you could save yourself a lot of money, because... I saw that Audiohuis in your town has a pair of ex-demo Xanadu DS14's for sale for 900,- Euro.
In my opinion they are excellent!
The look great in their black glossy lacquer.
They're tall, slim floorstanders, they're easy to drive and most important, they work wonderfully with Naim equipment!
If the dealer still has 'em, you might wanna give 'em a try!
I once had the DS14's, and quickly regretted that I sold them.
Here's a picture of the Xanadu's
regards,
Alco
There's hardly any Neat dealer in Holland, let alone any dealer that also has Naim in tha house. So, that makes auditioning pretty hard.
By the way, you could save yourself a lot of money, because... I saw that Audiohuis in your town has a pair of ex-demo Xanadu DS14's for sale for 900,- Euro.
In my opinion they are excellent!
The look great in their black glossy lacquer.
They're tall, slim floorstanders, they're easy to drive and most important, they work wonderfully with Naim equipment!
If the dealer still has 'em, you might wanna give 'em a try!
I once had the DS14's, and quickly regretted that I sold them.
Here's a picture of the Xanadu's
regards,
Alco
I actually placed the Forests on my list . They look good, and I heard some promissing esperiences.
Dynaudio is not exactly my taste, so i'll skip those (at least, for the audiences). The Countours won't fit the bill (the 3.4's), and the 1.4's, I don't think they'll have the same bass response as the N804, since they are standmounts.
I also got the tip to listen to Thiel. Does anyone have some comment on that? Tips ons models wich I should try (within my list of demands ofcourse).
Regards.
. They look good, and I heard some promissing esperiences. Dynaudio is not exactly my taste, so i'll skip those (at least, for the audiences). The Countours won't fit the bill (the 3.4's), and the 1.4's, I don't think they'll have the same bass response as the N804, since they are standmounts.
I also got the tip to listen to Thiel. Does anyone have some comment on that? Tips ons models wich I should try (within my list of demands ofcourse).
Regards.
quote:
Originally posted by AndrewThomas about what makes for a small room:
In short I'd say anything where the width and length dimensions are less than 10 feet. The problems are worse when the dimensions are the same (length==width(==height)).
I'm going to stick my neck out here and give two rules for people to contradict
1. Anything where you can't have at least two feet to the wall for each speaker (applies to side walls for naim (because of their design); side and rear wall's for all other speakers).
2. Anything where the 1st reflection path length (off a wall) is less than 10 feet greater than the direct path from the speaker.
If you're violating rule #1 watch out for bass boast.
If you're violating rule #2 high frequency reflections will upset your imaging.
Andrew,
Sorry to be dull, but I'm having trouble grasping #2. Is the direct path that to the listening position and the reflection path is somewhat behind that, say the wall or window behind it? If not, I'll need a fuller explanation.
SAS
Alright! Today I went listening agian, and I started with a B&W N802 hooked on a NAIT5 and CD5. Amazing! The Nait 5 performs great, even with a bog one like the N802. I wouldn't have tried it myself, but it works perfectly .
But my session: I put Naim against Primare and Musical Fidelity. The Primare set was close, but it wasn't as 'present' as the Naim. A bit to much on the background, and not as open. Musical Fidelity just sounded plain dull, so I only listened to it for about two tracks.
Naim it was! So decided to check some speakers. Amphion, for one, was on the list. Xenons to be exact. They sounded great, more detail, more bass, but to much high and mid, and thus it sounded a bit unbalanced. They probably aren't, but that's the only way i can put it. The I tried some Credo's, just for fun. They did sound nice, but not nearly as pleasant as the N804's. Then some Allae's to compare the Credo's with, but that was a bit 'duller'. Dry. Detail's great, but I'm missing some dynamics. Then I tried some N803's wich are potential candidates. They seem to be built for my most used music style, rock and light metal (heavy is ok too, for the speakers I mean ). When I had first tried them, they sounded inferior to the N804. Why? Bacause I listened to it as a bigger N804. It isn't. It's a completety different speaker, and it doesn't like all kinds of music. I liked it this time, probably even better than the N804, but it does depend on the music style. For now, I'm still in doubt, but I'll wait and see what happens when the money's in, and what the other brands'll do. I still have to listen to Audio Physic (probably will be the Tempo III JE), Totem Forest and Thiel CS1.6. We'll see what happens then .
.But my session: I put Naim against Primare and Musical Fidelity. The Primare set was close, but it wasn't as 'present' as the Naim. A bit to much on the background, and not as open. Musical Fidelity just sounded plain dull, so I only listened to it for about two tracks.
Naim it was! So decided to check some speakers. Amphion, for one, was on the list. Xenons to be exact. They sounded great, more detail, more bass, but to much high and mid, and thus it sounded a bit unbalanced. They probably aren't, but that's the only way i can put it. The I tried some Credo's, just for fun. They did sound nice, but not nearly as pleasant as the N804's. Then some Allae's to compare the Credo's with, but that was a bit 'duller'. Dry. Detail's great, but I'm missing some dynamics. Then I tried some N803's wich are potential candidates. They seem to be built for my most used music style, rock and light metal (heavy is ok too, for the speakers I mean
). When I had first tried them, they sounded inferior to the N804. Why? Bacause I listened to it as a bigger N804. It isn't. It's a completety different speaker, and it doesn't like all kinds of music. I liked it this time, probably even better than the N804, but it does depend on the music style. For now, I'm still in doubt, but I'll wait and see what happens when the money's in, and what the other brands'll do. I still have to listen to Audio Physic (probably will be the Tempo III JE), Totem Forest and Thiel CS1.6. We'll see what happens then .