B&W Nautilus 805 vs KEF LS50 with UnitiQute 2

Are you buying a new UQ2 or do you have that already?

If you are buying it, then would the difference in price allow you to get the UnityLite instead?  If you liked the presentation of the 805s, that could well be the option to go for.

Have a look at reviews of the 805 and you'll see them being used with Brystons and Mark Levinsons. I'd give them a miss and get something nice and easy to drive that the Qute won't struggle with.

The N805s can be troublesome to drive. The later models were made easier to drive, as well as easier to manufacturer, until the tweeter went diamond, but then the price jumped.

Anyway do they come with the dedicated stands? Still a great bargain for a great speaker & worth some good amplification.

Buy the Nautilus 805's. They are the only B&W i have ever liked and they formed the basis of an incredible system i had some 10 years ago. I used them in an all vinyl rig, LP12/Ittok/Klyde/72/140, and they were stonkingly good. Consider that you need the matching stands if they don't come with them, which suit sonically and visually. HNE also made custom granite stands for them that worked well too.

Your Qute will make a good stab at driving them, mine used to drive my Ovators every now and then, but i would look to the future and maybe add a Nap100 or similar to get more from the speakers. Normally i wouldn't recommend jumping at a bargain for bargains sake, but at that price they are a steal, mine were over two grand 10 years ago. More importantly however, i still think they are a fine loudspeaker regardless of price.

I agree with Gary

at the price you won't regret it and may be the only speaker you ever need.

How do I know this? Well I own the later 805S version for the last 5 years.

I believe the review of the N805 in question was the Stereophile review in '99 http://www.stereophile.com/con...5-loudspeaker-page-3 But a great review, particularly the measurements section.

I have had my N805s in Cherry, on the B&W stands (filled with aqua-gravel) for over 10 years, and never fail to please. Would only change them for 802s or 803s!

At that price you could always get them, use them for a while, then sell them on without loss.

Simon

No Stands included 

My thinking is - i'll go with the UQ2, if need more power go for NAP100 - as dont need the CD as i have a superb SACD - plus the response from other members is overall positive - so inclined to purchase them - always have the option to sell them for a profit as similar speakers are fetching £800 plus on ebay.co.uk, US$1800 ebay.com

having read the replies i'm inclined to go for them, with the option to make a profit later - 

i took the precaution of putting a deposit on them while i decided the best course of action - looking at the replies - i will purchase them and use them, but may list them on ebay with a view that if they sell for the right price make a tidy profit and upgrade to the NAP100 - and if they dont make reserve got some great speakers

There's a pair of Partington Super Dreadnought stands on eBay at present, from a guy selling a ND5 XS, XP5 XS, ProAc speakers & a oak rack. These would work with the N805s if you can't get the B&W ones

This thread should be in the Hi-Fi Corner, but lots of replies anyways 

The LS50 are not exactly super efficient either. But they do sound incredible at the end of the right amplification. I've never been the biggest B&W fan, nor do I know the specs of the 805s, but for the price and the willingness of the dealer to part with them, they might be the better deal. Just ensure they are in great shape.

Ultimately YOUR ears should be the final decision. I suggest you go back to the dealer, pick one (Naim) amp and listen to both. Any good dealer should be able to do this very easily. 

Arun

Another way of looking at this might be that you can always sell the B&Ws later and have more than enough money for a used pair of LS50s, if you feel like second-guessing your choice.

I'm not a big B&W fan, but the LS50s are on my short list, sounding excellent in the right room on relatively powerful electronics.

Thank you for all the replies - decided to do the following:

Use the UQ2 with a Nap100 run 2m Chord Epic Twin Speaker Cable

Initially use the 805's, then going to audition the Guru QM10, Junior and KEF LS50's

favouring the QM10's as speaker positioning favours my set up.

Just curious.....how went then the N805 with the unitiqute 2 stand alone without the nap 100 ? I am going to have the same setup i own the N805 and just bought the uq2 but had not tried yet ....to busy right now 

I've got the juniors and have run them on a uq2, a nap100 and my current sn2 and they are superb little speakers.  I will upgrade next year for a set of floorstanders but I will be very sorry to see them ho.

I didnt get what speakers a u using now with th uq2 if not the 805

I haven't tried the UQ2 without the NAP100 - The UQ2 and NAP100 really make the 805's sing - so good in fact that i have shelved the idea of changing the speakers for the moment, as i would really need to go to Focal 1008BE (£3000+) etc to gain any real sound improvement especially as i don't work them hard. Instead going to go for a UnitiServe next.

staying with the 805's and instead going to get a UnitiServe to complement my system.

Am I missing something

did you listen to them both?

which one did you like better?

Ok thanks