To any B&W Nautilus owners out there.
Posted by: CraigP on 12 September 2003
Just wondering if any Nautilus owners (I have a pair of 804s), have tried bi-wiring (cant afford bi-amping), and if so what the results were like (I know that this isn't recommended with Naim amps but have heard that the B&Ws may benefit from it).
If bi-wiring is not a good idea, has anybody replaced the supplied B&W terminal jumper cable with another speaker cable (NACA5 etc.), and what were the results.
Many thanks
Craig
If bi-wiring is not a good idea, has anybody replaced the supplied B&W terminal jumper cable with another speaker cable (NACA5 etc.), and what were the results.
Many thanks
Craig
Posted on: 12 September 2003 by Colin Lorenson
Craig,
I had 804's and trialled Chord Odyssey vs. NACA5 and preferred the former. A bit more detailed, clearer and better controlled but still with boogie.
My cables were made up by my dealer (Robert Ritchie) with Naim plugs on the amp end and two sets of some gold coloured banana plugs of a type that he favours on the speaker end. (the principle was like for like - Naim plugs for naim gear and gold plated plugs to B&W gold plated BWT terminals)
The link to the second set of terminals is about 6" long and is connected I think by solder hidden under a heat shrink outer sleeve.
It seems to work very well and now resides in my 802's.
This allows to do away with the B&W link cables. If you are using NACA5 I'm sure it would be beneficial to use NACA5 in the same configuration.
Colin Lorenson
I had 804's and trialled Chord Odyssey vs. NACA5 and preferred the former. A bit more detailed, clearer and better controlled but still with boogie.
My cables were made up by my dealer (Robert Ritchie) with Naim plugs on the amp end and two sets of some gold coloured banana plugs of a type that he favours on the speaker end. (the principle was like for like - Naim plugs for naim gear and gold plated plugs to B&W gold plated BWT terminals)
The link to the second set of terminals is about 6" long and is connected I think by solder hidden under a heat shrink outer sleeve.
It seems to work very well and now resides in my 802's.
This allows to do away with the B&W link cables. If you are using NACA5 I'm sure it would be beneficial to use NACA5 in the same configuration.
Colin Lorenson
Posted on: 12 September 2003 by Frank Abela
I should wait until after the HiFi show. Chord Co are going to unveil something new, exciting and expensive...
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
Posted on: 12 September 2003 by adamk
Looking forward to seeing what Chord Co unveil.
Although Naim don't support any sort of bi-wiring blah blah blah - Chord Co cables bi-wired definately have a synergy with Naim & B&W.
I run Chord 'Rumour' bi-wired into N803's through NAP135's.I can definately state that this was sonically superior to single run NACA5. I
Although Naim don't support any sort of bi-wiring blah blah blah - Chord Co cables bi-wired definately have a synergy with Naim & B&W.
I run Chord 'Rumour' bi-wired into N803's through NAP135's.I can definately state that this was sonically superior to single run NACA5. I
Posted on: 12 September 2003 by Frank Abela
Adam
By comparison to NACA5, I find that Rumour muddies the bass bigtime, ruining the timing in the process, although I admit I haven't tried biwiring it.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
By comparison to NACA5, I find that Rumour muddies the bass bigtime, ruining the timing in the process, although I admit I haven't tried biwiring it.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
Posted on: 12 September 2003 by Alex S.
When I had N805s they greatly benefitted from a second 250 (using DNM speaker wire which tightened up the bass a bit).
Posted on: 12 September 2003 by neil w
joolz
please describe shotgunned, im currently loaning a pair of 802 and driving them with a pair of 135s i do have another pair to add to the equation but wonder if the 2nd pair will be worth it or sell em to help pay for the 802s
by the way they are fucking stunning make my active sbls sound total shit!
neil
please describe shotgunned, im currently loaning a pair of 802 and driving them with a pair of 135s i do have another pair to add to the equation but wonder if the 2nd pair will be worth it or sell em to help pay for the 802s
by the way they are fucking stunning make my active sbls sound total shit!
neil
Posted on: 12 September 2003 by Dev B
quote:
Originally posted by neil w:
by the way they are fucking stunning make my active sbls sound total shit!
neil
Neil,
Active SBL's or NBL's should smoke B&W's. Are you sure your SBL's are working as they should?
regards
Dev
ps. Colin L is about to disagree....
Posted on: 13 September 2003 by Quads
Hello,
I have just recently acquired a pair of B&W 801 matrix with the Bi wire option.
Right now I'm using Monster Cable jumpers to good effect instead of attempting to Bi-Wire with my 135's.
Initially, I plugged the speaker wires into the bottom Bass terminals as usual. Then a friend said that there was word that you can get better sound by inserting the wires in a "diagonal" fashion i.e. the negative side of the wire into the lower left bass connector and the positive wire into the upper mid range/treble connector.
What I found is that the sound appreciably opens up. Better midrange, while still maintaining good integrated bass.
It's easy to to try and I feel it's quite close to bi wired performance.
Steve
I have just recently acquired a pair of B&W 801 matrix with the Bi wire option.
Right now I'm using Monster Cable jumpers to good effect instead of attempting to Bi-Wire with my 135's.
Initially, I plugged the speaker wires into the bottom Bass terminals as usual. Then a friend said that there was word that you can get better sound by inserting the wires in a "diagonal" fashion i.e. the negative side of the wire into the lower left bass connector and the positive wire into the upper mid range/treble connector.
What I found is that the sound appreciably opens up. Better midrange, while still maintaining good integrated bass.
It's easy to to try and I feel it's quite close to bi wired performance.
Steve
Posted on: 13 September 2003 by Tuan
quote:
Originally posted by mad max:
has anybody replaced the supplied B&W terminal jumper cable with another speaker cable
Try transparent audio cables. They are, maybe the best I have heard.
I use the Naim cable (cut 2 short pieces of right length, strip the wire at 2 ends) to replace those jumpers.
Posted on: 14 September 2003 by David Patterson
Try the F conection using Nac A5. Note no cable cut required for jump.Simply remove enough sheath , fold, solder banana on and use original endof length banana for other input. I find first take off best in mid treble.
Hope photo is clear enough.
Hope photo is clear enough.
Posted on: 14 September 2003 by Charlezz
"Active SBL's or NBL's should smoke B&W's"
You should be joking
I have listened to many speakers on my Naim amplication before buying a pair of 803, and there really, really better than SBL.... There are definetely not in same league....
NBL are better than 803 and 802, but there are more expensive too!!
Charles
You should be joking
I have listened to many speakers on my Naim amplication before buying a pair of 803, and there really, really better than SBL.... There are definetely not in same league....
NBL are better than 803 and 802, but there are more expensive too!!
Charles
Posted on: 14 September 2003 by Tuan
quote:
Originally posted by Charlezz:
"Active SBL's or NBL's should smoke B&W's"
You should be joking
I have listened to many speakers on my Naim amplication before buying a pair of 803, and there really, really better than SBL.... There are definetely not in same league....
NBL are better than 803 and 802, but there are more expensive too!!
Charles
I believe you. My Matrix 805 speakers sound very good already.
Posted on: 14 September 2003 by Colin Lorenson
Dev,
Colin L disagrees
Colin L disagrees
Posted on: 14 September 2003 by Colin Lorenson
quote:
Originally posted by Dev B:quote:
Originally posted by neil w:
by the way they are fucking stunning make my active sbls sound total shit!
neil
Neil,
Active SBL's or NBL's should smoke B&W's. Are you sure your SBL's are working as they should?
regards
Dev
ps. Colin L is about to disagree....
Dev,
Colin L disagrees
Posted on: 15 September 2003 by CraigP
Many thanks to everybody who replied to this thread, some interesting thoughts. I am especially grateful to David, as they say a picture paints a thousand words (and now i see how simple that F style connection is which i think i will try).
With regards to the Naim vs B&W speakers argument which seems to have been spawned, all i can say is that for my price point the Allaes came a close second, but they were second. The Nautilus just had an extra air of something fantastic about them, and i personally am a very happy bunny.
Kind regards
Craig
With regards to the Naim vs B&W speakers argument which seems to have been spawned, all i can say is that for my price point the Allaes came a close second, but they were second. The Nautilus just had an extra air of something fantastic about them, and i personally am a very happy bunny.
Kind regards
Craig
Posted on: 15 September 2003 by David Patterson
Craig, glad to be of help.
Jedster,
its all down to the style of banana plug. I think the ones i have are nordost .They are made of a thin piece of gold plate foil folded to create a pin shape. Where the speaker cable is connected is actually an open j shape. I will try and source one and post photo. Roughly £4 each.
David
Jedster,
its all down to the style of banana plug. I think the ones i have are nordost .They are made of a thin piece of gold plate foil folded to create a pin shape. Where the speaker cable is connected is actually an open j shape. I will try and source one and post photo. Roughly £4 each.
David
Posted on: 16 September 2003 by David Patterson
Here is a photo of the plug.It is a Nordost Z banana plug. Beware imitations. Sorry could not get closer, but plug is split up centre and as it is very thin material will spread to allow a thicker cable to be inserted. This is a particularly nice plug to use as it is slightly larger than the hole and is sprung loaded against the inner surface of the speaker connection thus giving a near 360 degree contact patch.
Posted on: 16 September 2003 by David Patterson
Here is a photo of the plug.It is a Nordost Z banana plug. Beware imitations. Sorry could not get closer, but plug is split up centre and as it is very thin material will spread to allow a thicker cable to be inserted. This is a particularly nice plug to use as it is slightly larger than the hole and is sprung loaded against the inner surface of the speaker connection thus giving a near 360 degree contact patch.
David
David
Posted on: 17 September 2003 by CraigP
Anybody know if there is a noticeable difference between using the F sytle speaker cable connection as opposed to making up a new set of terminal jumpers (it is easier obviously just to make up a new short length of cable than butcher my current length of speaker cable, but i would want to do it if it had more effect).
Posted on: 21 September 2003 by Ross1
I have 135's with Nautilus 803.
Initially, my N-803 were connected to a 250 with Monster cables (banana plugs). I have tried also NACA-5; but, at the time I preferred the Monster's.
With the 135's, my friend Manu (Montreal) suggested the NACA-5 (4 cables) with the F terminals. First, great improvement was with the 135's with any cable; it's true that the B&W needs power and the 135's deserves it.
Second, the NACA-5 (5 m.) gives real improvement over the Monster's.
Finally. the lenght of the cable is a factor of improvement too; I'm not a specialist in electronics but there was a real difference between 3M cables and 5M cables.
Ciao
Initially, my N-803 were connected to a 250 with Monster cables (banana plugs). I have tried also NACA-5; but, at the time I preferred the Monster's.
With the 135's, my friend Manu (Montreal) suggested the NACA-5 (4 cables) with the F terminals. First, great improvement was with the 135's with any cable; it's true that the B&W needs power and the 135's deserves it.
Second, the NACA-5 (5 m.) gives real improvement over the Monster's.
Finally. the lenght of the cable is a factor of improvement too; I'm not a specialist in electronics but there was a real difference between 3M cables and 5M cables.
Ciao