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B&W 805 Nautilus for PC?

I picked up a used pair of 805 Nautilus at an estate sale for $500.  I could not test them and had to take a gamble.  My plan was to use them for my computer as I spend a lot of time working at my desk and wanted something better than my horrible Bose multimedia speakers.  I am in search of a good integrated amp but in the meantime I am using an old Denon 1908 receiver to run them.  They sound terrible.  I am not sure if it is the Denon or the speakers.  Is there a good integrated you would recommend that might make these things sing?


mobiusmu
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,203 posts
 
I suspect you should run them like burn in, I don’t think the denon receiver and your cable are the right one for the 805 ,silver are good for those speakers..clear day cables are silver affordable , to get the most out of it....get good receiver...
willemj
1,036 posts
 
Ignore the distractions here. Find out if the tweeters are working to find out if there is too little high or too much low, see what the speakers do in a different position, on tall stools and away from walls and surfaces, measure the response in that position and on your desk, and take it from there. In short, find the facts.
mobiusmu OP
19 posts
 
@willemj 
I am not sure how to measure the response but I will google it and try to measure them.

@erik_squires 
They are bi-wireable but I have them wired into the top post with a jumper.  I disconnected the jumpers and the tweeters are working.

I moved the speakers into the family room and replaced my KEF R300's with them and plugged them into my Sunfire TGA7401 and they sounded a little bit better but not as good as my KEF's.

I appreciate everyone's feedback!
willemj
1,036 posts
 
For measurement the best option is the free REW software and a calibrated microphone like the UMIK-1. That does not need to cost an arm and a leg. REW is not particularly user friendly, so you will have to spend a bit of time. If, as I suspect in a home office, you are using a computer as a source, you can equalize in software. And of course, when you are at it, you can also measure the system in the family room. If you are not using a computer there, you would need a mini dsp. Avoid equalizing above about 150-250 Hz.
willemj
1,036 posts
 
I meant, avoid equalizing above 150-250 Hz (i.e. the so called Schroder frequeency) for peaks (due to room modes).
In addiiton, however, you can also use the Equalizer Apo as a traditional tone control or even better as an imitation of the old Quad tilt control to change the tonal character by lifting or reducing the response over a longer part of the frequency response.
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