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B&W Nautilus 800.....where's the bass?

Is it a well known fact that these speakers lack bass? I just bought them used...two years old....and am very dissappointed in the low end. My CDM 9 NT rears have more bass than these. No kidding. Is this a known problem with this speaker, or could there be something wrong? Since the 9's and the 800's are playing at the same time on the same system I do not think there is any need to list the equipment, but I will just in case it matters.
Sunfire Theatre Grand 2 processor ( all speakers are set to large)
Denon 3910 CDP
Adcom 300 by 7 ( 800's are bi amped with four of the channels.....phase is correct)
speaker wire is 14 guage in a very thick outside jacket
Thanks for your help.
baffled
ozzy's avatar
ozzy
7,486 posts
 
Why would you buy a $16,000 speaker without listening to them first?
musicaudio's avatar
musicaudio
31 posts
 
I agree with JPPENN, unfortunately you can't get a pair of $16,000 reference speaker's to run with Adcom amplification. I tried doing what your doing, I had a McIntosh C200, B&W 802's, a Sony SCD-1 and I tried to cut a corner by running cheap amplification powered by B&K. Although B&K makes a good amp, to get excellent results, you do need something better. My recommnedation is to scale back on the 800's and get a pair of 801's or 802's and buy a better amp. McIntosh works great with B&W's. Thanks!
kevlarge's avatar
kevlarge
1 posts
 
I have a pair of N800's and using them with a pair of krell mda500's and with good quality recordings there is ample bass.I did find that before i got the mda500's the bass was much thinner when using cheaper inferior amplification.
poloman's avatar
poloman
96 posts
 
I have B&W Matrix 802 series 3 with a Classe amp and an ARC tube linestage. I get incredible bass and slam. Im very happy. And yes, the music touches my soul. Anyone in the Long Island area is welcome to come and take a listen.
puunda1
2 posts
 
I had a pair of N803 a few years ago. They were by far the most expensive speakers I'd ever owned (up till then). Me and my friend had a listen and both agreed the highs and mids were sensational. Imaging was uncanny, and probably still the best I've heard from a speaker. But both also agreed there was no bass at all. I under that the 803 is small, and perhaps I should've gone to the 802/1/0. However given the price of the N803 at the time, I was amazed anyone would buy them due to the lack of bass. I could've changed all my other equipment and moved them around etc, but I just ended up getting other speakers which were more suitable to me. Before everyone jumps on me for being deaf and stupid. I'm just saying this was my experience and what I think, you may disagree. But personally from the 803 experience, I would spend the same money for any given B&W 8XX and get some other speaker in the same price bracket. I like my bass and I think it's too much money to spend on speakers which don't have enough of it.
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