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B&W Speaker Score!

I have a pair of B&W 802 S2 that I like but have had the upgrade bug for a while.  A recent purchase of a pair of Thiel CS-5 fell through so I kept on looking for something interesting and a good deal.  I stumbled across a pair of B&W Nautilus 802 only a few hours away- the final purchase price is $2K.   The seller provided lots of detailed pics and they look great.  The only issues are one of the tweeters is dented (I just purchased a new one for $150) and there are no grilles, which isn't a deal breaker for me as I remove them anyways. 

I'm pretty excited to get them home and see how they sound with my Threshold S500/II and newly acquired Parasound P5.  I just wanted to share my find- the timing could not be better as it takes a bit of the sting out of tax day.

Cheers.
dastro
gregkohanmim
153 posts
 
Dastro - You undoubtedly got a great deal on those speakers but I'm really perplexed as to why they are sounding so bad for you.  I'm very familiar with the 802s so based on your assessment I immediately suspected that they were being underpowered so I looked up your amp (that I'm not familiar with) and it's a beast and should be completely up to the task.  One online review literally says "The S/500 simply dominates any speaker it drives." which is exactly what the larger nautilus speakers require.

Given the combo of that amp and the 802's, your pant legs should literally be flapping in the bass at high volumes.

So I wonder what's going on?  I would think that placement would have some tangible effect but not so dramatically that it would cause the problem that you're describing.

If possible, you should try to verify that the LF crossovers are OK.  I once drove my 800s so hard and for so long that the massive resisters on the LF crossover boards literally melted down and the whole units needed to be replaced (thankfully B&W stocks and offers these to the end consumer).

Sounds to me that there must be something wrong with the 802s.

Hopefully you can investigate and solve the problem- even if you need to invest a bit more in them, you're still ahead of the game if you can get them sorted out at the price you initially paid.

Greg

dastro OP
42 posts
 
Dastro - You undoubtedly got a great deal on those speakers but I'm really perplexed as to why they are sounding so bad for you.  I'm very familiar with the 802s so based on your assessment I immediately suspected that they were being underpowered so I looked up your amp (that I'm not familiar with) and it's a beast and should be completely up to the task.  One online review literally says "The S/500 simply dominates any speaker it drives." which is exactly what the larger nautilus speakers require.

Given the combo of that amp and the 802's, your pant legs should literally be flapping in the bass at high volumes.

So I wonder what's going on?  I would think that placement would have some tangible effect but not so dramatically that it would cause the problem that you're describing.

If possible, you should try to verify that the LF crossovers are OK.  I once drove my 800s so hard and for so long that the massive resisters on the LF crossover boards literally melted down and the whole units needed to be replaced (thankfully B&W stocks and offers these to the end consumer).

Sounds to me that there must be something wrong with the 802s.

Hopefully you can investigate and solve the problem- even if you need to invest a bit more in them, you're still ahead of the game if you can get them sorted out at the price you initially paid.

Greg
Hi Greg,
Thanks for taking the time and your response.  Yea, I'm not sure what's going.  Bass wise, at least in the specs, the Matrix 802 SII with the Anodyne Bass Filter goes deeper at higher dbs- this may result in the bass sounding leaner.  My amp is definitely up to driving these as needed.  It's the treble that is ultimately unlistenable, at least to my ears.  The very top end seems shrill, piercing, and vastly exaggerated.  If it were more of a subtle extension, then one would think cabling or equipment changes would help, but there's no way cables or even a different amp would reduce the issue to a great enough extent.  The one tweeter is dented, but I really can't hear a difference from the other one. 

I auditioned them during purchase with Prima Luna tube amps and they sounded bright with them as well, but I thought  it was definitely the rooms terrible acoustics (concrete basement, exposed concrete floors, mostly bare block walls).  Based on the price, I knew I was buying them anyways as I would have no issue of selling them. 

Once I install the new tweeter I'll see if that helps, at least with that speaker.  If not, then I'll let someone else have fun with them.

Thanks again.
sfall
346 posts
 
I was going to tell you how those speakers sound, but every time I do, I seem to start a war. I had the same speakers. Check to make sure all of the bass drivers are working because they blow very easily. Also check all of the screws. They have a tendency to work themselves loose.

My advice would be to make sure the speakers are in good working order and sell them. You can't fix them. Any money you put into them will be wasted. Its not you're amp. Pass is one of the better matches for those speakers.
dastro OP
42 posts
 
I was going to tell you how those speakers sound, but every time I do, I seem to start a war. I had the same speakers. Check to make sure all of the bass drivers are working because they blow very easily. Also check all of the screws. They have a tendency to work themselves loose.

My advice would be to make sure the speakers are in good working order and sell them. You can't fix them. Any money you put into them will be wasted. Its not you're amp. Pass is one of the better matches for those speakers.
Hi sfall,
Wars are necessary from time to time :-).  Please tell me your opinion!  The fact you "had" them tells me you didn't love them.

I've checked everything, all ok.  Yea, my Threshold sounds perfect mated to the Matrix 802 S2.  I love all my electronics, I don't feel like swapping out everything to try to make a speaker work.  I know some do, but no thanks.
rhljazz
1,253 posts
 

Are the speakers bi-wired or single wired?  If single wired what jumpers are you using?  N802's are less aggressive single wired to the bottom terminals and using the B&W supplied jumpers.

The speakers should be aimed such that the outside of each of your shoulders is the target.  Too much on axis will be bright.

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