Better B&W Matrix or Nautilus?

Speaking dollars only, an excellent condition used pair of Matrix speakers can be had for half their original list, or one-third what the equivalent Nautilus cost. So is $3500 for the N804 better than $1100 for a pair of M804s. Or $5000 for the N803 better than $1700 for the M803s Excellent used pairs are hard to find, so you will have to wait. A lot of the small M805s appear more often as do the very expensive 801s.

Having had a pair of 801 Matrix III's for 5 years and selling them for the Wilson Watt/Puppies 5.1's before the Nautilus 801 arrived, I would have opted for the new B&W's. The Nautilus are superior in efficiency, dynamics and imaging over the Matrix. The tweeter and midrange have been dramatically improved and the "polite sound" people criticized the original 801's of having is gone. I like my Wilson's, but the extra cost isn't worth the value associated with the Nautilus. By the way, I ran a Theta transport into an old Theta GenIII D/A through all Transparent Reference cable and interconnects into a Krell KRC-HR and a Krell FPB-300 amp.

The matrix bracing system has been carried over to the Nautilus line. The major improvements in the Nautilus series is the cabinent design and the tweeters. I have heard the N 801m 802, and 805 and was impressed with them all. However the original Maxtrix series are impressive in their own right. There is a big difference in price between the 2 series as you know so the best advice I could give is listen to both and decide for yourself if the improvements are worth the extra dough. Both lines have their benifits and whichever you choose you know you are getting a quality product. Good luck.

I have owned the following B&W's for extended periods in my own home in this order: 1.) B&W DM640 2.) B&W Matrix 802S3 3.) B&W Matrix 804 4.) B&W Nautilus 804 5.) B&W Nautilus 805 I by far enjoy the N805 the most. The N series is cleaner in the treble but I find the FST speakers to be a little forward sounding. The N805 is the best of both. Basically the old laid back matrix sound in the midrange with cleaner treble response. At the new price of $2000 for the N805 used M series are a tough sell - at least to me. Keep in mind I have a music only system.