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Nautilus owners upgrade to what?

Hello all, just wondering anyone who has owned B&W Nautilus and sold them for something else that they liked better. I see people here selling their B&W so there must be something they are trading upt to. Every dealer who sells B&W invariably points me to B&W. These dealers also sell: Thiel, ProAc, Monitor Audio, Paradigm, NHT, Wharfdale, DynAudio.
As one B&W dealer told me, once people hear B&W that's what they want to buy. He was saying if B&W started selling at Circuit City, he'd be out of business.
cdc
g_m_c
443 posts
 
I am heading to Meadowlark Audio.
purist
3 posts
 
I had a pair of N 802's that I thought the world of. . . until I heard them against the 800 signature. I can see why people would part with the lesser nautilus lines to upgrade to higher priced B&W's. I also run Avantgarde Uno's, and know that the Uno's "jump factor" outdoes the B&W's, even with a fraction of the amplifier power required for the nautilus.-- As with most things audio, (and primarily speakers) its really a matter of personal taste.
gregm
3,415 posts
 
Purist: when referring to "a fraction" of an amplifier, surely you mean in quantity --- not in quality :)! I remember the Uno being quite revealing on top & not easy to drive in the bottom!!

As to the B&W signature, I too was impressed by the sound -- and the price of the amplification required!
Upgrade to what? No dearth of choice: Kharma, Piega, Soundlab, Quads, Avalons... many others I never listened to. Back to your musical tastes & ears!
jeffloistarca
1,004 posts
 
If I owned traditional box speakers as opposed to planars, I'd likely lean towards B&W as well. I haven't heard the full line of Totem speakrs, but what I have heard sound damned fine to these ears. Smooth, mellow signature to them and the fit and finish are beyond reproach. Yep, try to listen to some Totems, I think you may find these a step up from B&W.
brianmgrarcom
1,317 posts
 
I agree with Samski that this can be as much as personal taste as anything; B&W isn't a great seller because they are not good.

My first real taste of B&W's was back in 1997, they were the 801 series III, and I loved the sound.

I just purchased the 803's and I am very pleased and as was stated above, there is always the upgrade bug! If I had the dollars I would of loved to have went for the 802's.

I think it is a little foolish to cut down a good line of speakers, very good, because you have found another "sound" you prefer, this is not directed to the original poster.

System matching to your speakers can be critical as well. Someone could have a great pair of speakers and not like them but it could be an issue with a mis-match with the amp, etc.
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