Incredible midrange clarity. Imaging and soundstage was the best. It brought to live my entire collection of CD's and LP's.

A little weak below 40hz. Took almost 3 months to get "completely" broken in.

In music, I found the speakers worked very well on my Sherbourn power amps. I found that on the correct equiptment, (TAG Mclaren AVR32EX) the bass got considerably tighter and much more articulate. Although deep bass was not apparent, the amount, at least in my room, seemed sufficient for classical or even acoustical recordings.

I found that the soundstage was enormous and the 804's were able to move large instruments with little effort and still maintain the fine details of string instruments.

In home theater, I found the match to the center was magnificent. Timber matching was exceptional and created the best home theater experince I've had without spending over $20k. I would recommend these speakers to anyone looking for a very muscial speaker that is not only beautiful, but can also perform as well.

Similar Products Used:

DM600s2 series, CDMNT series, Magnepan 1.6 and 3.6, Definative Technology BP2002tl and BP3000tl, Boston Acoustics VRM 50's and 60's, and Meridian DSP 5000's, 6000's and yes even the 8000's.

Clarity, accuracy

Low end warmth

There is no question that these speakers are high quality. Sophisticated sound reflects a sophisticated look. The high and mid ranges are extremely accurate and precise. I am debating if the very high notes are exagerrated or if they are actually real. When I first received them I wanted to send them back. I had a pair of 640's which had a much different lower end sound. The N804's have such a tight bass response that at first I found them "non-musical". BUT, they do improve with time. I have approx. 30 hours on them at higher than average listening levels and I can hear them "loosen" up a bit.

Unforgiving of equipment and recordings. Time will tell if I can live with the low end. I have a large room (14 ft ceilings, 600 sqft floor).

I would like to know if anyone has gone to the N803's and found a significant difference.

Running ROTEL 1080 Amp, 995 pre-amp, 855 CD and real 12 guage cables.

Ordered my 804s late last week, expect to recieve by early next week. Sound during demo was SUPERB. Plan to also get a Bryston AMP + Preamp, in a few weeks. For now, my SONY AMP will have to do.

Everything, worth every nickle and dime.

Break in period, This isnt't a weakness, everything needs to break in.

These speakers I ran across a few times, hooked up to many different choices. I heard them in NYC hooked up to CLasse' audio which I’m very familiar with and owned.
I also heard them hooked up to Proceed and so on. I like to judge a system as a whole. It gets tricky when you try to judge one component at a time, because when you try to do that you might be making a big mistake, it can be something else within the system.
I have to say after so many years of this audiophile madness I can honesty say I have a very amazing set up.
To many times you hear I’m happy with this stuff and kick yourself in the mouth again, not here.

People at B&W are so helpful, Mike Sheenan (hope I spelt that right Mike) is a great guy and he would stay on the phone as long as he could.
Ok first off the best cables in the market for these guys are HarmonicTech, Not a small difference a big one And the only cables that are jaw dropping in my opinion are HarmonicTech. I had many come and go as far as cables and stereos.lol Ok I said cables? Lets go.
Cables- Straight Wire-Transparent-TARA-KIMBER-CARDAS-MONSTER-SYNERJESTIC- XLO-ACROTEC-AUDIOQUEST-Iox-and more trust me. lol
These cables (HarmonicTech) do make a great change. Speaker cables are the pro 9plus biwire 8’ inter connects are truth link 1 meter 2 pair, digital is on its way and that is the cyber link copper by Harmonic, power cords are XLO er10 and soon to come is the ac11 power cord from harmonic. I had cables costing much more so don’t pre judge this review to quickly upon price because you will get snagged on the price hype.
Well this about speakers so I must go on.
Bass- is tight magical and in the right room you will be pleased as long as its hooked up to a great system like Plinius which all I can say, I must have the most amazing synergy going on here. I had this system setup in two different sized rooms, one small one medium, and wouldn’t think for a minute to place this in a large room with a sub.
804s’ has the dynamics, just get a REL sub or a B&W sub if that makes the match.
I love REL subs.
Highs are as good as it gets as long as you have the whole system matched, which takes trail and error. After many years of losses and lessons this is a great lesson and a great match.
Highs will be awesome as long as you believe in room treatment, put that on your list, very important. I don't like to get crazy with that but hey you need that also.
I play many types of music on this system. I can play the worst recorded CD’s and get relaxed. Doors Led zeppelin Elton John to name a few.
And when I play audiophile CD’s wow.
My digital DAC I use is the THETA DAC dsp pro 3.
Just to name a few amps and preamps.
KRELL FPB 300 not worth a dime, KRELL kav 250 a Classe’ ca 100 amp great amp,Aragon 4004,Sim audio w3 (good amp)Sim audio p5 pre,KRELL KRC3 pre(good preamp)Placette passive and active,the passive is better, Virtual Mode passive preamp,McCormack tlc passive buffered pre,AudioResearch Ls3,Aragon 18k preamp I’m just wondering if that’s the right Model number its been so long, that’s the one with the penny and Giles volume control think I’m right. Conrad Johnson’s’ Premier 8a mono Blocks good for the winter. And the Rouge preamp the two thousand dollar one, Hey its hard to remember them all and its late tonight. I got bumped off so many times, Aol you stink.Rotel, 995 pre,Rotel,971 pre-Classe cp35 pre-Sonic Frontier sfL1, also the Sonic Fontier pre one and Sonic frontier amp one, CROWN Macro tech E, CROWN MICROTECH 1000, CROWN MACRO 1200, this stuff goes way back in time, and some old tubes from Scott. I also owned a CROWN preamp, got to go get that model number for my records.Where was I? wow….. ok just buy the damn speakers.
Just don’t buy them with an amp that has no balls I mean get a lot of current.
If you have the beans to go out and buy a whole new set up, Then try my set up it may be your last .
I’m very confident of having this stereo after what I just listed above. I know I left out some.
Twenty-three years of being an audiophile and its time to enjoy my CD’s.
I just listen for a system that can give me the most of tonality and the elusion and the most out of the recording.
Thank you B&W and PLINIUS and THETA and HARMONICTECH for being such a truthful product.
I’m a very satisfied customer.

Similar Products Used:

I have used similar products, Such as DYNAUDIO,MAGNEPAN,CELESTION,GERSHMAN ACOUSTIC,MARTIN LOGAN,PROAC,ALON,ZALATRON custom speaker co.,TANNOY,MIRAGE,SOUND DYNAMICS,VANDERSTIENS,SOLILOQUY and more. enough don't you think?

Neutral, unobtrusive sound

Cost, modest base

Replaced 15 year old JBLs and the difference is obvious. Best speakers I have ever owned by far. At first, wasn't getting most from them because of rest of stereo. Then I got new Rotel pre and power amps, and CD player along with Tara Prime and Reference cables. Now I have good enough electronics to really appreaciate them. They are such revealing speakers that they don't tolerate poor stereos!

With these speakers, you feel like you are in row 5, not up on stage with the musicians (this is nothing bad). There is absolutely no coleration or distortion, though some people might find them a little cold and some stereos will make them sound cold. I have heard warmer or sweeter systems - not sure which components make this so - but I like the neutral sound of these speakers. They are easy to listen to without fatige.

Incredible midrange clarity. Imaging and soundstage was the best.

Them healthy very sensitive to the remaining equipment

The bass is enough and tense, when used with appropriate cable ( i use the VDHull revolution).
I found the speakers worked very well on my Tag Mclaren power amps and pre Tag Mclaren AV32R.

I found that the soundstage was enormous and the 804's were able to move large instruments with little effort and still maintain the fine details of string instruments.

I think that it is very important the equipment and connection cables to obtain the sonic balance that the 804 are capable.

Similar Products Used:

Monitor Audio GR20,JMlab cobalto

The B&W Nautilus 804's have a very smooth and articulate sound. Incredible immaging and tight punchy bass. Clearity in the midrange is unprecedented.

These speakers are very revealing of bad recordings and equipment. They do need a sub for some music and definately if used for home theater.

Clearity, Detail, Immaging, Accuracy, Transparency... These are an amazing all around speaker. They have the most natural midrange(vocal and guitar) I've heard. The highs are live without being bright enough to cause fatigue, and the lows are tight and full. They are a bit picky about what equipment is driving them. Biamping them(one amp drives the mid and tweeter, the other drives the two woofers) definately helps you get more bass and better control. I have listened to my share of loudspeakers and never heard their equal.

Similar Products Used:

B&W Nautilus800, CDM, CDM NT, DM600, DM300 Series speakers, Martin Logan, Energy, Kef, Mission, and more...

Very natural and realistic midrange. Controlled and reasonably deep bass.

Could go a little deeper. Required spikes are hell on wood floors.

Listened to Mission, Magneplanar, Linn, Meadowlark, B&W and Sonus speakers in the 2500 - 4000 price range. Critical acclaim had me listening to the B&W 805 which were missing too much in the bass range. The B&W 804 came to the rescue.

The extreme high end is smooth but dynamic. In other words, the speaker has a high end but does not spit at you. The midrange was the most natural sounding I have ever heard. In large part that is what sold me. The Bass is articulate and full though it could go a bit deeper. Listen to classical music primarily - and the speaker does a good job of conveying sense of scale - be it a trio or an orchestra. A very good speaker - and a better value than the 805 in my opinion - but still pricey. Not for the heavy metal crowd, but overall highly recommended.

Similar Products Used:

Linn Sara

suprb design & build, imaging, detail retrieving, transparency

thin medium, lack of palpability & impact, bit of dryness

Had the chance to try these speakers at home during a couple of weeks.
My system is :
Jadis JD2 drive + Sonic Frontiers SF1 DAC
Gryphon Tabu
Fadel Art modulation, MIT speakers cable

Really impressed with the stunning build & finish ; superb pieces of "furniture". One could fall for it, even if it sounds stupid !
I found that these speakers (804) are a little "small" to fill correctly my listening room (around 40 square meters, high ceiling) : ie lack of impact and palpability of the sound.
The retailer decided to send me the bigger 803 ; in a way it worked : definite improvement on the previous criterias.
The sound remain of the same essence though : ie very detailed & quite analytical, with excellent imaging, and highly transparent.
But to my taste it lacks presence in the medium/bass, and as a result sounds quite "thin" with voices, acoustic guitar, ... Quite unforgiving of poor recordings.
The treble is a little forward too, though not overly agressively, and the bass is tight and agile but certainly not voluptuous.
Overall, I would say both model (804 and 803) are very technical and analytical pair of speakers, fantastically built, quite balanced and at ease with different kind of musics, but definitely lacking emotion (which I value above all as you will have probably understood by now!).