Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus 802 Speakers in Red Cherry

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General:

These are our favorite 802's, and the sweet spot in terms of price and performance. 

The new 802's are astronomically priced, the Diamond version is way too harsh for our ears, and the S version is not worth the extra dollars.

Hence this is the best pair to get.

We also have the original B&W shipping cartons to ship these anywhere within the lower 48 US states for a flat $800. If you're outside of this area please contact us for a quote as we ship worldwide. Local pickup and local courier options also available.

More from B&W:

Nautilus 802 Floorstanding Loudspeaker System
• The Nautilus 802 incorporates two bass drivers which allowed the engineers to design a narrower cabinet whilst maintaining the excellent performance of the Nautilus 801.
• The 802 has received excellent reviews from the Hi-Fi press for both aesthetics and sound quality. The cabinet incorporates the unique Matrix bracing system, which reduces resonances and movement within the cabinet. The FlowportTM directly fires down onto the plinth for maximum dispersion and heart stopping bass response.

Technical Highlights:
• Tweeter on top: B&W's Tweeter on top technology ensures that the sound remains focused and time-sensitive and that the stereo-image is presented with unparalleled three dimensional accuracy.

• Kevlar: B&W developed and patented the method of using Kevlar® for loudspeaker cones to reduce unwanted standing waves. DuPont originally created Kevlar for use in bulletproof vests.

• Flowport: Golf ball aerodynamics theory points the way towards lower distortion reflex ports. Dimples improve the way the air flows over the surface of any object. In the case of reflex ports, they offer a significant improvement over simply flaring the port ends in reducing air flow turbulence at each end of the port; so you get less chuffing noise and less compression at high sound levels.

•  Matrix: The basic construction of nearly all loudspeakers is exactly the same - panels of wood-based materials, bonded to form a rectangular box. B&W studied and evaluated how each aspect of cabinet behaviour and the efficiency of various materials and construction methods affects sound.

Brand Background:
Excellence, uncompromised and uncompromising. The world’s most famous recording studios demand Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series loudspeakers, for no other reason than they represent the pinnacle of sonic supremacy.

Ownership:
Single Owner

Amplifier Recommendations:
75-500W solid state or tube

General Sound:
Big beautiful musical sound with little fatigue.

Cosmetic Condition:
6/10 = Speakers may have one major scratch, or a slight dent on one of the surfaces. The speakers will not have any major scratches on the front faceplate, but may have some nicks along the top front edge. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested in our lab and listening room.

Included:
Speakers, grills, and boxes.

Packing:
Original Manufacturers Packing

Specs:
Description:
3-way vented-box system

Drive Units:
1 x 25mm metal dome high-frequency
1 x 150mm woven Kevlar® cone FST midrange
2 x 200mm paper/Kevlar® cone bass

Frequency Response:
39Hz – 20kHz ± 2dB on reference axis

Sensitivity:
91dB spl (2.83V, 1m)

Nominal Impedance:
8Ω (min 3.0 Ω)

Power Handling:
50W - 500W into 8 ohm on unclipped programme

Finish:
Red Stained Cherrywood

Dimensions - Each Speaker:
43.54" H x 15.16" W x 21.57" D

Weight - Each Speaker:
155 lbs.

Approximate Age:
2003

Link to Manual:
Click Here

Recommended Cables:

Kimber Kable - Speaker Cables - Better

Kimber Summit Series Monocle XL Speaker Cables (PAIR) - Best

Kimber Summit Series BiFocal XL Bi-Wire Speaker Cables (PAIR) - Best If Applicable 

Testing Process:

Our speaker evaluation process starts with a visual inspection of all drivers. We are looking for damaged or deteriorating woofer surrounds, dented tweeter domes, and cone damage. We also inspect the speaker connection points for loose or broken connectors.

After the initial visual inspection we connect the speakers to a reference amplifier with our preferred test tracks. With the speakers placed with proper distance we listen to each driver to make sure that they are producing the intended frequencies with no signs of distortion or rattle. During listening tests with test tracks we check for proper stereo imaging and bass response at various listening levels. If there are any audible signs of issues, the speakers are taken to the bench where we perform a frequency sweep to isolate the issue so that it can be resolved by component repair or replacement.