We demoed the CDM9NT vs. N804 vs. N803 vs. N802, all in the same room and system. We brought our own CD's and the dealer let us have the room for three hours on each of two days. We compared by swapping speaker cables and moving each pair into a nearfield listening triangle. FWIW, the dealer's front end was Arcam FMJ CD23 >> c-j Premier 17LS >> c-j MF2500, nice stuff.
CDM9NT - would have been nice to save the $, but it was woefully outclassed, even by the not-much-larger N804. Compared with its bigger cousins it was constricted across the entire frequency range, with a comparatively thin and flat soundstage. Orchestras sounded like we were listening through a closed door, or maybe even from across the street. As most others have already said, it's also not as smooth as the Nautilus, downright raucous at times. Don't know how many hours on them, but these had been on the dealer's floor months longer than the others.
N804 - major improvement in smoothness, clarity and in the ability to play well at higher volumes. Almost thought they could work for us, though the soundstage was still a little small. Orchestras sounded like we were inside the auditorium, but sitting in the last row. On we go...
N803 - AHA! So that's what a violist/piano combination sounds like. Yuri Bashmet just walked right through the wall and started playing for me, big as life, clear as can be and no more than 12 feet away. Big orchestras were also wide, tall and deep, as from about the 10th row. (How do good speakers make you "see" an image stetching behind them, even through the wall? Astonishing.) Bigger bass but just as clear, which is to say crystal.
N802 - Oh my goodness. We'd better stop before they drag in the 800's. Thunderously clear bass lines. Soundstage the size of Jupiter (not just Holst's Jupiter, the real damn thing). Actually we decided they'd overwhelm our room, thank goodness, since they'd certainly overwhelm my wallet.
We bought the N803's. Lived through the long break in, which just means you get to love 'em a little more every day.
Enjoy the music.