I listened to a B&W Nautilus 800 (the snail) system a couple of weeks ago which rewrote my book on hi-fi and forced me to ditch a number of prejudices. First to go was my anti-B&W bias. They have never done anything for me until I heard these things.
Next to go was my bias against Class D. The B&W's were powered by Jeff Rowland Class D amps, and they were wonderful - extended at the top and bottom, incredible control, no coloration. At the top of the market, most amps only vary by degree of refinement - and I kid you not, these amps had the kind of refined elegant sound that we all want.
Then I had to get rid of my metal tweeter bias. Always hated metal tweeters, because in my previous experience they sound harsh and ... well, metallic. These things were slightly trebly to be sure, but detail retrieval was right up there with my Acapella plasma tweeter. I was shocked because I never thought anything would come close.
Out the window also was my dislike of digital volume controls. In my experience, gain should be analogue, because you lose bits and increase noise with digital. Not here - play as soft as I like and I did not feel I was losing resolution.
Quite simply it was a landmark system. And who would have thought it possible of B&W and Class D amps ...
Next to go was my bias against Class D. The B&W's were powered by Jeff Rowland Class D amps, and they were wonderful - extended at the top and bottom, incredible control, no coloration. At the top of the market, most amps only vary by degree of refinement - and I kid you not, these amps had the kind of refined elegant sound that we all want.
Then I had to get rid of my metal tweeter bias. Always hated metal tweeters, because in my previous experience they sound harsh and ... well, metallic. These things were slightly trebly to be sure, but detail retrieval was right up there with my Acapella plasma tweeter. I was shocked because I never thought anything would come close.
Out the window also was my dislike of digital volume controls. In my experience, gain should be analogue, because you lose bits and increase noise with digital. Not here - play as soft as I like and I did not feel I was losing resolution.
Quite simply it was a landmark system. And who would have thought it possible of B&W and Class D amps ...