Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus... WOW

[Todd Anderson]

Last week I had a chance to hang with Philip Jones of Masimo... he showed me some pretty cool stuff across the Marantz, Denon, Def Tech, and Bowers & Wilkins landscape, including some time spent with the Nautilus.

This is the second time I've heard Nautilus in action. It's quite the speaker. I think the backstory of the speaker, but also what buyers go through to experience it during the buying process is pretty cool. Phil told me how potential buyers fly out to Masimo HQ for private demos. Some stories about customers requesting custom colors – once they send you a confirmation sample, you're locked in!!!

Curious to know if anyone has experienced them... thoughts?

 

[Sonnie Parker]

I'm trying to remember where I've heard those... maybe it was RMAF or it could have been Axpona.

That's one of my reference songs on my Room playlist... pretty cool song. You don't really get the full effect of the panning with this video, but it would be hard to record it anyway. I bet that was a fun listen.

 

[Todd Anderson]

They aren’t out in the wild all that often - but I’m pretty sure they’ve been at AXPONA.

Perhaps the same pair?

They sound quite nice, but I think half the story is the buying process and how hands on both the manufacturer and buyer are from start to finish. If I had the means, I’d love to pick custom colors, have them shipped and professionally installed.

Would be wicked cool!

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Yeah... the buying process would be cool if you have a cool 100K lying around that you can let go of for that experience.

I suspect that pair has been around the block and may have been the same pair I heard several years ago.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Yes, they're Masimo's demo pair. Apparently, they have a client demo room crafted just for those speakers (in Carlsbad, CA). I was told a story about a client that flew in on a private jet. Heard a couple of tracks, gave the thumbs up, and then went back to the air field.

Sounds like a fun day!

One of the things I like to day dream about is not only the speakers, but the kind of room they'd actually go in. For some reason, I'm imaging this giant ballroom-esque space with marble floors, a large wood burning fireplace, huge windows over looking manicured gardens, and bookshelves loaded with classics. Acoustics - phhht -- total afterthought.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

lol... That doesn't sound like a listening room, but it does sound like a room in the house you'd be living in if you purchased these speakers.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Exactly!!!