Quote:
Originally Posted by RaceCarDriver
The Nautilus term hasn’t been used in the 800 series since 2004, however some still mention it and many understand.
Nautilus 800 models as mentioned were 1998-2004. Often abbreviated to N800, N801, N802 etc.
When Diamond series came out in 2005, Nautilus term was dropped even though they looked nearly identical. Many people during that time called them Nautilus 800 Diamonds. However the correct model numbers were 800D, 801D, 802D etc.
When the very first series of Diamonds came out, it didn’t extend to the whole line. I am trying to remember but I believe 803 on down we’re still aluminum tweeters? Including the surrounds, centers etc. So those models received an S after the number to indicate Standard (no diamond) there was no 802S for example, as the 802, 801, 800 and very large HTM1D all received Diamond tweeters. The HTM3S (near identical to the Nautilus HTM1) was left in the line to match the smaller 800 series speakers. There was a smaller center the HTM4S? Think this went in line with the smaller NHTM2 from the previous Gen. Center model numbers were all over the place from 2005-2015 IMO.
When the updated Diamond series came out in 2010, the D was dropped in favor of the full word, Diamond. It unofficially was referred to as the “D2” because it was an upgrade to the “D” however the correct model numbers were 800 Diamond, 802 Diamond etc. This series still looked very much like the 1998 Nautilus shape, however drivers were updated, the cabinet was updated slightly as the grill mounting configuration changed from pegs with holes in the cabinet to magnets and updated speaker rings. The “D2” is the most refined image to the original 1998 Nautilus line.
The D3 that came out in 2015 is a complete rework. Only the tweeter and rear binding posts remain. While very distinctive and resembles the original Nautilus 800 series, they are quite different. The cabinet is reverse wrapped, crossovers moved from the bottom plinth to the rear spine. The correct model numbers are 800 D3, 802 D3, 803 D3 etc.
1993: Nautilus (the big shell)
1998: Nautilus 800 (B&W logo)
2002: Signature 800 (B&W logo)
2005: 800D (B&W logo)
2010: 800 Diamond (Bowers & Wilkins logo)
2015/2016: 800 D3 (Bowers & Wilkins logo)
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A very thorough and detailed response,
RaceCarDriver. Okay, so we
have sounded like couple of dorks talking to those youngsters at the two Magnolia centers we visited recently...well, at least they were polite by not openly laughing at us.
Referring to your words (above)...when you say that the newer (2015-present) B&Ws were "reverse wrapped," is that why the woofers protrude from the cabinet so obviously? This also leads me to believe that the back of the 80X D speakers must be flat, correct? If this is correct, then I can see why it would make sense to move the crossover circuitry from the bottom of the speaker to the rear...
I just watched a B&W video from 2012 showing the construction of 800-series Diamond speakers. Although they still retained the flat front, like the N802s and N805s we presently enjoy, they clearly wanted to highlight certain features more, which is in evidence by the change in the logo itself. I was wondering about that, though...Did B&W have a big organizational change in 2010? After our recent B&W auditions, both my wife and I remarked on the logo change. Neither one of us really like it...but, hey, we're also the nerds who've been referring to every B&W 80X speaker we've seen lately as a "Nautilus" speaker, right?
By the way, your words about the grill design change are truly poignant to us. Why? Because we just discovered that one of our round N802 midrange grills has a broken peg tip. Any idea if those round grills might still be available?
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 800 DIAMOND VIDEO I'M REFERRING TO HEREIN