B&W Nautilus 801

The B&W Nautilus 801, and its later updates in the 800 Series, became the near-universal standard speaker for high-end recording studios in the 1990s. The iconic Abbey Road Studios in London heavily utilized the Nautilus 801 to monitor classical and film score recordings due to their exceptionally flat frequency response.

The Nautilus technology, first introduced in the original Nautilus speaker prototype by Bowers & Wilkins in 1993, utilizes tapered tubes behind the tweeter and midrange drivers. These uniquely shaped tubes absorb unwanted acoustic radiation from the back of the driver, virtually eliminating resonances and resulting in a remarkably clean sound.

The Nautilus 801 utilizes a three-piece modular design where the tweeter sits on top of a distinct, decoupled midrange enclosure, separate from the massive bass cabinet. This design isolates the highly sensitive midrange and tweeter from the physical vibrations generated by the 15-inch bass woofer, preserving audio clarity.

The massive 15-inch bass driver in the Nautilus 801 utilizes a cone made from woven Kevlar, a synthetic fiber known for its incredible strength-to-weight ratio. This material, combined with the speaker's massive internal bracing, allows the driver to push immense amounts of air without the cone flexing or distorting.