I think that the B&W Nautilus 804 is certainly a fine product. It has, for me, set new standards as to what I expect to hear from B&W in the future. The Nautilus 804s offer a composed and refined midrange, seductive highs, and an almost electrostatic-like coherence — all in a compact enclosure. They can also grow with your system and reveal each change along the way. Like true thoroughbreds, they will exploit what they are given to work with. While the competition is stiff in the $3500 price category, with a number of high-quality speakers available, not many will exhibit the 804’s well-voiced sonic mix, great looks, and manageable footprint that makes it ideal in small to medium-sized rooms.
In the end, the B&W Nautilus 804 never failed to communicate to me, no matter what I was listening to — Bach, Bob Marley, or Harry Connick. The essence of the music was always there.