Bass
Amazing holographic Imaging
Treble extension
Great with old classical music

What I didn't find appealing was the "ping-ding" the metal tweeter does, but it hasn't distracted me.

This Review is for the 803S rather then 804S.

When I heard the 703 I was blown away, and the 803S inproved upon this. More high extension and lack of hard screaming "E"s often found with other speakers. The midrange as well as everything else is very detailed. What still blows me away is the 3D "standing in front of me in real life" imaging and stage size. They are driven by a Bryston B100 SST and are completely neutral, changing character with different music. At first I thought it was the Bryston making the 3D image that fools people into thinking there are hidden speakers but since some others have mentioned the same with different sources, I think it may be just the speakers honesty. It's great.

What I didn't find appealing was the "ping-ding" the metal tweeter does, but it hasn't distracted me.

Similar Products Used:

McIntosh, Rotel, Bryston, etc

Good integration, tight bass, very nice, non abrasive highs

Slightly coloured midrange (which I happen to like)

Last year, I wanted to upgrade my speaker, which were JM-Lab 716 S. These speakers are very nice (see my review of them), but I wanted to know if there was more. Because I was satisfied with the JM-Lab, and my budget was around 5000 euros, I automatically had to listen to the 1027BE. For comparison I auditioned a pair of 804s next to the JM-Labs.
I found the JM-Lab to have a slightly better mid-range and treble. However, the bass extension was a bit looser than the 804s. In the end, the difference was not big enough to justify the 1000 euro price difference between the two. Especially since I found a second hand pair of 804s speakers in just the color I wanted.

Summurized, this speaker has a sweet high end, and a very nice and tight bass extension. The speaker does sound slightly warm, which indicated that the mid-range might be a bit coloured. I however like this particular kind of colouration.

In short, a definitive step up from the JM-Lab 716s (they better be, considering the price difference)

Customer Service

Not needed sofar

Similar Products Used:

JM-Lab 1027BE

very few noise in midrange, very clear vocals and sound, good soundstage

Too few bass. Listening to Nightwish was odd, because there were very few bass. The vocals were clear and in this way natural but the sound of vocals wasn't still natural. With low levels, the sound become a collection of detached, separate sounds.
With higher levels, the treble was hard for ears. Listening becomes tirying very soon because of the harsh treble and brightness.
These loudspeakers are not good for music where there is bass or cymbals/drums are used.

The treble harshness may be caused by the aluminium, or also other equipment, so which is the cause, is never totally clear, but the equipment at the hi-fi store was of high quality.

a loudspeaker which has great qualities but also weaknesses. Consider these weaknesses considering your music taste before you buy.

Similar Products Used:

there are Nautilus 804, Matrix 804 and 804S on market. Be aware of this and give your opinion on the right model!
If somebody tells again that my opinion would be bad, I write here e.g. a link to a professional opinion which is the same considering the bass output than mine and also other opinions about the treble. Please don't blame other's opinion's without a reason. And carefully made opinions!
I tell also that I have played music myself, so I know what instruments and music should sound like.

possibly too few bass:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_14_3/b&w-804-speakers-7-2007.html
804s bright:
http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=22549
Nautilus 804 treble harsh:
http://www.audioreview.com/cat/amplification/integrated-amplifiers/marantz/PRD_115922_2717crx.aspx