Articles on Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins is a British manufacturer of HiFi equipment, notably loudspeakers and headphones. Recently, it has also ventured into the market of wireless speakers.

Founded in the 1960s, B&W started manufacturing loudspeakers with externally-sourced drivers. In the decade that followed, it started to build its loudspeakers entirely in-house.

In the 1980s, Bowers & Wilkins introduced powered speakers, pursuing research into amplifiers and active filters.

More recently, B&W has partnered with car manufacturers to introduce OE in-car sound systems. It has also expanded into headphones and wireless speakers markets.

Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers have a number of technological innovations.

In 1977, B&W introduced the DM7 whose tweeter was enclosed in a separate cabinet. This has since become a key feature of mid- to high-tier speakers in its product lineup.

B&W speakers were the first to start using Kevlar cones in the distinctive Bower & Wilkins yellow. Today, many entry- to mid-tier speakers continue to sport Kevlar drivers.

Bower & Wilkins also introduced the diamond tweeter that, according to B&W, delivers the optical combination of lightweight and high stiffness.