The remarkable history of the world-renowned audio systems of Bowers & Wilkins

A small radio and TV shop in Worthing

The early history of the world’s best-known and most acclaimed loudspeaker company Bowers & Wilkins is a fascinating story. Its tale began with a friendship formed in the armed forces in World War II between John Bowers and Roy Wilkins, which blossomed into a small radio and TV shop in the English seaside town of Worthing. 

Over time, Bowers and Wilkins expanded their business. But Bowers, who was obsessed with classical music, became dissatisfied with the sound of many commercially available loudspeakers. There was no sound system he had heard that could convey the experience of listening to a solo piano or recreate the live experience. 

It then became Bowers’ goal to bring forth the True Sound of the performance, faithful in every nuance to the original – exactly as the artist intended. Bowers started to modify existing designs to bring them closer to what he wanted and started selling them, in strictly limited quantities, to his loyal customers. This quickly gained a reputation. 

Abbey Road Studios

Eventually, Bowers started to focus solely on manufacturing speakers, while Wilkins took the sole responsibility for the shop in Worthing. Eleven years after starting the manufacturing business, Bowers & Wilkins became the brand of choice for Abbey Road Studios and has been for over 40 years. Its speakers have been used for recording some of the most iconic music of the 20th and 21st centuries, including The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Lady Gaga, Nile Rodgers, Dave, Frank Ocean, and many others. 

The philosophy of Bowers & Wilkins became simple. Bowers said that: ‘The best loudspeaker isn’t the one that gives the most, it’s the one that loses the least.’ His obsessive pursuit of perfection and steadfast refusal to accept anything but the very best has shaped everything that B&W does and is. ‘Good enough’ simply isn’t good enough for Bowers & Wilkins. 

From their €110k Nautilus to their 801 Signature loudspeaker, Bowers & Wilkins has developed and perfected multi-award-winning audio products for performance. They now also use their 60+ years of experience to integrate those same technologies into their headphones. 

Remarkable partnerships

Nowadays, Bowers & Wilkins also develops car audio systems and allows you to upgrade to the system of your choice in major car brands including Aston Martin, McLaren, BMW, Polestar and Volvo. The loudspeaker company also has partnerships with Emirates to provide you with the best in-flight audio experience and a bespoke headset for the First Class cabin, as well as Philips, which integrates B&W sound bars in its TVs, and the computer brand Lenovo. 

David Beckham

In June 2024, David Beckham became the global ambassador of Bowers & Wilkins. For the longstanding owner of B&W products, the choice was easy. ‘’I’m working with the best in the world. For me, performance and design are equally important. I need my headphones to look as good as they sound,’’ said Beckham. 

Bound by a shared commitment to excellence and timeless elegance. David’s refined taste meets Bowers & Wilkins’ unwavering pursuit of perfection to create an extraordinary alliance of style and sound. 

There’s lots more to come in 2025, so keep your eyes peeled for new innovations and products from Bowers & Wilkins.