Custom McLaren paint jobs, tapered damping tubes, and drivers that hang in
the air: I spoke to Bowers & Wilkins about its massive snail-shaped loudspeaker Nautilus, and why its still so successful it's backordered for years, even 33 years after launch

Date:
Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:55:00 +0000

Description:
Three years' worth of backorders, custom paint jobs, and 33 years of success: I spoke to Bowers & Wilkins about its most iconic loudspeaker ever.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus
is a speaker that requires no introduction. Its a truly iconic model, and there really is nothing else on the market that looks quite like it.

With its mollusk-like build, tapered damping tubes and exceptional sound,
it's no wonder that Bowers & Wilkins proudly announces it as the last wish of co-founder John Bowers. And even though the Nautilus launched all the way
back in 1993, it's still being produced to this day. During my time at the High End Vienna show earlier this year, I got a chance to check out the B&W Nautilus for myself, and got to learn more about its weird and wonderful design. I even had the chance to speak with Bowers & Wilkins Product
Marketing Director, Andy Kerr, about why people keep coming back to the speaker, even 33 years down the line and you may be surprised by just how popular it still is Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:
Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus: an introduction (Image credit: Future) For the uninitiated, the Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus is a floor-standing loudspeaker that boasts a striking spiral design and tapered tubes, resulting in one of the most unique looking models that money can buy. But despite its off-the-wall appearance, its design is very much rooted in utility. Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus specs at a glance Price: $110,000 / 100,000 (per pair) in standard colorways Dimensions: 47.6 x 16.9 x 43.5 inches / 1210 x 430 x
1105mm Weight: 190.7lbs / 86.5kg Design philosophy: 4-way tube-loaded loudspeaker Speaker drivers: 1x 300mm (12 inch) aluminum cone bass; 1x 100mm (4 inch) aluminum/polymer sandwich cone lower midrange; 1x 50mm (2 inch) aluminum dome upper midrange; 1x 25mm (1 inch) aluminum dome high-frequency Frequency range: -6dB at 10Hz and 25kHz Kerr explained to me that, in
essence, the speaker attempts to create the impression of drive units hanging in free air, operating without the typical restrictions of a traditional cabinet or enclosure. You may like Bowers & Wilkins just blew me away with
its new 801 D5 speakers heres what I made of the model after attending a
demo at High End Vienna Two of the most outrageous High End Vienna speakers we've ever seen just launched, and they sit at very opposite ends of the
scale This beautiful hand-made floor-standing speaker ain't cheap, but I
can't take my eyes off it and I haven't even heard it yet

While B&W still decided to harness the pressurization benefits of some form
of an enclosure, he said, there was an active effort to remove the audibility of the box something that was achieved by using the tapered tubes that the Nautilus is still known for.

Each tube increases in length relative to the size of the drive unit, said Kerr. So you've got a relatively small one for the upper tweeter, slightly longer still for the lower mid, and then this [tube for the bass section] is three meters long but kind of swirled up. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

As the driver operates, pressure dissipates into the Nautilus' tubes which are also padded with an absorbent wadding material eliminating rearward reflections and drastically reducing distortion while capturing that sense of the driver operating in free space. It's one of the best loudspeakers you'd hear at disappearing.

And while he accepts that the Nautilus may not be suited for a studio environment in the same way that the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 are, Kerr
states, As an experiment for reducing the audibility of a loudspeaker, its perfect. The legacy lives on (Image credit: Future) So what's with the name? What does Nautilus even mean? Well, its a cephalopod (meaning it's related to octopuses and squid, for instance), with a spiral-shaped shell. It uses jet propulsion to traverse the ocean depths, and its name (from Greek nautilos) means sailor. The more you know, eh? The ingenious design and sound of the Nautilus has remained, and Kerr notes that many people still purchase the speaker to this day. In fact, so many people are interested in having a Nautilus of their own that there are years' worth of backorders. What to read next I listened to the worlds first audiophile soundbar and it might
actually justify that claim I heard JBL's awesome new Summit Everest
speakers, and they nearly blasted me out of my seat Focals gone for 'formidable' with its new wireless speakers, and I think Whovians will be first in line

I was told that B&W is still producing approximately 50 pairs a year for sale
pretty impressive given that each individual pair takes around 31 days to make, all meticulously done by hand. Did you know TechRadar now has membership? (Image credit: Future) Become a TechRadar Insider by simply clicking 'Join Now' at the top of this page. Have a question? Please email membership@techradar.com Audio enthusiasts can grab a pair of Nautilus speakers in the standard colorways Black, Midnight Blue, and Silver for a sum typically in the $110,000 or 100,000 ballpark. But theres a slightly more expensive alternative, one thats proved very popular with buyers: a custom option.

Thats right, for around 120,000 (US pricing was not shared), you can order
the Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus with special paint, and get the speaker in just about any color imaginable. I was shown a handful of customer photos, and there were some exceptional finishes to behold, including McLaren Orange, Ferrari Red, and Minty Green variants, only adding to the unique nature of
the Nautilus.

As things stand, there are three years yes, three years of backorders. Even though the Nautilus is a speaker like no other, the sheer volume of interest is seriously impressive all of these years later. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/speakers/i-spoke-to-bowers-and-wilkins-about-i ts-massive-snail-shaped-loudspeaker-nautilus


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)