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 it’s still so successful it's backordered for years, even 33 years after launch
THE SO WHAT
Three years of backorders for a 33-year-old loudspeaker design is a reminder that iconic hardware with clear differentiation can defy normal product cycles. Hardware teams chasing annual refreshes should ask whether a smaller number of timeless, high-margin flagships would create more durable demand.
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