High-end Hi-Fi outfit Bowers & Wilkins and luxury supercar maker McLaren Automotive have announced a strategic long-term multi-year partnership that sees Bowers & Wilkins become McLaren’s Official Audio Partner.
The pair are no strangers. Bowers & Wilkins has been responsible for the development of the high-performance audio systems found in the marque’s supercars and hypercars since 2015.
The audio specialist shares much in common with its partner; both companies were shaped early on by the vision of a single founder, John Bowers for Bowers & Wilkins, and Bruce McLaren for McLaren. Today both are known for their peerless execution and attention to detail.
McLaren’s latest supercars all feature speaker technologies developed in Southwater, home to the Bowers & Wilkins research and development team since 2019, and conveniently only 30 miles away from the McLaren global HQ.
The technical and design collaboration between Mclaren and Bowers & Wilkins has already been recognised with two iF design awards…
Bowers & Wilkins in-care sound systems have won two IF design awards
Notable integration landmarks have included Bowers & Wilkins yellow Aramid Fibre cones, Rohacell subwoofers, Diamond dome tweeters, dual-opposed subwoofers and most recently the brand’s proprietary Continuum cone.
The technical and design collaboration has already been recognised with two iF design awards for the Hi-Fi system integration in both McLaren’s Speedtail and GT models.
The latest innovation is a subwoofer integrated into McLaren’s in-house designed and manufactured McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture carbon fibre monocoque, ensuring a stiff mounting surface, for better sound.
“McLaren and Bowers & Wilkins were both founded by similarly minded technical visionaries who always pushed the boundaries of what is possible to create innovative products and experiences,” said Gareth Dunsmore, Chief Marketing Officer, McLaren Automotive.
“We are delighted to be announcing our partnership which builds on the award-winning technical collaboration between our two companies and I’m looking forward to exploring what exciting innovations and products our shared values will create next.”
Luxury audio auteur Astell&Kern has expanded its flagship portable line-up with the A&ultima SP4000 Copper, a limited-edition version of its top-tier digital audio player, alongside the Collector’s Atelier, a premium leather valet case. The A&ultima SP4000 Copper sits at the top of Astell&Kern’s player hierarchy and shares the core architecture of the standard SP4000. That…
Combining ravishing industrial design with advanced tube technology and vibration control, Swiss audio specialist Nagra’s newest preamplifier is aimed squarely at posh audiophiles for whom price is secondary to performance. Designed and built in Romanel-sur-Lausanne, the Preamp II-S is the first component in Nagra’s Series II range, positioned between the company’s Compact and HD lines.…
Southport-based iFi audio has launched the iDSD Phantom, a statement home Hi-Fi component that serves as a high-end music streamer, preamplifier, audiophile-grade headphone amp and DAC. The Phantom moniker is no misnomer, iFi makes no secret of the fact that it’s chanelling Rolls-Royce for inspiration here. Both in terms of design and specification, the unit …
High-end Hi-Fi outfit Bowers & Wilkins and luxury supercar maker McLaren Automotive have announced a strategic long-term multi-year partnership that sees Bowers & Wilkins become McLaren’s Official Audio Partner.
The pair are no strangers. Bowers & Wilkins has been responsible for the development of the high-performance audio systems found in the marque’s supercars and hypercars since 2015.
The audio specialist shares much in common with its partner; both companies were shaped early on by the vision of a single founder, John Bowers for Bowers & Wilkins, and Bruce McLaren for McLaren. Today both are known for their peerless execution and attention to detail.
McLaren’s latest supercars all feature speaker technologies developed in Southwater, home to the Bowers & Wilkins research and development team since 2019, and conveniently only 30 miles away from the McLaren global HQ.
Notable integration landmarks have included Bowers & Wilkins yellow Aramid Fibre cones, Rohacell subwoofers, Diamond dome tweeters, dual-opposed subwoofers and most recently the brand’s proprietary Continuum cone.
The technical and design collaboration has already been recognised with two iF design awards for the Hi-Fi system integration in both McLaren’s Speedtail and GT models.
The latest innovation is a subwoofer integrated into McLaren’s in-house designed and manufactured McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture carbon fibre monocoque, ensuring a stiff mounting surface, for better sound.
“McLaren and Bowers & Wilkins were both founded by similarly minded technical visionaries who always pushed the boundaries of what is possible to create innovative products and experiences,” said Gareth Dunsmore, Chief Marketing Officer, McLaren Automotive.
“We are delighted to be announcing our partnership which builds on the award-winning technical collaboration between our two companies and I’m looking forward to exploring what exciting innovations and products our shared values will create next.”
Astell&Kern unveils limited-edition copper-bodied portable premium music player and leather valet case
Luxury audio auteur Astell&Kern has expanded its flagship portable line-up with the A&ultima SP4000 Copper, a limited-edition version of its top-tier digital audio player, alongside the Collector’s Atelier, a premium leather valet case. The A&ultima SP4000 Copper sits at the top of Astell&Kern’s player hierarchy and shares the core architecture of the standard SP4000. That…
Preamp II-S first look: Nagra brings reference-grade Swiss engineering to new luxury audio series
Combining ravishing industrial design with advanced tube technology and vibration control, Swiss audio specialist Nagra’s newest preamplifier is aimed squarely at posh audiophiles for whom price is secondary to performance. Designed and built in Romanel-sur-Lausanne, the Preamp II-S is the first component in Nagra’s Series II range, positioned between the company’s Compact and HD lines.…
iFi iDSD Phantom first review: flagship streaming headphone amp brings studio grade audio home
Southport-based iFi audio has launched the iDSD Phantom, a statement home Hi-Fi component that serves as a high-end music streamer, preamplifier, audiophile-grade headphone amp and DAC. The Phantom moniker is no misnomer, iFi makes no secret of the fact that it’s chanelling Rolls-Royce for inspiration here. Both in terms of design and specification, the unit …
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