The construction is based on fibre-reinforced plastic enclosures. Instead of open-backed drivers, it uses drivers loaded by reverse-tapered horns, or exponentially diminishing tubes, to absorb the rear radiation. The Nautilus project was one of the most extensive research and development projects undertaken. Before Bowers died, he handed this research to the young Dickie who discovered the principle of the exponential tapered tube. The 'Nautilus' speaker resulted from research commenced by Bowers into 'perfect dipoles'.Matrix has been used with great success by B&W ever since. Dickie's response was to use the same concept but make it all the way through the cabinet rather than just the walls. This was in response to Celestion's SL6000 loudspeaker that was made with Aerolam cabinet walls. This bracing topology resembles a wine-case, providing multiple thin panel-braces, spaced throughout the enclosure, improving rigidity. Dickie invented the 'Matrix' enclosure which reduces cabinet sound colouration.This has been a feature of many B&W speaker designs since.

In 1977 the DM7 introduced a tweeter separate from the main speaker cabinet.In the DM6, the speakers are mounted in different vertical planes. Phase linear transmission was realised in the DM6 from 1976.This composite material proved to provide controlled rigidity and internal damping, minimising distortion, as Fryer determined by using laser interferometry on speaker cones. The patented use of Kevlar fibres, impregnated with a stiffening resin, resulting in B&W's distinctive yellow speaker cones started in 1974.Noteworthy loudspeaker innovations by B&W: Morten Villiers Warren became manager of design in the late 1990s when designing the new 800 series of speakers. The design of B&W loudspeaker cabinets has been done by industrial designer Kenneth Grange since 1975. Also available was advanced equipment like a laser interferometer and PDP-11/35 computer.Īpproximately twenty staff support the research facility. SRE housed a prototype shop and listening rooms, ranging from semi-anechoic to typical small living rooms. The buildings were fit for audio-related work since they were previously used by SME, the English tonearm designer who felt the downturn in tonearm sales due to the introduction of the new digital media CD. In 1982 the company opened a dedicated, purpose-built research centre titled 'SRE' or 'Steyning Research Establishment' in Steyning, about 10 miles from Worthing. From the start of the company, earnings were invested in new product development. Research and development has been a core activity within B&W, stimulated and exercised by its founder John Bowers (1922–1987).

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