Once upon a time, engine power and fuel consumption were the main metrics used by automakers to compete for customers’ affection. Today, however, an equally fierce essence is being waged in another, sound field. The number of speakers, the power in watts and the logo of a well-known audio brand on the “grille” of the speakers have become key selling points in the premium segment.
But what is really behind the promise of a “concert experience” while driving? Are 25 speakers really better than 15 and does 2,000 watts of power guarantee audiophile enjoyment? The answer, as always, is far more complex than the numbers themselves.
A premium audio system is not just a set of quality components, but a carefully tuned ecosystem in which hardware, software and the acoustics of the vehicle cabin function in perfect synergy. Of course, the basis of everything are physical components. Manufacturers like Lincoln install as many as 28 speakers of the Revel Ultima 3D system in their Aviator model, while Lexus in cooperation with Mark Levinson offers an impressive 2,400 watts in its flagship, the LS model.
Bentley goes one step further with British Naim, whose 20-speaker, 1,780-watt system sets the standard in the ultra-luxury class. But raw power and speaker count are just the beginning of the story. The real difference is made by the invisible but omnipresent conductor of the entire orchestra, known as the DSP.
DSP = mozak
DSP, or digital sound processor, is the brain of a modern audio system and its most important component. The car cabin is, acoustically speaking, one of the worst places to listen to music. The glass surfaces repel high frequencies, the soft seats soak up the mids, and the driver never sits in the ideal spot between the left and right channels. That’s where DSP comes in, solving these problems with surgical precision.
Its first task is Time Alignment, where it digitally delays the signal from nearby speakers by a few milliseconds. The result? Sound from all sides reaches your ears at the same time, creating a stable and focused sound image where the singer is no longer in the door speaker, but in the middle of the dashboard.
Another tool is a parametric equalizer, which “irons out” irregularities caused by reflections, eliminating unpleasant resonances and filling sound holes. Finally, active crossovers ensure that each speaker receives only the frequency range it was designed for, preventing distortion and damage. This process is critical to unlocking the system’s full potential.
So what do brands bring?
It is precisely in this domain of software expertise and integration that the strength of brands lies. Bang & Olufsen, for example, uses its Acoustic Lens technology in Audi models, where the tweeters are motorized from the armature to ensure a 180-degree dispersion of sound.
Bowers & Wilkins at Volvo offers modes of operation that faithfully replicate the acoustics of famous spaces, such as a concert hall in Gothenburg. Mercedes’ Burmester High-End 4D system goes so far as to install tactile transducers in the seats that convert bass frequencies into subtle vibrations, making the experience even more immersive. The best systems are designed from scratch, in parallel with the development of the vehicle itself, where even the metal parts of the body are shaped to serve as optimal acoustic enclosures for the speakers.
In the end, the search for the perfect sound in the car is not a race for the biggest numbers, but for the best possible synergy. The ultimate audio experience is one in which the technology becomes imperceptible, and only the pure connection with the music remains.