Close relationship between cars and sound
Text: mmr｜Theme: Audio specifications and technology of representative models from major car manufacturers around the world
Car audio is not just an optional feature; it has a major impact on the driving experience and the value of the space inside the car.Material selection, quietness, and space design during the car design stage are directly linked to sound quality. This article details the audio specifications, partner brands, and technologies of representative models from major manufacturers around the world.
Acoustic philosophy of Japanese manufacturers
Toyota/Lexus
- Audio specifications of representative models
- Lexus LS: Mark Levinson 3D surround, 17 speakers, 1,200W
-
With software room correction function
- Manufacturer and brand partnership
-
Sound design for luxury cars in long-term collaboration with Mark Levinson
- Anecdotes and techniques
- Each material in the car, including the ceiling and seat fabric, was selected with acoustic correction in mind.
| Product name | Link |
|---|---|
| Mark Levinson amplifier | Rakuten |
| Mark Levinson speaker | Amazon |
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Nissan/Infiniti
- Representative model: Infiniti QX80 (Bose 16 speaker system)
- Technology: To optimize in-car acoustics, speaker placement and material reflections were analyzed and tuned in collaboration with BOSE.
Honda
- Representative model: Accord (ELS Studio 14 speakers)
- Technology: Natural sound reproduction supervised by musicians
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Mazda Subaru
- Representative model: CX-5 (Bose 12 speakers)
- Technology: Measuring and optimizing the acoustic characteristics of the vehicle interior space
Precision acoustics for German cars
Mercedes-Benz
- Representative model: S class (Burmester 3D surround, max. 23 speakers, 1,500W)
- Technology: Optimized with DSP to reproduce uniform acoustic characteristics at each location in the car
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BMW
- Representative model: 7 series (Bang & Olufsen 16 speakers, 1,400W)
- Technology: Driver-centered sound field design, volume correction according to vehicle speed
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Audi
- Representative model: A8 (Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System, 19 speakers, 1,650W)
- Technology: Three-dimensional sound reproduction with multi-channel DSP
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The power of American sound
Ford/Chevrolet
- Representative model: Camaro (Bose 12 speakers, 1,000W)
- Technology: Emphasizes bass and reproduces powerful sound throughout the car interior
Tesla
- Representative model: Model S (high-performance DSP-equipped audio, 22 speakers, 960W)
- Technology: Sound quality can be improved with software updates
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Chrysler/Jeep
- Representative model: Wrangler (Alpine 9 speakers, 480W)
- Technology: Adjustment to maintain sound quality even under outdoor noise
Unique music experience in Italian and French cars
Ferrari/Lamborghini
- Representative model: Ferrari 812 Superfast (JBL 12 speakers, 380W)
- Technology: Tuning that resonates with the engine sound
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Maserati/Alfa Romeo
- Representative model: Ghibli (Bowers & Wilkins 15 speakers, 1,170W)
- Technology: High-definition sound reproduction with Nautilus tweeter
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Peugeot/Renault
- Representative model: Peugeot 508 (Focal 12 speakers, 400W)
- Technology: Maximize spatial acoustics in a compact car
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Emerging forces of Korean and Chinese manufacturers
Hyundai/Kia
- Representative model: Sonata (Lexicon 12 speakers, 600W)
- Technology: Adjustment, sound pressure equalization for premium brands
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BYD／NIO／Geely
- Representative model: NIO ES6 (proprietary development 18 speakers, 1,000W)
- Technology: Low frequency adjustment that takes advantage of EV characteristics
Luxury acoustics in British cars
Jaguar
- Representative model: F-Pace, XJ (Meridian 14~20 speakers, 825W)
- Technology: Three-dimensional sound field reproduction with Trifield 3D sound technology
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Land Rover
- Representative model: Range Rover Evoque (Meridian 13-19 speakers, 825W)
- Technology: Acoustic optimization at vehicle design stage
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Aston Martin
- Representative model: Vantage, DB12 (Bowers & Wilkins 15 speakers, 1,170W)
- Technology: Realistic sound with Nautilus tweeter
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Bentley
- Representative model: Bentayga, Continental GT (Naim for Bentley 20 speakers, 1,960W)
- Technology: Automatically corrects sound quality according to speed and environment
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Rolls Royce
- Representative models: Phantom, Ghost, Cullinan (Bespoke Audio 13-18 speakers, max. 1,300W)
- Technology: Studio quality reproduction that takes advantage of the quietness of the vehicle, noise reduction using aluminum and magnesium materials
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| Brand/Model | System | Number of Speakers/Output | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguar/F-Pace | Meridian | 14/825W | Trifield 3D |
| Land Rover/Evoque | Meridian | 19/825W | 3D Surround |
| Aston Martin/Vantage | B&W | 15/1,170W | Nautilus tweeter |
| Bentley/Bentayga | Naim | 20/1,960W | Automatic sound quality correction |
| Rolls-Royce/Phantom | Bespoke | 18/1,300W | Studio quality |
Technology trends and future in-car music experiences
- Active noise cancellation and DSP optimization
- Personalized sound quality adjustment using AI
- New sound design that takes advantage of the quietness of the EV era
Summary: From engine sound to sound art — a vision of the future of cars and sound
Cars used to be “machines for transportation”.However, now it is a ``space that embraces sound’’ and is an extension of culture. Germany has imbued sound with precision engineering, Britain with tradition and formality, America with freedom and power, and Japan with delicate harmony. Car audio in each country is also a crystallization of that society’s aesthetic sense and industrial philosophy.
Rolls-Royce’s silent stage'' is the ultimate in silence.
Tesla's DSP control connects electrical signals and emotions.
And Mark Levinson of Lexus plays with materials and space as “instruments.”
These are not just speaker systems, butarchitectures of sound’’ where humans and machines, engineering, and sensibilities intersect.
Now that the shift to EVs is progressing, the symbolic element of engine sound is disappearing, In-car acoustics are beginning to take on a new role. It is a “moving listening room” and a “personal acoustic universe.” Manufacturers around the world are no longer pursuing horsepower or quietness; “What kind of sounds can you hear by running?” This is a new experience value.
Car audio never stops evolving. The acoustic design is corrected by AI, and the seat becomes a resonating plate, changing the sound field according to the driver’s heartbeat and mood. What we will end up with is a realm of sonic equality that transcends countries and brands. The act of listening while running sharpens human sensibilities once again.
What cars tell us is not the road, but the journey of sound. And that journey has only just begun.
