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Audi A8: Bang & Olufsen develops exclusive audio system

Music to your eyes

Danish hi-fi and electronics specialist Bang & Olufsen is developing a
pioneering sound system for the flagship Audi A8 which is expected to set new standards even in the luxury segment. Audi will showcase its first vehicle with the “B & O Advanced Sound System” on board at the Frankfurt IAA Motor Show 2005. The system will be available at the end of 2005/beginning of 2006.

Innovative designs coupled with advanced technology, plus the highest quality materials and finish: all these factors are equally important to business partners Audi and Bang & Olufsen.

The status of the Audi A8 as the sportiest saloon car in the luxury segment is based on its trend-setting styling and technology, representing the highest level of car manufacture in all areas. The aluminium Audi Space Frame body, the quattro permanent all-wheel drive and the Multi Media Interface (MMI) are just three examples of the proverbial Audi “Vorsprung durch Technik”.

This technological lead has now been extended into the acoustic dimension by the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System. This system, which is being developed exclusively for the A8, pays heed to the actual acoustic characteristics of the car interior, such as internal space, shape and materials used. Factors including driving speed, the corresponding wind effect and friction between asphalt and tyres are also taken into account.

A total of fourteen active high-end loudspeakers, B & O's own Acoustic Lens Technology and over 1,000 watts of amplifier power combine to produce a flawless acoustic experience inside the Audi A8.

Designed exclusively for the Audi A8, the loudspeaker grilles are made from precision-machined anodised aluminium, the very same material used in the construction of the sporty luxury saloon’s body.

Active speakers are housed behind the covers, each with its own individual amplifier. This allows the sound properties to be adjusted accurately in accordance with the precise function of the speaker within the overall concept.

All loudspeakers are housed in closed cabinets, allowing each speaker to be fully controlled irrespective of where it is mounted. This elaborate technology eliminates excessive resonance interference.

The sound system is also music to your eyes: its design dovetails beautifully with the sporty and luxurious A8 ambience, adding extra artistic touches to it. When the system is activated, for example, two lens tweeter speakers automatically emerge from the dashboard, whose precision-aligned horizontal emissions offer perfect sound reproduction for all occupants. Here, the fascination of visual technology blends seamlessly with the acoustic brilliance of the new Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

very interesting, it would be good to see how well that system performs. for the record, ml has been doing specific acustic analysis and design on the lexus models since 01. that's why on every lexus model (currently except the IS), all ml systems are different. different speakers, different locations, etc... that's coz'the interior of each car is different

the 06 gs has a whole new ml system, which is 7.1 i believe? i suppose the new IS will get something similar as well. and i would be very interested to see what the new LS will do by the end of next yr

nthach

B&O is almost like a Bose, they design their home systems with aesthetics in mind, but its very expensive.

encore888

Very interesting indeed...another high-end audio system partnering with a luxe auto maker.

xknowonex

iTrader: (2)

Bose isnt a respected brand in the audiophile community. Their sales depend solely on marketing and aesthetics. My guess is that Bang and Olufson is kind of the same way .

Also, if ur an serious audiophile, you wouldnt settle with any OEM system and either design ur own system or get some pros to do it for you. Im sure that a really good SQL car at a competition can best any oem system.

LexusChris

iTrader: (1)

B&O is just like Bose imo, the Linn system in Aston Martins and the Mark Levinsons I believe can easily outperform it.

Celicamaro

I agree, no real audio phile would settle for a stock system, no matter how good. I've listen to the ML system many times, it's nice and very good for a factory system, but still could use alot of improvement.

xknowonex

iTrader: (2)

Yea audiophile guys can get nuts. One of my buddies in Socal here is one of those types of people. He does it for a living but even on his time off, he tinkers with all sortsa stuff and equipment in his garage. These guys spends days tuning the equalizers and crossovers using machines to graph it out. I seen guys spend couple thousands on a deck like the Alpine F1 Status deck.

Personally, I wouldnt go that far because my ears cannot tell the difference and I dont have the time, expertise, and money to hack up my car. But if i was rich and able to afford a 6 figure sedan, course I'll spend 10,000+ dollars on a nicely designed system - nothing flashy or loud like the stuff u see @ HIN.

xknowonex

iTrader: (2)

It makes me laugh when I see people buying an overpriced Bose home audio system and think they got the best of the best.

encore888

Hmmm...there was a poster on autospies claiming that ML is going down ever since it partnered with Lexus, and that its R&D is dwindling compared to B&O:

http://www.autospies.com/article/ind...7&categoryId=9

flipside909

Well Autospies was never the definitive in Automotive journalism. They're just like any other tabloid auto publication. Not credible.

mooretorque

B&O was highend consumer but not audiophile level. Their tangential tracking turntables were pretty good, tho, just handicapped (from the audiophile standpoint) by their proprietary cartridge.

For you young guys, a turntable was the thing we put those pizza sized vinyl discs on (after we had scrupulously cleaned them of dust acquired by static attraction). The "needle" was just that and created sound by moving very small pieces of (attached) metal within very small magnets (coils). The needle was moved by virtue of the both frequency and amplitude modulated grooves in the vinyl. The tiny electrical voltage created was then multiplied (amplified) to the point that it could move larger pieces of metal within larger coils. These pieces of metal were bonded to (usually) paper cones of varying sizes mounted in (usually) closed boxes called speakers. Thus we reproduced sound.

LexFather

Its amazing how serious car makers have gotten about their sound systems since Lexus came on the scene with Nakamichi in 1989.

Competiton is good in cars, even with audio systems.

tetra7

Since we're talking about sound systems...why for the love of fried green tomatoes does Porsche use BOSE?!? Let me see...80K plus car....10 dollar sound system....did i miss something?

flipside909

LOL nice analogy.