What It Is: The high-tech electronics that have long been available in costly home systems are making the jump to the road. Posh audio systems that play to serious audiophiles have become a tool of choice for luxury-car makers hoping to distinguish their models in a crowded market. The systems -- often designed in part by upscale audio engineers -- come with a surplus of power, speakers and are packed with technological wizardry intended to compensate for road noise.

How To Get It: Audi partnered with the boutique Danish design firm Bang & Olufsen to produce a 1,000-watt stereo for its top-of-the-line sedans, a version of which will also be available in its 2008 R8 six-figure, ultra-fast supercar. When processing sound, the 14-speaker system takes into account factors like driving speed, wind effect and the noise caused by tire friction. Infiniti launched its so-called Studio on Wheels by Bose in the 2007 G35 sedan, which includes a 24-bit digital audio converter from Burr-Brown, similar to components found in pricey home stereos. The system also has a set of three speakers in each of the front doors. The company is making a 9.3-gigabyte hard-drive-equipped version, which can store a driver's downloaded digital music, the cornerstone of its soon-to-be-released 2008 G37 coupe. Jaguar is selling a 525-watt Premium Audio System with Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound linked to custom speakers by Bowers & Wilkins, which provides audio systems for the Abbey Road recording studios in London. Acura's ELS sound system supports the rare high-end DVD-Audio format -- the musical equivalent of high-definition TV. Lexus's 450-watt Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound setup is available with 19 speakers. Mercedes-Benz's 2007 S-Class includes a booming 600-watt LOGIC7 system made by harman/kardon.

Upside: Road warriors who happen to be audiophiles finally have a surfeit of serious systems to choose from.

Downside: Sophisticated engineering notwithstanding, car cabins will remain a less-than-hospitable acoustic environment given the amount of road and mechanical noise. Many high-end audio units are available only as a component of costly packages that include possibly unwanted extras.

Cost: The Infiniti Studio on Wheels is available as part of a $2,350 Premium Package on the G35 sports sedan. In the LS sedan, Lexus's Mark Levinson system costs $2,530. The Audi's Bang & Olufsen system runs $6,300. And Jaguar's offering carries a $12,200 premium, though the package includes myriad upgrades throughout the vehicle.