Cars With The Best Sound Systems
Sound systems have come a long way since the first car radio was installed in 1924 by Kelly’s Motors in Australia. These days the number of speakers and the amount of wattage are more crucial than ever to qualify a vehicle as one of our picks for cars with the best sound systems. Many automotive manufactures partner with high-end audio brands like Bose to set them apart from vehicles with your run-of-the-mill car factory sound systems.
Luxury car drivers want the best sound quality available with the most options for satellite radio and other upgrades. Today’s sound systems must be capable of delivering large amounts of power while keeping the music crystal clear.
2020 Volvo XC90
For a small upgrade cost, this model comes with the coveted Bowers & Wilkins audio system. With this upgrade, you’re looking at 19 speakers strategically placed around the cabin for optimized acoustics. As far as power goes, this system has seven times the wattage of your standard factory car stereo. The XC90’s audio system also boasts an air-ventilated sub-woofer capable of generating enough bass to feel in your bones.
Throughout the Volvo, the various speakers present themselves as miniature works of art with styled transparent coverings and yellows that pop within the speakers. The system is fitted for SiriusXM® Satellite Radio subscriptions to listen to your favorite talk radio show or music channel.
Another great thing about SiriusXM® is you can continue listening to that cable news show you were watching while scarfing down breakfast and running out the door to work. Or, connect your phone via Bluetooth and play some relaxing music from your personal collection to prepare for the day ahead.
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2021 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT
The 2021 Lexus IS comes standard with a 15 speaker Mark Levinson sound system that has four times the wattage of your average car stereo. If that’s not enough, you can upgrade to a wattage that is nine times more powerful. The audio quality of either is top of the line. The Mark Levinson brand is among the best in high-end audio equipment.
The Lexus IS sound system utilizes the Levinson QuantumLogic Surround, which deploys algorithms to pull out and heighten the best qualities of any given song. This technique allows the listener to hear every note more clearly than before. Lexus and Mark Levinson spared no expense deciding where and how to place the hardware throughout the cabin for the best sound experience possible.
With the goal of immersing every passenger in a wave of quality sound, it’s safe to say they succeeded. It’s also safe to say that the 2021 Lexus IS is among our picks for cars with the best sound systems.
2020 Audi A3 Sedan
If you upgrade to the top-level Premium Plus trim, you’ll drive away with an incredible Bang & Olufsen (B&O) sound system. B&O has spent close to a century perfecting the audio experience of its products. Many people argue that the brand is far superior to Bose, but we’ll let you be the judge of that.
The A3 B&O sound system features 14 high-powered speakers and four times the wattage of a factory car stereo. B&O worked closely with Audi to ensure the speaker grilles flowed effortlessly with the car doors or other placement areas. This certainly happened, as these speakers are aesthetically pleasing, and they effectively deliver clear, high-quality sound at any volume.
THE BEST USED LUXURY CARS ON THE MARKET
Buying a used or CPO luxury car is one of the smartest buys you can make - you can get a lot of car for not much money. You can pick up a three-year-old luxury car for about half of what you’d pay new. Check out this list of the best used luxury cars on the market to find the best deals.
2021 Cadillac CT4 Sedan
With the 2021 CT4, choose the Premium Luxury trim to enjoy the Bose Premium surround sound audio system. For some time, Bose has been a leading name in the high-end audio field. It makes sense they would team up with a legend like Cadillac. You’ll be glad they did because this sound system is made up of 14 expertly placed high-performance speakers.
Bose’s new AudioPilot technology screens the outside world for any ongoing noise that might interfere with your listening experience. If a background noise that is substantial enough is detected, AudioPilot automatically adjusts the volume to cover the noise.
Bose built the sound system for the CT4 exclusively for the specific acoustics of the vehicle’s cabin. The audiophiles over at Bose worked tirelessly to provide the most realistic listening experience possible. Combine all of this with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and smartphone integration, and you’re left with one of our picks for cars with the best sound systems.
Mercedes-Benz 2020 GLC-Class
The famed Burmester audio brand’s first goal with the GLC-Class was to perfect the sound system’s tone. They achieved this through the strategic placing of 13 high-end loudspeakers and a virtual surround sound feature that makes the cabin’s acoustics sound much larger than what the cabin’s actual size would allow. Also, every passenger has the ability to adjust the sound for their specific space.
Like the Cadillac CT4, the 2020 GLC-Class has technology that automatically raises the volume to compete with outside noise pollution. Options are available to upgrade to a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and much more to enhance your luxury sound system experience.
THE BEST USED SUVS UNDER $10,000
We looked into price, reliability, features, and more to create this list of the best used SUVs under $10k on the market today. Take a look - some of the best used SUVs have gone mostly overlooked or forgotten.
2021 BMW X7 M50i
The stunning 2021 X7 M50i comes equipped with a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. The Kardon/BMW partnership has thrived for over 30 years, expertly perfecting BMW’s sound systems along the way.
Owners of these models have stated that the Harman Kardon system makes them feel like they are attending a private concert or in the studio with the band as they listen back to the track.
The Kardon sound produces spaciousness making the cabin of this SUV feel more extensive. The speakers themselves are among the most elegant we’ve seen. Their beauty and design genuinely stand up to actual works of art.
The considerable infotainment system enables you to connect your phone through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to play your favorite Audible selection or an album from your glory days. Is there any wonder how this BMW landed on our list of cars with the best sound systems?
2022 Acura MDX
The Acura MDX has one of the most mind blowing sound systems that could give other luxury systems a good run for their money. The 2022 Acura MDX is offered with an available advanced ELS STUDIO 3D Premium Audio System – which can be added in a 16 or 32 speaker system configuration.
According to the promotional materials, the ELS Studio system comes with 4 ultra-slim Highline overhead speakers for that fascinating surround sound. The ELS Studio system is a proprietary technology developed by Acura and Panasonic, and was tuned by Grammy-winning music producer Elliot Scheiner – just some audio engineer who worked with the likes of Foo Fighters, Queen, The Eagles, and other little-known bands.
BONUS: Rolls Royce
When you’re paying for a Rolls Royce, it better come with a magnificent audio system. Luckily, the ultra-luxury brand more than delivers with the Bespoke Audio System. Factory installed on all Rolls Royce models, the Bespoke Audio sound system was specifically designed for the car. For the maximum audio experience, the bass tubes are integrated with sills and windows, and feature sound-dampening insulation between the panes.
CarBuzz describes the sound as “so deep and responsive,” other luxury brands sound cheap in comparison.
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