Sound system engineering and design company Harman showed off a range of sound solutions at IAA Mobility in Munich. They serve automakers including Audi, BMW, Mini, and Ford through the company’s brands Harman Kardon; Bowers & Wilkins, and Bang & Olufsen, all providing premium in-car sound experiences.
For example, as an option, Audi’s e-tron GT can be equipped with a Bang & Olufsen Premium 3D Sound System built using what Harman calls in-depth psychoacoustic knowledge theories. The system also incorporates Symphoria 3D, a three-dimensional sound package collaboratively developed by Audi, the Fraunhofer Institute, and Bang & Olufsen.
Buyers of BMW’s new iX can opt for either a Harman Kardon surround sound system or a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound audio system. The Harman Kardon option includes 18 speakers, and has a 655-watt amplifier. The Bowers & Wilkins upgrade is promoted as delivering sound as the artist intended via a 30-speaker setup and 1,615-watt amplifier. A range of tweeters and midrange speakers using aramid fiber are fitted high up in the cabin to enhance audio quality. Despite the large number of speakers, they are well disguised within the car, with brushed stainless-steel covers over the tweeter, while the door speakers are hidden behind acoustically-optimized fabric to keep the interior design uncluttered and as minimalist as possible. Harman also worked alongside Ford to produce a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen system for the Mustang Mach-E. It’s powered by a six-channel, 560-watt A2B amplifier with DSP which Harman says provides a rich and warm sound.
