Advanced audio sets the tone for in-car entertainment

A new world of in-car entertainment is not being driven by visual technology alone. Audio innovations once seen only in home theater systems are now playing a major role in enhancing how drivers and passengers are entertained in vehicles.

Harman debuted in February an acoustic technology focused on enhancing the in-vehicle entertainment experience for families in a more connected way.

The system, called Ready Together, enables front and rear passengers to experience both shared and personalized entertainment experiences. Developed as an open platform, Ready Together uses new Harman in-car audio technology to manage features such as voice prompts, alerts and music to work together for seamless information and communication.

"Families were really wanting to be able to socialize together, much like a dinner-room table, but also have the freedom to ... do their own thing," Chris Ludwig, vice president of the Epic Experience Team at Harman, told Automotive News. "The piece that really kind of intersected well with us was not only enabling them to do their own thing, but also having a very easy way ... to be able to communicate freely and talk to people."

Ready Together allows passengers to chat via audio or video, play games or stream movies to watch together or individually with customizable sound experiences, based on Harman's Virtual Venues technology.

Dolby Atmos, Dolby's surround sound system, first debuted as an in-vehicle integration feature in the all-electric Lucid Air in early 2021. It will now be offered in a range of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

The Sony Vision-S Concept's entertainment system, showcased at CES in January, features the company's 360 Reality Audio, which creates a three-dimensional sound field that immerses occupants in sound from all directions.

Also at CES, BMW unveiled its Theater Screen and My Mode Theater with Amazon Fire TV for Auto, with an integrated audio system from Bowers & Wilkins.

The award-winning British audio company has been exploring several new acoustic technologies, including machine learning and spatial audio — in partnership with its music-tech innovation arm Abbey Road Red, part of the legendary Abbey Road Studios —to transform in-vehicle audio entertainment.

The McIntosh audio system — offered in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer as an integration in Stellantis' Uconnect 5 infotainment platform, available with Amazon Fire TV for Auto — is derived directly from McIntosh's home audio technology.

"The amplifier design ensures power, control, speed and reliability," Fiore Cappelletto, general manager of McIntosh Group Automotive, said via email. "In addition, the sound-tuning phase is performed in a very methodic way to ensure the system in the cabin resembles an authentic McIntosh home audio experience."