Bowers & Wilkins audio system for Volvo XC90

Volvo’s next gen flagship SUV, the XC90, which is yet to be launched after its re-incarnation from the first generation is said to feature Bower & Wilkins audio system on board. As per the Swedish automaker, they have collaborated with British audio equipment company Bowers & Wilkins to provide top of the line entertainment system for usage by customers thereby enhancing their in cabin experience.

Commenting on this tie-up Stuart Nevill, Head of Engineering, Bowers & Wilkins said, “The XC90 uses our tweeter-on-top technology, which has a number of advantages in the automotive environment. Fundamentally it increases the ratio of direct to reflected sound, as more of the signal reaches the listener directly from the tweeter, rather than reflecting off the windscreen first. All of this means that the Bowers & Wilkins audio system in the XC90 sounds incredibly tangible and lifelike.”

Based on bespoke acoustic technology developed over five decades with research going into loudspeaker design; the new system on board is set to revolutionize sound. The use of a combination of high-performance, low-distortion speaker designs along with extended range aluminium tweeters and Kevlar midrange units is said to be one of its biggest USP’s. The presence of a centre speaker with Bowers & Wilkins tweeter-on-top technology is a first in any four wheeler as it caters to more open and spacious surround.

On the whole, the system comprises of a 12 channel HARMAN 1,400 watts Class D amplifier powering a total of 19 Bowers & Wilkins speakers – 7 Nautilus tweeters (25 mm) with the latest treble technology, 7 midrange speakers (5x100 mm and 2x80 mm) with the characteristic yellow Bowers & Wilkins Kevlar cone clearly visible behind the cover, 4 cone woofers (200/165 mm) and the new, ground-breaking air-ventilated subwoofer (250 mm).

“The subwoofer design is integrated into our new Scalable Product Architecture and is possibly a world first in the automotive industry,” said Michael Adenauer, former music producer and audio expert at Volvo Cars. Adding further, he said “this increases the subwoofer’s capacity to pulse more air, which enables extremely low bass tones all the way down to 20 Hz. In principle, it turns the whole interior space in the car into a giant subwoofer.”

To complement further, the new audio system uses advanced sound processing software developed by Swedish audio company Dirac Research. What the software does the system to do is to manage the timing of the sound and co-operation between the speakers so as to optimise the sound for specific or all seating positions.

Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President, Research & Development, Volvo Car Group. said, “Great music and sound are among the most important factors for a truly enjoyable drive. This makes the choice of audio systems a vital part of our designed-around-you philosophy. We are very happy to be able to offer the music aficionados among the XC90 buyers one of the most desirable audio systems on the market.”