Car Audio

While high-end car audio systems do allow users to tweak the various sound frequencies to their liking, the average non-audiophile may get lost in the process. The YourSound system is designed to make things easier, by guiding users via sound samples.

The CX-30 doesn’t just shake up Mazda’s usual nomenclature for models, but also changes how car audio integrates into the design process. While it misses a few marks in some areas, it sets a new (and high) benchmark for others.

​Music streaming giant Spotify has made its first foray into the world of audio gear. Simply called "Car Thing," this first piece of hardware isn't intended for consumers, but is intended to help the company understand its users' listening habits when behind the wheel.

​Listening to some tunes while driving is great if you're on your own, but if you have passengers with varied tastes then pleasing everyone can be a problem. The dynamic focused sound system being tested by car maker Seat promises to wirelessly deliver sound direct to a driver or passenger's ears.​

Using techniques similar to noise-canceling headphones, Hyundai-Kia's Separated Sound Zone technology allows four people in a car to each have their own private sound system – without headphones. So the kids can rock out in the back, while you catch a quiet podcast and navigation cues in the front.

The all-in-one BassPro Go is a hybrid car subwoofer and Bluetooth speaker that deepens the bass of your in-vehicle audio system before popping out of the car and playing tunes on the move.

In addition to its high-tech smart car technologies, Harman has debuted the Voyager Drive car audio system at CES 2016. The simple plug-and-play Bluetooth audio system hinges around a compact speaker that docks in the dashboard and removes for use outside the car.

If you're listening to a stereo outdoors, it goes without saying that the acoustics are going to differ from if you're listening to it indoors. With that in mind, Bose has designed a sound system for Mazda's new 2016 MX-5 Miata, that has both roof-up and roof-down equalization settings.

The Smart Fortwo might be one of the smaller cars on the road, but fill it to the brim with audio equipment and it can still be one of the loudest. Working with JBL, Smart has kitted out a one-of-a-kind "Forgigs" concept. It has ear-splitting maximum outputs of 5,720 W and 150 dB.

The latest Audi Q7 will be going in to battle with some seriously tough competition in the luxury SUV market. To set the Q7 apart from the crowd, Ingolstadt’s finest sound engineers have created the new 3D Sound system.

Harman has announced a new in-car setup that allows drivers to create "individual sound zones," each of which can play different sounds with minimal interference from other zones – potentially eliminating the age-old argument over who gets to choose the music.

Up to this point, not many head units have actually been released outside of Volvo including one in the XC90, and Pioneer's new system. Now, Alpine is jumping into the CarPlay market with the introduction of its iLX-007 head unit.