German Car Zone

Bang & Olufsen Enters the Automotive Sector in Audi A8 and S8
Bang & Olufsen Introduces Its First Ever Advanced Sound System for Audi's A8, S8 and Concept Car, the Roadjet, at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL -- Bang & Olufsen, the global provider of high-end home theaters and custom multi-room music systems, together with Audi, the leading German manufacturer of distinctive, luxury automobiles, is proud to announce the arrival of the Advanced Sound System that is custom-made for the A8 and S8 models in addition to the new Audi Roadjet concept car unveiled this week at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The Advanced Sound System will make its debut to the North American public this week and will be available in the summer of 2006. The system sets new standards in automotive audio in the clarity of its sound staging for all passengers, its controlled tonal balance, and its exceptional response to changes in background noise conditions.

"Bang & Olufsen is world renowned for our knowledge and expertise in the field of hi-fi and video," stated Bang & Olufsen CEO Torben Ballegaard Sorensen. "Our mission is to produce high quality products with emphasis on design, craftsmanship and innovation. In addition, Audi has established its position in the car industry through innovation and quality. Therefore, both companies were driven by the ambition to give the customer optimal enjoyment and a unique experience, and we are very pleased to collaborate with such a strong brand."

Unrivalled Performance
The new system has been specially adapted to the conditions inside the car, providing a unique musical experience while driving. This experience is achieved by the use of a powerful digital signal processor, discrete amplification for each loudspeaker and Acoustic Lenses. Acoustic Lens Technology* is licensed exclusively to Bang & Olufsen. It provides a wide horizontal sound dispersion of high frequencies in the car's interior. The Acoustic Lenses automatically rise out of the dashboard when the sound system is engaged, ensuring an extremely detailed acoustic stage from any seat in the car. The Advanced Sound system also employs Bang & Olufsen's patented digital amplifier technology, ICEpower, which supplies the 14 loudspeaker units with an unprecedented 1000 watts of power.

The system stands out from others on the market because it was created to solve the problem of uneven spatial characteristics of the sound stage. It can be optimized for up to four passenger settings with its 14channel digital signal sound processor, and each of the 14 loudspeaker units are powered by its own amplifier in a self-contained cabinet, which results in minimal
exterior sound leakage outside of the car. In addition, the system continuously compensates for changes in interfering background noises such as those caused by the engine, tires, air conditioning, wind or even changes in pavement or rain conditions.

Audi also has great expectations for the cooperation with Bang & Olufsen, as evidenced by the Advanced Sound System's presence in the new Roadjet car concept. "The character of the Audi A8 as the most dynamic saloon car in the
luxury segment is molded by trend setting design and technology, and the Bang & Olufsen Sound System specially developed for each car rounds this off," says Dr. Martin Winterkorn, CEO at Audi.

The Advanced Sound System will be offered as an upgrade in the A8/S8 class automobiles. In Germany, it is priced at 6000 Euro and US pricing is yet to be set. Expected arrival date is July 2006.

*Acoustic Lens Technology is licensed from Sausalito Audio Works LLC.

ABOUT BANG & OLUFSEN

Bang & Olufsen a/s was established in 1925 in Struer, Denmark, and is renowned worldwide for a distinctive range of quality electronic products that express our vision: Having the courage to transcend boundaries to create experiences that surprise and captivate. The Bang & Olufsen Group produces a unique selection of TVs, music systems, loudspeakers and telephones as well as
medical and multimedia products.

Bang & Olufsen employs a staff of more than 2,400 and the company's products are sold in more than 60 countries all over the world. Turnover for the financial year 2004/2005 was DKK 3,742 million.

Further information on Bang & Olufsen a/s is available at http://www.bang-olufsen.com.








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>> Source : Fortitude.com <<

This looks really smart - although B&O look very good, they are certainly not the best AV brand in the world - actually, they are a bit over-rated - but they certainly are very seductively designed.

Yeah I know they are over-rated, but they are quite good. And like you said, they make their stuff look good, which is important for a car like A8/S8!

What would you say is the best then (I'm not much of a coinesseur when it comes to this)?

That does look extremely good though. I like their design very much actually.

I don't know either, but a friend of mine is a real audiophile and we've discussed the B&O case many times... for the price they charge, they're not that good.

I find it's pretty sexy. And usually their attention to detail what sets them apart, so you might not see that on the pics. Eitherway, if you look at their home entertainment stuff, it's usually very nice and artsy, and pricey.

I'm sorry but this is just impracticle. I love Bang & Olufsen (i've got their phone for the house) but this is just kind of stupid. While I completely understand Audi's desire to work with such a company and portray a certain image, this is poorly executed. As mentioned by someone else above, B&O makes nice looking stuff but it isn't the best in terms of performance. Then there is the fact that this stuff actually pops out of the dash. Am I the only one would would find that really annoying and get tired of it quickly? How about the fact that it blocks your view of the road. It's just cool to show off but that's about it.

I'm no expert either warot, but a lot of the really high-end audio equipment is not very pretty like the Bang & Olufsen products. Bose is also much like B&O - they look quite good, but an audiophile wouldn't be caught dead with it.

The Scottish company Linn are better than B&O, so are Denon, Meridian, or Revox.

As far as car audio is concerned, Alpine are still highly regarded, as is Becker - which used to be standard equpment in Mercedes-Benz cars. Burmester is the maker of the audio-system in the Bugatti Veyron - I don't think it gets much better than that.