ROMA – It is now well known: the best place to listen to music is the car. Partly because the cockpit is a small space, partly because the audio systems are increasingly sophisticated, the fact is that the car is the best concert hall you could wish for. Now, however, one more circumstance is added: the absence of engine noise in electric cars. Silence outside, inside only a Beethoven Ninth (or Queen according to taste) shot to the max. Better than that just a live concert. Audi has understood this and is aiming at it.
“Electric mobility now offers us the possibility to make the sound even more alive we cannot forget that people who buy an electric car for the first time will lose a familiar sound: that of the engine”, explains Tobias Grundl, Head of the Audi Department. for Sound and Acoustics Development. “Electric mobility presents us with new acoustic challenges and requires new strategies for sound. For this, we are pursuing a holistic approach to immersive stereo sound. Autonomous driving and communication with the vehicle in the form of voice control are also important factors in the design of Audi’s future acoustic and sound architecture ”.
With this in mind, the house of the four rings has also started a collaboration with Sonos, experts in the audio sector, for the new compact SUV Q4 e-tron. “Sonos’ authentic and energetic sound fits perfectly with our sound philosophy and our compact models,” says Grundl. “The new Q4 e-tron is Audi’s entry point into the premium world of electric vehicles. For the first time, people will be able to use familiar audio settings to make tonal changes in timbre. The rear seat will be able to enjoy more bass and be pervaded by a louder sound while the driver and front passenger will be able to listen at half volume, so that they can focus more on the traffic ”.
To improve its systems and get closer to the immersive approach, Audi also turned to the research institute Fraunhofer IIS. “Digital audio engineering is evolving at a furious pace. We are working closely with Fraunhofer IIS scientists to develop new software components and integrate them into our robust strategy. ” concludes Grundl. “In the future, the interior of the car will become more and more like a concert hall.”
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