Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

New Products

Audi A8 Second Generation Bang & Olufsen Sound System

606019.jpg

Together, Audi and Bang & Olufsen present the new generation of the highly acclaimed Advanced Sound System which was first launched in the model year 2005 of the Audi A8. In the new Audi A8, the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System surpasses previous achievements with superior sound performance, more power and a new design language to complement and enhance the exclusive interior of the car.

Audi A8

In 2008, it was announced that Audi and Bang & Olufsen would continue to build on their cooperation success through the development of a new generation Advanced Sound Systems for a broad range of new Audi models. At the Design Miami trade show, the new Audi A8 is now presented with the first member of this new generation in automotive sound from Bang & Olufsen.

Evolution based on revolution
When Bang & Olufsen launched the first generation Advanced Sound System for the Audi A8 in 2005, the system was received as a revolutionary design statement offering an acoustic experience unmatched in the automotive industry. In addition, the system took quality and craftsmanship of the sound system components to a new level. Experts and journalists gave the sound system a hugely positive welcome and among others, the German car magazine ‘auto motor und sport’ described the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System as “nothing short of a revolution surpassing all previous automotive audio systems”.

Second generation of Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System
During the last four years, the people behind the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System have continued working on improvements in the system to create even further refined sound performance. “With the next generation of the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System, we have really succeeded in creating the perfect experience thanks to the outstanding sound. We have worked together with Bang & Olufsen on this sound system for four years — adjusting and testing over and over again. The result is the best quality, perfect harmonizing and a breathtaking design. All in all, the best sound ever developed for a car. Try it yourself — you will never want to get out of the car again”, states Sound Project Manager at Audi, Dipl.-Ing. Adam Sulowski.

Audi A8

Adding to the magnificent features of the first generation, the new Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System has five additional loudspeakers, a total of 19, each driven by its own discrete channel of digital signal processing and amplification. Thanks to the use of Bang & Olufsen’s proprietary ICEpower technology the system produces a total amplifier power of 1.348 watts at only 1% distortion (equals 1.460 watts at the usual 10% automotive distortion specification).

Improved Acoustic Lens Technology and new design
The Acoustic Lens Technology is a Bang & Olufsen owned and patented innovation and one of the cornerstones of the Advanced Sound System. The unique shape and finely tuned acoustic optimisation have resulted in an improved acoustic performance and individual design statement at a level never achieved before.

Bang & Olufsen Acoustic Lens Technology

The loudspeaker grills for the midranges and woofers in both front and rear doors are organically shaped and each formed from a single piece of aluminium thus integrating perfectly with the Audi A8’s interior curves. Further development of the Bang & Olufsen aluminium competences made it possible to achieve the elegant result of the organic shapes, enhancing the contemporary interior of the new Audi A8.

“With the launch of the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System in the former Audi A8 in 2005, Audi and Bang & Olufsen jointly changed the paradigm for in-car audio. By the introduction of the second generation Advanced Sound System in the new Audi A8, the cooperation follows up on the success through continued development of both the acoustic and aesthetical elements of the sound system, and thus defines a new reference within ultimate audio”, states Bang & Olufsen Vice President, Jens Peter Zinck.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

The new generation Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System offers improved sound both for passengers in the front- and rear-seats. For the front passengers, improved staging and imaging is enabled by the midrange speakers in the front doors, a two-channel centre speaker and the enhanced acoustic lenses. The rear seat sound performance is distinctly improved through the introduction of a three-way speaker system in each of the rear doors and a two way system on the parcel shelf.

Privacy effect and personal drive-in movie
The four additional rear loudspeakers especially improve the listening experience during playback of discrete multi-channel audio formats. This means that an even more “movie theatre like” experience is gained, particularly in conjunction with the Audi Rear Seat Entertainment package. This feature is complemented by the option of selecting the special sound mode ‘Movie’, giving a sound experience close to what you would have at the cinema. This gives the idea of drive-in movies a whole new meaning. The ‘Movie’ sound mode in the A8 can be adjusted via the ‘DSP Bang & Olufsen’ menu in the Audi infotainment system MMI.

Audi A8

The ‘Volume Levelling’ feature is a highly advanced vehicle noise compensation algorithm that is specifically optimised for the new Audi A8. The main input to the Volume Levelling system is a discrete, integrated microphone in the ceiling that continuously detects the background noise, including sound generated by the air conditioning, engine and road. This system ensures that the optimum sound experience is constantly enjoyed for each occupant of the vehicle whatever the conditions.

The closed speaker cabinets ensure that music and phone calls stay in the car, giving an optimal ‘privacy-effect’ e.g. for taking business calls, and furthermore the closed cabinets reduce undesired vibrations from the door trim when playing music at high sound pressure levels.

Specifications

  • 19 fully active loudspeakers:
    • 2 x 19 mm soft dome tweeters in motorized acoustic lenses
    • 5 x 25 mm soft dome tweeters
    • 7 x 100 mm midranges (closed cabinet, fiber glass cone, ABS basket)
    • 4 x 165 mm woofers (closed cabinet, air dried paper cone, cast aluminum basket)
    • 1 x 200 mm subwoofer (closed cabinet, air dried paper cone, cast aluminum basket)
  • More than 1.348 watts at 1% distortion level (equals 1.460 watts at the usual 10% automotive distortion specification)
  • DSP (Digital Signal Processing) Amplifier:
    • True-Image™: Proprietary Bang & Olufsen up-mix algorithm for stereo and 5.1 multichannel material
    • Volume leveling depending on noise, speed and climate control setting
  • ICEpower Amplifier
  • 4 sound settings: Front, Rear, All and Movie
  • Capable of Stop/Start functionality
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Latest Products

Focal Diva Mezza Utopia Loudspeakers

New Products

Focal’s Diva Mezza Utopia is a $70,000 high-end wireless speaker system with Naim Class A/B amps, UWB streaming, and app control—no separates required, no...

KEF XIO Soundbar in Silver Grey mounted on-wall KEF XIO Soundbar in Silver Grey mounted on-wall

New Products

KEF XIO Soundbar brings Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and hi-res streaming to a sleek 5.1.2 system with premium design, VECO bass tech, and wide connectivity.

LG OLED evo M5 Wireless TV Lifestyle Gaming LG OLED evo M5 Wireless TV Lifestyle Gaming

HDTV 4K & 8K TV

Top-of-the-line LG OLED picture technology in a 77-inch screen size with zero cable clutter for a sleek home theater or gaming setup.

Orange Amplifiers O Turntable Angle Lifestyle Orange Amplifiers O Turntable Angle Lifestyle

New Products

With a $699 tag, the O Turntable is belt-driven and comes with a pre-installed MM cartridge and a built-in phono preamp for easy connection...

FiiO K15 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amp Front View Angle FiiO K15 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amp Front View Angle

Headphone Amps

Discover the FiiO K15 DAC Headphone Amp: A powerful, affordable desktop solution offering balanced audio, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, all for $549. Compare with top...

Nothing KEF Headphone 1 Lifestyle Nothing KEF Headphone 1 Lifestyle

New Products

Nothing challenges the Apple AirPod Max with the new Headphone 1 with Sound by KEF.

Gift Ideas?

Amazon Prime Day is July 8-11, 2025

Daily Deals

Amazon Prime Day is a four-day shopping event from July 8-11, 2025 offering the biggest discounts of the year on consumer electronics.

You May Also Like

Articles

Unique turntables of 2025 include Audio-Technica’s levitating Hotaru to MoFi x Fender’s vintage rock vibe and Thorens’ modern classic.

New Products

Bang & Olufsen's $30,000 Beosystem 3000c fuses vintage vinyl charm with modern wireless flair—and yes, you're paying a massive premium for nostalgia dressed in...

New Products

The $349 Beosound A1 3rd Gen adds sound upgrades, fresh colors, and the same IP67 waterproof build—still one of the most stylish portable Bluetooth...

New Products

This convergence of Danish Hi-Fi and some of the finest Italian stone or petrified wood will not be cheap. And that was before the...

Articles

Looking for the best compact wireless speaker? Our favorite models from Brane, DALI, Devialet and Bang & Olufsen can go wherever you go.

Daily Deals

Our favorite portable Bluetooth speakers on sale for Cyber Monday 2024 that we would actually buy for ourselves or recommend to family and friends.

Articles

The COVID pandemic took a lot from us including thousands of restaurants. But a small vintage audio and record store in thriving in Brooklyn.

New Products

Beoplay H95 are the best Bang & Olufsen wireless headphones ever built which include advanced noise cancellation and 38 hours of battery life.

Advertisement

ecoustics is a hi-fi and music magazine offering product reviews, podcasts, news and advice for aspiring audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts and headphone hipsters. Read more

Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.



SVS Bluesound PSB Speakers NAD Cambridge Audio Q Acoustics Denon Marantz Focal Naim Audio RSL Speakers