Imagine driving down a scenic road with your favorite music playing so clearly and powerfully that it feels like you're sitting in the middle of a concert hall. For true connoisseurs of high-quality sound, a car is not just a means of transportation, but a full-fledged mobile studio or concert venue on wheels.
But not every production car is capable of satisfying the discerning ear of an audiophile. This requires special engineering: thorough soundproofing, specially designed acoustic zones, and, of course, a first-class factory audio system that has been perfected by renowned audio brands.
In this review, we will look at cars where engineers and sound engineers worked hand in hand. We are not talking about cars for tuning, but about production models where fantastic sound is available right from the dealership showroom. These are the top cars created for those who appreciate every note.
If you love music and want to hear every nuance—from deep bass to clear highs—then a regular car interior won't do for you. True audiophiles look for cars with high-quality soundproofing, well-designed interior acoustics, and factory audio systems that truly reproduce sound as the musician intended. This list features ten cars that are not only comfortable to drive but also particularly enjoyable to listen to music in: from premium sedans to sporty crossovers, where the sound is tuned to perfection and sounds almost like it does in a studio.
Range Rover Sport
The renowned company Meridian Audio offers an optional super audio system for the Land Rover Range Rover Sport (from 3 million rubles) with 19 speakers and 16 channels of amplification, including a 2-channel subwoofer.
Range Rover Sport, may feature a Meridian Audio system
Additional features include the company's proprietary Trifield spatial sound technology. The total power of the super system is 825 watts. That's pretty much all the official dealer has to say about it.
Jaguar F-Type
Meridian Audio also adds a menacing roar to another almost British beast, the Jaguar. For the F-Type model (from 3,800,000 rubles), speaker sets are available for 41,000 and 55,000 rubles.
In a more modest version, the owner of a luxury car will get 10 Meridian speakers with a dynamic volume control system to compensate for noise in the cabin. Another innovation is the technology for correcting the sound landscape of the cabin to make the sound “softer, more natural, clearer, and more distinct.” In addition, special digital filters are used to eliminate resonance and improve sound quality.
Jaguar F-Type, optional Meridian Audio speakers
For 55,000 rubles when purchasing a Jaguar F-Type, you will receive an even more impressive Meridian Surround audio system with 12 speakers with a total power of 770 watts, plus an additional center channel. The innovative sound enhancement systems we mentioned above are also used in this solution.
Maserati
Bowers & Wilkins is the supplier of sound solutions for this brand (optional). The Quattroporte (from 7 million rubles) and Ghibli (from 4 million rubles) models are equipped with premium audio systems.
Maserati Quattropote, optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system
The first model has 15 branded speakers built in. Kevlar membranes are used for mid-range drivers, low-frequency drivers are made from the brand's proprietary Rohacell composite material, and dome tweeters are made of aluminum. All of this is integrated into the car's architecture in strategically important places.
Maserati Ghilbi, optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system
The company reports that the acoustic solution was developed by the engineers who designed the flagship B&W 800 Diamond speakers, so fans of these speakers will be extremely satisfied with the sound. However, third-party signal processing technologies are used, in particular the Harman QuantumLogic processor and AuraVox equalization. Removable drives can be connected to the system via USB in addition to the iPhone, of course. The Maserati Ghibli offers almost the same thing, so there is no need to devote a separate paragraph to it here.
Porsche Cayenne/Macan
No one is surprised by the abundance of Porsches in Moscow anymore. The popular Cayenne SUV (from 3,495,000 rubles) gleams on the streets in a wide variety of tuning variations from all known and unknown tuning companies. And it would be strange if official dealers did not offer a branded turnkey audio system as part of the options package.
Porsche Cayenne with Burmester sound system (optional)
Burmester manufactures this system for Porsche, and these systems significantly exceed those of Jaguar, Maserati, and others in terms of price and features. According to the manufacturer, the Cayenne deserves the most expensive sound (228,000 rubles). Therefore, the Burmester High End Surround Sound system offers a 16-channel amplifier with a power of over 1000 W with 16 speakers, including an active subwoofer with a 300-watt Class D amplifier. It also uses ribbon tweeters (Air-Motion-Transformer, AMT) and frequency separation filter technology, which came from home audio systems.
I would like to note that this audio system is designed for use in the Porsche Cayenne, but will also be available in the new Porsche Macan crossover (from 2,500,000 rubles), which will arrive in Russia this summer.
Lexus IS
Being another premium brand, Lexus, of course, cannot do without an equally premium audio system. The Lexus IS 300h Luxury sedan (from 2 million rubles) features a Mark Levinson system. Interestingly, the latter is responsible not only for Car Audio, but also for the soundproofing of the interior, so the collaboration is even closer than with others. In the Luxury 1 or Luxury 2 trim levels, the buyer will receive a 12-channel Class D amplifier with a power output of 835 watts thanks to 15 speakers with GreenEdge energy-saving technology, which allows you to double the output volume while maintaining the same energy consumption level.
Lexus IS 300h with Mark Levinson system (optional)
The sound power adjustment system automatically adjusts the sound level of the system for each track played to ensure the required volume level. In other words, it is a built-in normalizer, which we saw earlier in other participants' systems. All this was made possible, as Lexus enthusiastically reports, thanks to “20,000 hours of painstaking work,” because “each speaker has a precisely calibrated location in the car.”
Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition
Let's move on from eye-catching luxury cars to something simpler: for example, the legendary Beetle. In the US and Europe, Volkswagen is offering an exclusive Beetle Fender Edition model (not yet announced in Russia, starting at $24,440 in the US), which is the same Beetle but with a complete audio system developed by the famous manufacturer of amplifiers and electric guitars. It has already been dubbed the “musical beetle” with the Fender logo and various “exclusive” colors on the outside and inside.
Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition. Already fully equipped
The Beetle's audio system features a 10-channel Class A/B amplifier with 400 watts of output power, four Fender Deluxe tweeters, two 20 cm Fender Twin speakers in the front and two 16 cm Fender speakers in the rear, as well as a 20 cm Fender Bassman subwoofer. All in all, it's not that fancy, but what's appealing is that since it was developed specifically for a particular car model, everything will be calibrated and balanced just right.
Misubishi Lancer Evo X
For simpler cars, there are simpler audio systems. The famous Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X rally semi-sports car (from 500,000 rubles) can only boast of a “premium audio system” (and if any of them are not premium, point your finger) Rockford Fosgate in terms of additional sound. The power of the nine speakers located in the cabin, including the subwoofer, is 650 watts. The audio system is controlled by buttons on the steering wheel, and the sound can be optimized according to the type of music being listened to.
Misubishi Lancer Evo X with Rockford Fosgate speakers
An interesting and publishable feature is the ability to adjust the sound balance for a specific passenger in the front or rear, or for a group of them. Including the driver. Actually, there is nothing more specific to say about the audio system: Mitsubishi obviously does not attach much importance to it.
Toyota Land Cruiser 200
Another Japanese vehicle, the large Toyota Land Cruiser 200 SUV (from 3.2 million rubles, luxury trim), is served by another Harman division, JBL. The 14-speaker audio system is, of course, also premium, but the brand is a little more modest.
Toyota Land Cruiser 200 with Harman system (optional)
In addition to the speakers, the SUV has an 11-channel DSP, a 605-watt amplifier, and a 200-millimeter subwoofer, which is also located in the car for a reason. Interestingly, the JBL Synthesis 7.1 Surround Sound system (official name) is not installed as a separate system, but is sold as part of the SUV's luxury package.
BMW
Finally, I have left two of the most beloved four-wheeled brands in Russia: BMW and Mercedes. Naturally, all or almost all models are equipped with “premium” audio systems. However, the information about this is somewhat vague.
B&W 3, optional Harman/Kardon speakers available
For example, the third series of BMW officially offers a 600-watt system from Harman, and for some reason, one of its main features is the ability to control the equalizer. The BMW X series, especially the older models, are also equipped with a high-end audio system with a 9-channel amplifier and 16 neodymium magnet-based speakers. The brand is not specified (which is strange), but most likely it is the same Harman Kardon. In general, BMW is very stingy with details about audio systems. We'll take their word for it.
As you can see, choosing a car for a music lover is always a search for balance. Our list includes both luxury sedans with top-of-the-line factory systems and more affordable models that serve as an excellent base for further refinement. The main thing is that there are no bad options here.
Remember that the perfect acoustics in the cabin are not just about technology. It's also about well-designed sound insulation, the acoustics of the interior itself, and even the character of the engine. The best car for an audiophile is one in which you feel immersed in the music, forgetting about the road.
Ultimately, your choice depends on what you want to hear. For some, clear and detailed sound is important, while for others, powerful and emotional sound is more important. Listen, compare, and choose a car that will make every trip a real concert.
