B&O put the Bang in Mercedes AMG
Typically when "music" is mentioned in the same sentence as AMG, it's in relation to the deep burble emanating from the exhaust pipes. But with all that Teutonic, sound-deadened cabin comfort, customers of the Mercedes tuning division have come to expect an equally impressive performance from inside the cabin. To that end, AMG has signed a new deal with the Danish audio gurus at Bang & Olufsen to provide their high-end automotive sound systems for these high-powered Mercedes models.
The deal is the third such agreement brokered by B&O, whose systems already appear in Audis and Aston Martins, spearheading a market proliferation that surely influenced the decision-makers in Affalterbach. Both AMG and Bang & Olufsen were clearly elated by the deal, and you can feel the sheer unbridled joy in the statement from AMG chairman Volker Mornhinweg: "Mercedes-AMG represents high performance and exclusivity. The same is true of Bang & Olufsen's in-car sound systems. Jointly, we are therefore able to meet Mercedes-AMG customers' expectations to sound systems." Contain yourself, Volk. Follow the jump to read the rest of the press release.
[Source: Bang & Olufsen]
PRESS RELEASE
Bang & Olufsen in partnership with Mercedes-AMG
Bang & Olufsen to supply sound systems for Mercedes-AMG.
Bang & Olufsen, the worldwide provider of exclusive, high quality audio and video products, has signed an agreement with Germany's Mercedes-AMG, the performance division of Mercedes-Benz Cars, for a unique sound system.
"Our new partnership with Mercedes-AMG is hugely important to us," says Karl Kristian Hvidt Nielsen, Bang & Olufsen President & CEO.
"The agreement enables Bang & Olufsen to further utilize the expertise and processes we have built up in order to meet the requirements of the automotive industry," says Karl Kristian Hvidt Nielsen. "And, of course, Mercedes-AMG is also an interesting partner for Bang & Olufsen because the cars are sold across the world."
"Mercedes-AMG represents high performance and exclusivity. The same is true of Bang & Olufsen's in-car sound systems. Jointly, we are therefore able to meet Mercedes-AMG customers' expectations to sound systems," says Volker Mornhinweg, Chairman of the Management Board at Mercedes-AMG.
The agreement with Mercedes-AMG does not affect Bang & Olufsen's expectations for the current financial year.
Bang & Olufsen's sound systems have gained a considerable reputation within a short time. Earlier this year, the respected German magazine "auto motor und sport" named Bang & Olufsen the number one brand in the Car-HiFi category in its readership survey "Best Brand 2008."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Adam Carolla 7:17PM (8/13/2008)
Bang what? I think I saw one of their videos.
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Geeky1 7:36PM (8/13/2008)
I was under the impression that Bang & Olufsen was more known for looks than sound quality... I haven't heard any of their equipment in person though, so... I'd be curious to know how they compare to Klipsch, ESS, BGW and the like.
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Ford Wannup 10:00PM (8/13/2008)
absolutely....B&O are more industrial designers than engineers.
Xcountryflyer 3:17PM (8/14/2008)
Totally agree. B&O is all about the design. You can get better sounding stuff for less money than they charge, but it won't have the same B&O aesthetic. That's fine by me.
Flashpoint 8:44PM (8/13/2008)
I'm the type of person who adds a subwoofer to whatever sound system a car comes with.
I cannot distingiuish the big difference between B&O, Lexicon, HardonKardon and Bose.
for some of us, if you want to impress us, just add powerful bass and average highs on a multi piece speaker system and we are happy. KICKER and MTX will get just as much praise as B&O or Lexicon.
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Zane 11:52PM (8/13/2008)
Please don't offend top sound manufacturers by mentioning Bose in the same breath.
Oh, HarmanKardon and Lexicon belong to the same company that also owns Mark Levinson and AKG.
FoxJ30 11:58PM (8/13/2008)
B&O's more of a "lifestyle" brand for home entertainment - think of them as a higher-end Bose (I've never met a Bose system I've liked). That said, I'd love to try the B&W system in the Jag XF... or the Linn system in an Aston.
Why are some audio systems named for the speaker manufacturer while others are named for the amplifier manufacturer?
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Flashpoint 2:03AM (8/14/2008)
Car manufacturers recently have simply made better sound system by adding more speakers - to the point of 15 or more - and adding 5.1 or 7.1 sound.
I am 100% certain that at a certain point the human ear simply can't detect the difference.
The way you get me interested is by having a loud system that doesn't distort at high volume, and built in subs with as much punch as a 500 watt 12" woofer.
The Lexicon in the Hyundai Genesis sounds just as well as the THX in the Lincoln MKS.
FoxJ30 8:47AM (8/14/2008)
Adding more speakers does *not* make a better sound system - it's purely marketing. The more speakers you have, the more problems you run into with having to design more (and better) crossovers between tweeters, midrange drivers, woofers, and subs. You also run into issues with time alignment between too many drivers trying to produce the same sound at once - imagine one person speaking to you, and then imagine 10 people speaking to you - which one is clearer?
Audio engineers have in no way reached the limits of human hearing - if they haven't been able to do it in a home, there's no way they've been able to manage to do it in a vehicle. Imaging, distortion, and dynamic range are all problematic in cars due to the limits of speaker placement, amplifier power, and background noise.
I have no doubt there are systems that sound better than the Bose, Harmon Kardon, JBL, and Monsoon systems I've heard so far, but considering nothing I've heard in a car can hold a candle to my B&W stereo at home (stereo - no surround speakers, no sub), I'm still waiting to be dazzled, regardless of the brand on the system.
Kaveh 1:09AM (8/14/2008)
Thats some expensive good sounding audio. You guys shouold check out the System B&O did for the new Audi S8, pretty insane system.
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Skipper 5:04AM (8/14/2008)
I heard it and it was terrible. The highs kept clipping and no matter how much I turn down the treble it either clipped or sounded tinny.
I one of the best OEM systems I've heard has been the THX system in the Lincoln and the dynaudio system in the passat.
There are decent (in other words passable) Bose systems on the market i.e. current A4. But I word never call Bose systems high end in performance. Bose is successful because it offers a complete solution for many consumers i.e. small, easy to set up, complete with wires etc.
For high quality audio check out companies like M&K sound, Genelec, Dynaudio and others . There not pretty but high end they are.
Kaveh 5:08AM (8/14/2008)
hey had a ML320 with the bose system was so boomy, I just want to slap my phoenix gold stuff in the car, but you can't touch the head units anymore.
FoxJ30 8:55AM (8/14/2008)
Skipper,
I've heard the Dynaudio system in the Volvo C30 - and if the Passat sounds like the C30, than it's quite passable in terms of quality. By no means groundbreaking performance, but... decent.
10 speakers and 300 watts in my GTI gets me a sound system that sounds thin, unbalanced, lacking a decent midrange (lower half), and lacking low bass. too bad most people look at specifications rather than actually listening...
Kaveh 2:27PM (8/14/2008)
Dynaudio system makes some really good speakers, I haven't heard them in the VW's yet.
Coolthough 1:25AM (8/14/2008)
Ah. I see what this is. They think that if they upgrade to B&O, they'll finally be up to Audi's level. Pshh. I don't think so AMG.
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DriveCritic 6:03AM (8/14/2008)
Mere confirmation that B&O secured the rights to supply the sound system for Merc. rather than on technical/acoustic merit, perhaps?
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h8rain 8:24AM (8/14/2008)
I have not heard a lot of "premium" car stereos, but the best stock system I have heard is in my Titan (Rockford Fosgate). I believe it is 400 watts and 8 speakers. There is a subwoofer, and it actually produces a good amount of bass to round out the sound. It's not window shattering, but you can definitely feel the sound.
The "BLOSE" system in my wife's RX-8 she had was awful. No other word for it, but just awful. The Bose system in a Miata with only two speakers sounded a hell of a lot better. She currently has a xB RS3 (I think, whichever the green one is) and it has a "premium" Awia I think and it is ok. Sounds nice, but no real low end. When I was looking for a truck the Titan with the upgraded sound system was pretty good too.
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