Klangvolle Fahrt: Der Genesis G90 und sein bahnbrechendes Bang & Olufsen Soundsystem

The Genesis G90's Audio System by Bang & Olufsen Gains Notoriety

Incorporating 23 speakers and a plethora of technology, the installation becomes quite intricate

The larger and more luxurious the vehicle, the greater the acoustic enhancements it can offer. It's no surprise that executive sedans exceeding five meters in length have the spatial capacity to accommodate an extensive array of speakers. Four or six speakers? That's outdated. Anything less than 20 is insufficient, especially considering that the influential passengers seated in the back expect a superior listening experience.

This has been the case for quite some time: The iconic Mercedes 600 featured record players or eight-track cassette players in the back seat, naturally for a hefty price tag. In comparison, the Genesis G90 is a tad more modest, yet still luxurious. The extended version measures up to the 600's size at 5.47 meters in length. As for the cost, it starts at approximately 126,000 euros.

Photo Exhibition: The Sound of Genesis (2024)

Included: A Bang & Olufsen audio system. Crafted from premium materials and fine-tuned by expert sound engineers, it delivers a genuine, robust sound that creates a harmonious and captivating listening atmosphere within the interior. This is something we can attest to. With the "Boston Symphony Hall" mode activated, you'll notice a reverberation effect when clapping your hands. It's especially during Bach's "Toccata and Fugue" that your home sound system feels quite inferior.

Since its inception in 1925, Bang & Olufsen has been crafting audio and home entertainment equipment that stands out for its exceptional sound quality, craftsmanship, and design. The renowned Danish company joined forces with Genesis in 2018 to create a custom audio system specifically for the GV60, which launched in Germany in 2022.

The design teams from Genesis and Bang & Olufsen collaborated closely from the start to incorporate the audio system into the new G90. The goal was to seamlessly integrate the technology and tailor the sound specifically for the interior of the G90.

The engineers from Genesis shared their expertise in design and interior architecture to ensure that the sound system was seamlessly incorporated into the vehicle, achieving the best possible sound quality. The unique and asymmetric design of the luxury sedan's interior posed a fresh challenge for the sound engineers at Bang & Olufsen. Since even the smallest measurements can significantly impact the sound experience, simulations and feasibility studies were conducted to assess the acoustic effects of the interior design and to scrutinize the structural needs.

The Genesis G90's Bang & Olufsen audio system delivers an exceptionally lifelike sound experience while also creating the impression of a sonically enlarged cabin space. The system boasts an impressive output of 1,700 watts across 19 active channels. Among the 23 high-performance speakers strategically placed throughout the vehicle for optimal sound are a central speaker and two pop-out speakers featuring Acoustic Lens Technology on the dashboard, along with four 80-mm midrange speakers and four 160-mm woofers located in the doors.

The setup includes a pair of 220-mm subwoofers beneath the seats, three speakers mounted in the headliner, and another two surround speakers placed in the shelf below the rear window. Additionally, two speakers embedded in the headrests communicate navigation directions and alerts to the driver, ensuring that rear passengers are not disturbed by these audio cues.

Bang & Olufsen's unique pop-out speakers, which come with Acoustic Lens Technology (ALT), are situated at the dashboard corners but are not embedded within the dashboard itself. Instead, they emerge upwards when the system is turned on, spreading sound horizontally across a 180-degree angle. Genesis claims that this design minimizes reflections off the floor and ceiling, thus expanding the acoustic "Sweet Spot" and producing a sound that is more natural to the ear.

A key factor in the remarkable sound quality is the external subwoofer technology provided by Bang & Olufsen. This technology, patented by Harman, minimizes the size and weight of the sound system components, eliminating the need for a large, heavy speaker enclosure. Instead, the bass subwoofer sends sound directly into the G90's structure, utilizing its precisely tuned cavities to create deep, controlled bass sounds. Acoustic engineers ensured from the start of the vehicle's development that the car's frame and other elements had ample space to accommodate the subwoofer's installation.

Additional content from Genesis:

The Genesis G90's sound system boasts a unique feature termed "Virtual Venues," which allows users to recreate the acoustics of renowned concert halls from around the globe within the car's cabin. This is accomplished by monitoring the cabin with eight microphones and modifying the speaker output using sophisticated algorithms to create a 3D sound stage that emulates the acoustic properties of famous venues, including the likes of Boston Symphony Hall. Additionally, users have the option to virtually replicate Bang & Olufsen's reference listening room within their vehicle.

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