8 Automobile Manufacturers That Help Dolby Atmos Audio

Dolby Atmos is the gold normal for high-fidelity surround-sound. That stated, when you have been to make a Dolby Audio vs. Dolby Atmos comparability, you’d discover that “{surround} sound” is not precisely an enough descriptor for the tech — as a substitute, Dolby Atmos is correct spatial audio. With Atmos and a succesful speaker system, you’ll be able to hear distinct audio “objects” inside 3D area. Utilizing a stack of psychoacoustic tips and particular bodily speaker channels, like upward-firing items that may bounce pontificate a ceiling, Dolby Atmos ain’t your grandpa’s 5.1 {surround} system.

Should you wished to beef up your automotive with an aftermarket CarPlay unit with Dolby Atmos, you can try this. However why would you need Dolby Atmos in a car, anyway? It’d sound odd to need film theater-tier audio in a automotive, however when you consider it, it makes good sense. Many luxurious vehicles have include elaborate multi-speaker techniques for ages, and it will be a waste of the tech’s capabilities if producers merely ran plain stereo sound by means of such detailed techniques.

Through the use of Dolby Atmos processing, vehicles geared up with the know-how can present any soundstage you want. Atmos can output your music so it sounds prefer it’s throughout you, with devices combined to be positioned at particular factors in 3D area. And it is a perfectly-tuned characteristic accessible on all of the vehicles listed right here! For whenever you’re not on the highway, although, you can nonetheless expertise Dolby Atmos on Bluetooth headphones and audio system with music that is been combined for Atmos on companies like Apple Music, Amazon Music Limitless, and Tidal.

Because the German marque’s flagship luxurious automobiles, it is no shock that the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Mercedes-Maybach have been among the many first within the producer’s car lineup to get Dolby Atmos. Again in 2021, Mercedes introduced that Atmos know-how can be included not solely with the 2 aforementioned luxurious automobiles by default, however that it will even be built-in with the non-compulsory Burmester sound system.

Should you’ve ever thought the variety of audio system in a typical Dolby Atmos house theater was lots, wait till you hear that the Maybach and S-Class each characteristic 31 audio system in whole, courtesy of the Burmester. And, amongst these 31 audio system, six of them are “3D” audio system that emit sound from above passengers, which is an ideal setup for the optimum Atmos expertise. It is a bi-amped system with sound transducers within the seats, near-ear audio system, and an enormous 18.5-liter subwoofer. In whole, the system outputs 1,750 watts of energy, which just about actually implies that wherever you are going, the sound of no matter music is taking part in at your vacation spot in all probability will not sound fairly as spectacular as what you listened to on the best way there.

The Lucid Air is an EV we have praised loads of instances earlier than. It is one of many few electrical vehicles extra highly effective than a Tesla Mannequin S, and, on the time of writing, the Lucid Air Grand Touring can be the longest-range electrical car you should purchase. There’s already lots to like about this EV market disruptor, however in 2021, the Lucid Air gained one other promoting level by changing into the primary EV to be geared up with Dolby Atmos.

Whereas the Lucid does not have the staggering 31-speaker array of the Mercedes choices we simply checked out, its 21 audio system are actually nothing to scoff at. Whether or not your Lucid will get Atmos relies on the trim stage, although. The Lucid Air Pure is the entry-level mannequin that comes with a 9-speaker non-Atmos system. For slightly below $3,000, nonetheless, you’ll be able to improve to the full-fat 21-speaker array. The Lucid Air Touring additionally provides it as an non-compulsory additional, however the top-spec Lucid Air Grand Touring mannequin consists of it as a typical characteristic.

Traditionally, the Cadillac model has a popularity for luxurious and extra, one would possibly say. It is maybe no shock that all the Cadillac EV vary provides Dolby Atmos as an non-compulsory additional, on the very least, with some fashions together with the tech within the base bundle. Particularly, the choice is on the market on the 2025 OPTIQ, all the 2026 EV vary, and the 2026 Escalade.

Cadillac did not simply get along with Dolby on this one. It additionally pulled within the experience of the famend audio model, AKG. This implies the speaker tuning for these automobiles’ sound techniques was carried out by among the greatest engineers within the enterprise. The aim, in line with Cadillac, was to recreate “the precision of a 7.1.4 studio combine inside the car’s cabin” — so the system’s speaker placement and tuning was designed with that intention in thoughts. 

So, when you hearken to an Atmos-mixed music utilizing one of many companies talked about earlier, it ought to sound such as you’re proper there with the musicians whenever you’re listening in choose Cadillac automobiles. Remember that Dolby Atmos is not nearly audio system and their placement, although. It is also about how sound interacts with the bodily surfaces in real-world area. Cadillac has taken this into consideration with their automobiles, however listening to is believing.

We tipped the Volvo EX90 as one of many most secure EVs you should purchase, however Volvos are about extra than simply taking part in it secure. The EX60, EX90, and ES90 fashions all embrace Dolby Atmos. The precise implementation of the Atmos tech differs from one mannequin to the subsequent; for instance, the EX60 ships with each Apple Music and Dolby Atmos, and it was, in actual fact, the very first Volvo to take action.

The EX60 has a 28-speaker system designed and constructed by Bowers & Wilkins. A few of these audio system are constructed into the headrests of each foremost seat, which implies that when you ever have the chance to hearken to music on this automotive, you are going hear it proper by your ears. The speaker rely drops to 25 in each the ES90 and the EX90, however the sound techniques in these automobiles are nonetheless manufactured by Bowers & Wilkins.

Dolby is not included with each trim stage, although. In High Gear’s evaluate of the EX60, the reviewer famous that this top-tier sound choice is included within the “Extremely” trim, and that “except you’re spectacularly cloth-eared or have little interest in music, you would be mad to not spring for that.”

The Polestar 3 may be one of many least satisfying EVs to personal, in line with customers, however there isn’t any doubt that providing Dolby Atmos as an non-compulsory characteristic goes within the “plus” column of this car’s steadiness sheet. Which is a little bit ironic, given it is included as a part of the “Plus Pack” improve for the plucky EV underdog.

The Polestar 3’s 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system has been an choice on the car for the reason that final quarter of 2023. Curiously, neither the Polestar 4 nor the Polestar 5 supply Dolby Atmos, despite the fact that each automobiles have choices for elaborate and highly effective multi-speaker techniques.

Likewise, there does not appear to be any indication — as of this writing — that the deliberate Polestar 6 or Polestar 7 EVs will characteristic this know-how. Nevertheless, not all particulars about these vehicles can be found but, so it is arduous to say for sure. If it seems the Polestar 3 finally ends up being the one mannequin in Polestar’s total lineup to characteristic Dolby Atmos, it will be a curious affair, certainly.

Some of the well-known quirks of the Lotus manufacturers is that almost all of Lotus’ vehicles have mannequin names that begin with the letter E. Effectively, now that the corporate well-known for making light-weight sports activities vehicles has moved into the world of electrical propulsion, the “E” can now stand for “electrical,” too. 

Probably the most well-known Lotus EV is arguably the 217-mph Lotus Evija, which is likely one of the quickest electrical automobiles on the earth. Nevertheless, what many Lotus prospects might very properly purchase as a substitute is the Eletre SUV, which is the place you may discover the choice for a Dolby Atmos sound system.

In relation to sound, there are two separate choices for the Eletre. You may get a 1,380-watt, 15-speaker system or a 2,160-watt, 23-speaker system — each made by KEF, and each with Atmos bundled into them. In accordance with Lotus, the Eletre is the primary car on the earth that mixes a KEF audio system with Dolby Atmos.

By far probably the most intriguing automotive on this checklist to characteristic Dolby Atmos, the Li Mega is extra of a rolling house than it’s a automotive. This Chinese language-market household wagon has monumental inside area and modular seating. It may possibly assume Lounge Mode, Household Room Mode, First-Class Mode, and different quirky configurations because of its rotating and reclining seats.

The Li Mega’s Film Room mode, nonetheless, is probably the most related one for the needs of discussing Atmos. On this configuration, the second- and third-row seats recline in order that passengers can watch films or exhibits on the built-in leisure display whereas having fun with — you guessed it — Dolby Atmos. Not like the opposite vehicles we have seen up to now, the Dolby implementation within the Li Mega consists of not solely Dolby Atmos but additionally Dolby Imaginative and prescient.

The Li Mega has three screens to your viewing pleasure, all of that are OLED. On high of the one drop-down passenger display, the automotive has two extra front-console displays. The place was this automotive again within the ’90s? Again then, all we obtained have been fuel station coloring books and Recreation Boys, if we have been fortunate.

If this checklist goes to characteristic Mercedes, then you’ll be able to guess it is also going to characteristic BMW. Dolby Atmos is an non-compulsory additional for all the vary of BMW 7 collection fashions, and in these automobiles, the tech is paired with a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Encompass Sound system.

Should you thought the 31-speaker system for the Mercedes vehicles was elaborate, maintain onto your headphones. The BMW answer has 36 audio system pumping out a grand whole of 1,965 watts. There are roof-mounted audio system, “Diamond Dome” tweeters, headrest drivers, and different audio system just about all over the place you look contained in the automotive’s cabin.

This feature is on the market for each ICE and EV fashions within the 2026 7 Sequence line. Even higher, if you’d like a BMW with Dolby Atmos, you will not be restricted to the wallet-busting 7 Sequence for lengthy. The BMW iX3 Lengthy Wheelbase EV can even be getting Atmos; if that is the case, then different fashions is probably not off the desk, both.