Often times, we showcase cars which have burbling engines and howling exhausts. We exhibit how much power and torque they have to make mincemeat of a motorway. These days driving is rarely a bliss with traffic. The beautiful sound coming from your rev-happy engine might be a nauseating drone when you’re stuck in between bumpers. You’d happily end yourself. Except…
To battle this you have to have music. Not just that. You have to have a system that reproduces your music well. It has to sound good with whatever music you throw at it. More importantly, it should relax you. We list the top 5 systems that will be your salvation against road rage.
Acura RLX (Krell)
Krell has been producing heavy, hot class-A amplifiers for the home audio crowd since time immemorial. Acura has teamed up with them to create one of the best boombox on wheels. It has a thumping bass and crystal clear highs that will make it seem like Louis Armstrong is in your dashboard.
Volvo XC90 (Bowers & Wilkins)
Like Krell, B&W has been known to make some of the best home audio and studio monitors. (See a pattern here?). It has a very clean distortion-free sound, and deep articulate bass. Mated with the big Volvo’s innate comfort, you wouldn’t mind sitting in 4 hour traffic jams while listening to the latest jam from Little Mix.
‘That beautiful engine sound might be a nauseating drone when you’re stuck in between bumpers. You’d happily end yourself.’
Lincoln MKX Black Label (Revel Ultima)
Revel is another high-end brand brought to you by Harman Kardon. In the MKX, the experience can be likened to critical listening with thumping, textured bass, detailed highs and superb mid-range. You’d be hard-pressed not to bring a favorite recording – or ten.
Range Rover Sport (Meridian)
By far, this is the best standard fit audio ever, uhm, fitted to a car. It takes all the strengths of the Revel Audio above but adds a much more immersive sound stage. Mind you, this is a £2,300 option on an already expensive SUV. Buying this will add to the Range Rover’s imperious experience. Think being front and center in Vivaldi’s concert. But if you have such cash to spend on a car and a stereo then number 1 must be…
location of 16 drivers.
Not the Bentley Mulsanne. Don’t get us wrong, it has a very good sound system. And it should since it costs 230 thousand quid. The Naim Audio upgrade costs an extra kidney. And with that the best in car audio is done by whichever reputable shop and installer near you. For the price of the Naim upgrade, you could do with a Volkswagen Jetta and get a system that is louder, clearer, and thumpier than the Bentley’s or the Range Rover’s. Because there is no standard fit audio system that will rival the best aftermarket audio system. Ever.
