In your hands, you can feel the steady vibrations of the steering wheel. 445 hp is at your disposal, pulled along by 480 lb-ft of torque. A 4.4-liter V8 creates it all, sending a rumble through the body of the car. But something more clear, deep and crisp overpowers it all – the steady beat of a bass drum, enveloping you in music from every angle.
It sounds like an experience reserved for a night out with your favorite car – but it’s not. It’s a daily drive in your BMW X5 or X6 with the High End Surround Sound System from Bang & Olufsen.
With the Bang & Olufsen sound systems found in BMW’s vehicles, the marque has made sure it never leaves drivers or passengers wanting for rich beautiful sound. Since 1925, Bang & Olufsen has been recognized worldwide as being the front runner of high-quality audio systems, but it wasn’t until 2005 that they introduced their first system for the automotive market. In the ten years since, they’ve mastered the art, and the BMW X5 and X6 both feature this stunning sound.
The X5  and X6 are the latest BMW models to feature the high-end Surround Sound system. They bring the same deeply layered, yet completely homogeneous sound that drivers have enjoyed in BMW’s sedans to the sport activity vehicle (SAV). The system features Bang & Olufsen’s patented Acoustic Lens Technology, which accurately spreads music’s high-frequency sounds throughout the cabin, ensuring all passengers are in the best listening position. The Acoustic Lens is integrated into the dashboard and precisely emerges and gently illuminates when the system is turned on.
Other innovative technologies on board include a powerful, yet efficient Class D amplifier with a dedicated channel for each speaker in the vehicle – 16 in total. TrueImage Processing is the brains behind the system, offering the most life-like 5.1 surround sound expereince on wheels. Dynamic Sound Optimization (DySop) technology ensures your listening experience is always optimized. This intelligent technology actively adjusts all system parameters to compensate for changes in the cabin’s listening environment, whether coming from within our outside the vehicle.
While the technology is impressive, the biggest contributor to the quality of this sound is the 400 hours of sound tuning each model undergoes during development. Bang & Olufsen’s world-renowned Acoustic Engineers tested and tuned by ear and by digital measurement, both in their labs and on the Autobahn at speeds up to 155 mph. Take your X5 to the track and enjoy a Sonata at 100 mph – only your adrenaline will keep you from hearing every note.
Quick Facts
Speakers: 16 Fully Active PremiumAcoustic Lens Technology: Delivers 180 degrees of sound dispersion
Amplifier: Class D 16-Channel with 1,200 watts
Sound Features: 5.1 Surround Sound with Bang & Olufsen TrueImage Processing
Speaker Grilles: Anodized Aluminum
Of course, the beauty of this sound system is found in its visual presentation as well. You won’t necessarily need to see the Bang & Olufsen name laser-engraved into the surfaces of the grilles to know who crafted them. Round, solid aluminum and anodized in BMW’s exclusive Perlglanz (Pearl Gloss) color, each is crafted at Bang & Olufsen’s state of the art aluminum processing facility in Denmark.
Two distinct audio modes can also help refine the system’s ability to match your desired listening experience. The “Expanded Mode” option is meant to broaden the sound stage and imitate the feeling of concert hall acoustics, while “Studio Mode” lets you hear the music as the artist initially intended, fully incorporating the original recording’s complete atmosphere.
No day is ordinary when experienced by an extraordinary person, and each mode ensures your aural experience matches the quality of a BMW drive.
For the best selection of models equipped with the Bang & Olufsen system, reach out to one of their preferred dealerships throughout the United States. Scan the list below to find the one closest to you, and find the aural and automotive experience you didn’t know you’d been craving.
Advantage BMW Group | Houston, Texas
BMW Encinitas | Encinitas, California
Classic BMW | Plano, Texas
Global Imports BMW | Atlanta, Georgia
Vista BMW Coconut Creek | Coconut Creek, Florida
Gallery
Sponsored by Bang & Olufsen
