It's always confusing when I tell my friends about Bowers and Wilkins, who are also known by the abbreviation B&W.
"I just heard some amazing new speakers."
"Oh, really? What brand?"
"B&W."
"BMW? Really? They're making speakers now?"
"No. B and W. Bowers and Wilkins. They're British."
"Oh..."
And now things are about to get more confusing.
"Wow, I just checked out the high-end audio system in the new Volvo sedan and SUV. It's amazing."
"Really? Who makes it?"
"B&W."
"BMW? Really? So now they make car speakers too? But why are they putting them in Volvos? Shouldn't they go in a... Mercedes?"
I really need new friends.
But it's true. British loudspeaker legends Bowers and Wilkins don't just make uber-expensive and incredible-sounding high performance speakers for the home. They also provide a high-end audio experience for select automobiles, including the Maserati Quattroporte and Maserati Ghibli, and the BMW 7 series (aha!). The latest automobiles to get the Bowers and Wilkins sonic upgrade are the new S90 sedan and XC90 SUV from Volvo.
Let's be clear, Bowers and Wilkins isn't just providing a stealth bespoke sound system here, too shy to reveal its heritage, content just to blend in with the plush leather and Alcantara fabric interior. One of the first things you notice as you enter the new Volvo XC90 SUV is a big beautiful tweeter in the middle of the dashboard, and next to that a prominent Bowers and Wilkins logo. By putting the tweeter on top, instead of recessed into the dashboard, its sound can reach the ears directly, without becoming diffuse or muffled by bouncing off the windshield and/or door panels. Another B&W logo can be found on the driver's door. There's no mistaking this system for a run of the mill stock audio system, not by looks anyway. And definitely not by sound.
The 19-speaker B&W system in the Volvo XC90 is driven by a 12-channel Class D amplifier that pumps out as much as 1400 watts. In addition to that prominent 25mm tweeter on top of the front dash which features B&W's Nautilus technology, you'll find six more 25mm Nautilus tweeters, three 100mm and four 80mm Kevlar cone midrange drivers, four long throw woofers and one 250mm "Fresh Air" subwoofer built with a carbon fiber cone. The tweeters, midrange units and woofers are positioned all around the cabin to optimize the sound distribution. The subwoofer is bolted to the car's sub-frame to minimize unwanted vibrations. The cavernous interior of the XC90 gives the sound some room to breathe, creating a deep expansive soundstage.
The sound has been tweaked for the XC90 interior by a joint team of engineers and designers from both companies. From the car's touch screen control panel, you can even customize the soundfield so it's optimized for just the driver, for all passengers, or for rear seat passengers. You can even make it sound like you're listening in a concert hall, but not just any concert hall. The "Concert hall" setting was modelled after Gothenburg Concert Hall in Gothenburg Sweden. AC/DC may be taking some time off due to their singer's failing hearing, but you can listen to AC/DC play live at Gothenburg any time you sit down in your Volvo.
I listened to a fair amount of tunes from a USB stick from both the driver and passenger's seats and played around with the sound settings. It was definitely among the best car systems I've listened to with an open airy sound, nice midrange detail and a fat bottom end that was neither boomy nor bloated. I turned it up loud enough to annoy the neighbors and the system didn't show much strain.
In addition to the USB port, which supports MP3s, FLAC files, WMV, AAC and other digital audio file formats, the system supports the new Apple Car Play standard for seamless integration with an iPhone. You'll also find Pandora, Sirius XM and TuneIn internet radio on board so you should never run out of things to listen to. The Bowers and Wilkins system is available as an upgrade option in both the XC90 SUV and the S90 sedan.
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