Drawing on more than 50 years of audio engineering experience, the British audio manufacturer Bowers & Wilkins is bringing the developments from its home audio research and development team (R&D) to BMW Group, with the launch of the BMW XM.
The Diamond Surround Sound System by Bowers & Wilkins, which was also featured in the launch of the new BMW 7 Series models, combines expert engineering and elegant design to deliver audio excellence throughout the vehicle’s interior, the companies boast.
“We are proud to be continuing our partnership with BMW Group to incorporate our high-performance Diamond Surround Sound System in the BMW XM,” says Dan Shepherd, vice president of licensing and partnerships at Bowers & Wilkins.
“BMW drivers expect only the best when choosing their vehicles, making the Diamond Surround Sound System in the all-new BMW XM the right choice for elevating their in-car audio experience.”
Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series Diamond Fuels BMW XM
Inspired by Bowers & Wilkins’ flagship 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers, which are used in recording studios across the globe, the vehicle’s sound system features 20 high-performance speakers to deliver high-fidelity audio for all occupants. Bowers & Wilkins worked alongside designers and sound engineers from BMW Group from the very start of the vehicle’s development to bring its world-leading sound reproduction to the XM.
Key features of the Diamond Surround Sound System include five aluminium tweeters, two Rohacell central bass speakers under the front seats and two Diamond Dome tweeters in the driver and passenger side A-pillars, which are the same engineering and technologies used for the 800 Series Diamond series of products.
The high-frequency Diamond Dome tweeters have been developed in a laboratory using chemical vapor deposition and temperatures approaching that of the surface of the sun. These very light and extremely rigid tweeters push unwanted resonances far beyond what a human can hear.
As a result Bowers & Wilkins explains, the Diamond Dome tweeters create realistic treble, providing incredible accuracy with minimal distortion and delivering sound as it was intended to be heard. The car also features five Continuum midrange speakers in the front and rear doors, the dashboard and at the rear of the cabin to give an authentic recreation of music as the artist intended.
Both companies note The BMW XM is the second BMW vehicle to feature Continuum cones, and BMW and Bowers & Wilkins add the stainless-steel speaker grilles boast an exclusive pattern design that illuminates to help visually highlight the system’s sound quality.
“Our continued partnership with BMW highlights Bowers & Wilkins’ position as the brand of choice for customers across a whole range of BMW vehicles, bringing our True Sound experience to more and more people around the world,” comments Shepherd.
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