Because of my job I've had the chance to review most of the automobile "audiophile systems", sonically and from the engineering view point as in how could I make this work in car XYZ.
The Levinson's in the Lexus line are closer to what you would expect out of your home two channel system as far as presentation goes (nobody is singing from behind your head and there is actually a center image).
I've worked very closely on the Ford GT McIntosh system (I was the interior trim engineer on that car) and its a greatly compromised system, we added it in as an option too late into the development cycle.
The Lexicon system in the BMW 7 is about as good as I've seen technically for a car environment and heard in an OEM vehicle audio system...still exceeded by the custom guys though. The car is also whisper quiet which helps.
Bose...yes its technically good stuff as far as OEM automobiles are concerned but I have to classify that into the boom-tizz category.
The OEM audio systems going into cars are simply to restricted to allow for ideal audio performance. For what they are, background type commuter music they are great.
Sadly, most audio companies treat systems going into an OEM vehicle as marketing and brand recognition exercises...do not expect things to carry over from "home" stereos into "car" stereos, there is very little in common other than the nameplates.
The Levinson's in the Lexus line are closer to what you would expect out of your home two channel system as far as presentation goes (nobody is singing from behind your head and there is actually a center image).
I've worked very closely on the Ford GT McIntosh system (I was the interior trim engineer on that car) and its a greatly compromised system, we added it in as an option too late into the development cycle.
The Lexicon system in the BMW 7 is about as good as I've seen technically for a car environment and heard in an OEM vehicle audio system...still exceeded by the custom guys though. The car is also whisper quiet which helps.
Bose...yes its technically good stuff as far as OEM automobiles are concerned but I have to classify that into the boom-tizz category.
The OEM audio systems going into cars are simply to restricted to allow for ideal audio performance. For what they are, background type commuter music they are great.
Sadly, most audio companies treat systems going into an OEM vehicle as marketing and brand recognition exercises...do not expect things to carry over from "home" stereos into "car" stereos, there is very little in common other than the nameplates.