Totally makes sense — at the same time, I've seen on a lot of recent high-end cars (or mid-market cars with high-end audio systems) that sound like total crap. For example, B&O today is not what it used to be 5-10 years ago; I heard it in a BMW 5 series, and it sounded terrible. Modern automotive B&O is HARMAN — which is Samsung. I also heard a Bose system on a rental Nissan Maxima, and it sounded worse than many OEM stereos.Most people are probably not aware because they've never heard an aftermarket sound system in a car.
But almost all factory option sound systems are crap compared to what you can build aftermarket. Even the B&O, Mark Levinson, etc. The only one that looks promising is the macintosh system on the Jeep Wagoneer. Maybe on the ultra luxurious cars it might be a different story but I highly doubt it. I wouldn't know either way.
One of the best automotive stereos I've heard is a Bowers & Wilkins setup in a 2011 Jaguar. It was divine.
Perhaps a lot of automakers lately are just doing badge engineering to sell more options?
Last edited: