Since the first car radios were installed in the 1930s, music and cars have gone together. Whether it’s a long road trip or crawling through commuter traffic, having the right thing to listen to can make the journey fly by. Indeed, from the rock ‘n’ roll era of the 1950s to modern day hip-hop, cars are themselves a favourite topic for songs. Making those tunes sound perfect while you drive is a challenge that consumes thousands of hours of testing. Cars aren’t ideal listening environments: the road is noisy and the relatively small cabin tends to reflect sound. That’s why Lexus draws on the expertise of leading audio equipment designer Mark Levinson to meet those challenges. As technology advances, entertainment will become even more central to the in-car experience.
Future self-driving cars may allow the family to settle down for a movie or, thanks to personalised audio zones, let mum and dad listen to a podcast while the kids in the back enjoy the latest hits. New speaker technology will mean that whatever you choose to listen to the quality will be flawless – like a concert hall on wheels. In the meantime, watch a video xxINSERT LINKxx of a collaboration between musician Ash Koosha and animator Sophia Ray inspired by the the new Lexus CT, as well as other videos from the Create Amazing series.
The birth of car radio
When the Galvin brothers developed an in-car radio in 1930, they decided it was like a Victrola record player for the motor car so they called it the “Motorola”, giving name to the long-lived technology firm. Meanwhile, Blaupunkt in Germany and Crossley in Britain were also developing radios for the car. This seemingly small advance wasn’t easy. There were problems of power consumption to solve as well as ensuring the receiver could get a signal on the move.
From vinyl to streaming
Motorists didn’t get to choose what they listened to until the late 1950s, when firms experimented with in-car record players. Those were soon scratched – probably literally – in favour of tape. The cassette was the height of technology for more than 20 years, until the compact disc became the in-car favourite. Today’s audio systems, such as those designed by Mark Levinson for the Lexus CT 200h, can stream audio direct from your smartphone.
Mono becomes stereo
Initially, cars had one speaker in the middle of the dashboard, but as stereo sound arrived multiple speakers became the norm – bringing with them the challenge of sound balance. That’s why Lexus turned to renowned sound engineer Mark Levinson. The quiet Lexus cabin finally offered an environment for Levinson to deliver the audio experience for which he is famous, creating sound systems tailored to each Lexus model with up to 19 speakers.
In-car surround sound
Mark Levinson’s engineers spent thousands of hours creating a perfect surround sound experience that brings the music to life for every passenger. In future, individual passengers will have their own personal sound zones, allowing everyone to enjoy different music. Engineers are also working on noise-cancelling technology that will improve in-car sound while still allowing important sounds through, such as an emergency vehicle’s siren.
The age of app
In-car entertainment is becoming more app-focused and will soon be even more so. That means your music collection, audiobooks and any radio station in the world will be available in the car. And voice control technology, which improves safety by allowing the driver to focus on the road, will get better. Instead of saying “play Beethoven”, you’ll be able to say “play me something relaxing by Beethoven” and get exactly the right choice for your mood.
