OFFICIAL Vehicles with Factory Surround Systems

[jarofclay73]

You can now go to the Acura website and build your own TSX.

The new TSX with the technology package is $32,060. That's about $3,000 cheaper than the TL. If I were in the market for a new car with DVD-Audio surround sound, this is the way I'd go. They made the TSX bigger, and that was my only issue with the old one. For my needs, the TL is a bit on the big side. If you want the horsepower though, the TL is an excellent choice.

So, the TSX is the cheapest luxury car with DVD-Audio capability.

The Saturn Outlook might be the cheapest vehicle possible but I can't tell if you have to buy the Advanced Audio Package or the DVD Entertainment package to get it.

Plus, I'd put my money into the ELS system.

 

[CPR]

Ferrari 612 Scaglienetta/ONLY

Bose Surround system that plays EVERY format known to me;
CD, CDR, DVD, DVD AUDIO, SACD, MP3

It was made EXCLUSIVELY for the above vehicle
Not even an option, on ANY other car.

Sounds beyond incredible
For $275,000 it better!:banana::sun

 

[johnrd]

CPR, have you actually heard this system? And, if so where, and with what source material? Details.

 

[johnrd]

Has anyone actually heard this system?

(Link from ca auto news)

http://www.carpages.ca/go/autonews/08252006,new_ferrari_612_scaglietti_gets_bose_audio_upgrade.aspx

 

[johnrd]

Oops wrong link.

http://www.boston.com/cars/news/art...rari_create_simply_state_of_art_media_system/

 

[cliffbig]

Traded in my 2007 MDX for a 2009 Hyundai Genesis with the technology package. The 17-speaker Lexicon system will play DTS-CDs, DVD-Audio, andDVD-Video (in park only for the video, but the audio plays at all times). The sound is quite impressive--I had always found the separation to be quite good on the MDX but the sound itself was a bit too crisp and seemed to lack full range and body in comparison to the 2006 Acura RL I had driven previously. However, this new Genesis upgraded sound system is amazing--full and rich with an enveloping sound quality. The only thing I miss from the Acura is the ability to adjust center-speaker volume independent of all other speakers.

If Acura wouldn't intentionally disable audio playback from DVD-video discs, I might have gone with an Acura RL or TL instead.

 

[JonUrban]

Traded in my 2007 MDX for a 2009 Hyundai Genesis with the technology package. The 17-speaker Lexicon system will play DTS-CDs, DVD-Audio, andDVD-Video (in park only for the video, but the audio plays at all times). The sound is quite impressive--I had always found the separation to be quite good on the MDX but the sound itself was a bit too crisp and seemed to lack full range and body in comparison to the 2006 Acura RL I had driven previously. However, this new Genesis upgraded sound system is amazing--full and rich with an enveloping sound quality. The only thing I miss from the Acura is the ability to adjust center-speaker volume independent of all other speakers.

If Acura wouldn't intentionally disable audio playback from DVD-video discs, I might have gone with an Acura RL or TL instead.

Sounds nice! Thanks for the info cliffbig, I added it to the master list.

Anyone else have anything to add????

 

[cliffbig]

Oops--I forgot to give the specs on the system in the Hyundai.

The deluxe audio system in the tech package is a 17-speaker Lexicon system, which previously was used only in the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Lexicon is a division of Harman-Kardon. The system is fairly sophisticated, offering multiple preset equalizations for different types of music, along with a customization setting for creating your own treble/midrange/bass balance. It also SEEMS to offer neural surround sound processing for XM radio (can't be certain--but it most definitely creates a better illusion of surround sound on the neuralsound XM channels than any other vehicle I've driven), and it does a great job of generating an illusion of surround from CDs and from iPod tracks.

 

[elshagon]

Traded in my 2007 MDX for a 2009 Hyundai Genesis with the technology package. The 17-speaker Lexicon system will play DTS-CDs, DVD-Audio, andDVD-Video (in park only for the video, but the audio plays at all times). The sound is quite impressive--I had always found the separation to be quite good on the MDX but the sound itself was a bit too crisp and seemed to lack full range and body in comparison to the 2006 Acura RL I had driven previously. However, this new Genesis upgraded sound system is amazing--full and rich with an enveloping sound quality. The only thing I miss from the Acura is the ability to adjust center-speaker volume independent of all other speakers.

If Acura wouldn't intentionally disable audio playback from DVD-video discs, I might have gone with an Acura RL or TL instead.

This is the first I've heard of the Genesis playing dvd-audio discs. I'd searched before and didn't see any mention of it. How is the Genesis besides the Lexicon system?

 

[cliffbig]

I'm phenomenally impressed so far. Drives like a charm--powerful but subdued--extremely comfortable, superlative fit and finish, spacious without feeling oversized. The only things I wish for are a cooled passenger seat (my wife gives me a hard time about the fact that my seat is cooled, while hers isn't), an automatic trunk opening/closing mechanism rather than just a trunk release, and ID3 tags through the iPod connection. I compared it to the 2009 RL and the Lexus 460, and thought it out-performed both of them. Not sure how Hyundai can offer so much more for $10,000-$20,000 less than the competition!

 

[cliffbig]

This is the first I've heard of the Genesis playing dvd-audio discs. I'd searched before and didn't see any mention of it. How is the Genesis besides the Lexicon system?

Here's a lot more info on the sound system, including the mention of DVD-Audio:

http://hyundai.lexicon.com/hyundai.aspx

 

[elshagon]

Thanks for the link, I will be definitely reading up some more on the Genesis. I'm guessing since it's a new car there's not much in the way of any deals to be found. Another concern I have is typically a few kinks need to be worked out on new models, so I've seen it suggested to wait until year 2 of it's production. But I want a car with surround capabilities! The Genesis is on my short list.

 

[cliffbig]

I suspect prices will be higher on this car in inflation-adjusted dollars in a couple of years than they are now--the features it offers for the cost are phenomenal. That's why I went for one. Also, the car has been on the market in Korea for a while, so they've had some time to work out the kinks overseas before bringing it here.

The sound system is a major factor in determining what car I buy; this is the reason I no longer own an Acura or a Honda after almost 30 years of brand loyalty. They haven't kept up with the times, and their vehicles are under-featured in comparison with the competition.

(As a side note, wouldn't you think that one or more of these auto manufacturers would want to offer a customer label to market 5.1 DVD-Audio to their clientele who have bought a car with that feature? With the right focused marketing, this could be an even more profitable niche than the current vinyl market, I'd bet.)

 

[elshagon]

So would you rather have Ray Rice starting this week over someone like Willie Parker? And if you haven't had your draft yet, would you draft him ahead of somebody like a Kevin Smith of Detroit?

 

[JonUrban]

So would you rather have Ray Rice starting this week over someone like Willie Parker? And if you haven't had your draft yet, would you draft him ahead of somebody like a Kevin Smith of Detroit?

Huh?

 

[cliffbig]

So would you rather have Ray Rice starting this week over someone like Willie Parker? And if you haven't had your draft yet, would you draft him ahead of somebody like a Kevin Smith of Detroit?

Uh oh... I must have tuned the wrong channel, because I don't know this program or the actors!

 

[johnrd]

I usually take center setting to -3 sometimes even -6 on surround set-ups, so I know what you mean. A simple mono l-pad to adjust level would have been cool. ;-)

 

[JonUrban]

I checked the website and it looks like a great car. I was surprised to find out that it's rear wheel drive! That would be a problem for me.

Here's the blurb on the Tech Package:

Technology Package (T): Lexicon® 7.1 Discrete 17-speaker
surround sound audio, in-dash navigation system, in-dash
6-disc DVD changer, multimedia controller, Driver
Information System, XM NavTraffic® with 1-year complimentary
subscription, HID auto-leveling headlights, Adaptive Front
Lighting System, front and rear parking assistance sensors,
rear backup warning camera, cooled driver seat

 

[Lucanu]

That Hyundai looks like they joined together a Mercedes-Benz(front) with a BMW(rear). Still a very beatiful car and a helluva presentation!

 

[elshagon]

So would you rather have Ray Rice starting this week over someone like Willie Parker? And if you haven't had your draft yet, would you draft him ahead of somebody like a Kevin Smith of Detroit?

Not sure how my fantasy football post ended up on here, must have been late or too many beers :banana:

Got a price quote for a Genesis today with the tech package. I may go in for a test drive, just got to figure out which dvd-a I want to bring for the ride