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Published on November 7, 2007

Nevertheless, this is the usual striving for perfection: to accurately reproduce music as it should sound when played live. From the first step in recording music, which depends on the sound engineers in the studio, each with his own recording technique, to the design of audio equipment by electronic companies which could depend on market requirements (customer preference) and price, the definition of high fidelity often changes.

But we must admit that expensive audio equipment usually delivers a more accurate reproduction of music than cheaper gear.

The best audio equipment requires the best design and components, which make them costly, but to make audio equipment more affordable to the general public, technology can be of great help to produce a component that has a good balance between sound quality and price.

The loudspeaker is another component that plays a major role in sound quality. No matter what level the recording studio or electronic components, if the speakers are unable to deliver those fantastic sounds, they are of no use.

You will notice that towards the end of the sound reproduction process, the easier it is for the sound quality to become distorted. The treble could be too high due to the environment of the passenger cabin, the stiffness of the car's body structure, or the materials used for the interior. The shape and angle of the cockpit, the roof height, and even the glass area can all affect sound quality. Many times the fault is not the equipment, but the reflection of sound waves in the car.

I would like to stress that fabric upholstery in cars not only collects dust but also spoils sound quality.

By absorbing too much sound with soft fabric upholstery, the low frequencies are usually lost and you will need a power amplifier and detailed adjustment of the equaliser. I have discovered that both low and high frequencies are absorbed by fabric upholstery, and sometimes you can't even locate the source of the bass. The spreading of the low frequency also blurs the treble and vocals. This is something surprising to most people.

Accessories such as high-quality speaker cables, interconnects and equalisers are usually used to fine-tune the audio system. But many times the cause is the listening environment, and you cannot cure the problems with accessories. You need to fix the true cause - the interior of the car.

Changing the upholstery to genuine leather can be seen as spending too much to achieve a small benefit, but I see it as a requirement if you want the cockpit to become a good listening room. From my experience, I confirm that cars with leather upholstery offer better sound quality than those with fabric or urethane.

With leather, the cabin will become quieter, and the sound reflection usually ends up well balanced.

So if you can, consider leather seats because they really affect the sound quality. This is not a joke and if you don't believe me, I dare you to try.

By

The Nation

 

Ultimate in Luxury

The Luxury LS 460 is a wonderfully comfaortable car fitted with all mod cons, althoough not necessarily the most fun vehicle to drive.