Bose is getting ready to place its new “SeatCentric” audio systems in new cars, according to MotorTrend.
With SeatCentric audio, dad can nearly blast his music while it plays at a softer volume in the back. Or he can take a Bluetooth call without the the caller’s voice audible to the passengers.
Bose achieves this through special “UltraNearfield” speakers in the headrests plus speakers in the roof and doors plus noise cancelling and spatial audio technology. Audio can then sound significantly louder or softer in different seat locations.
As MotorTrend said, you can’t have one seat in full blast audio and the other totally silent, “but the difference is big enough one person could enjoy their favorite song cranked up while the other person listens to it at a reasonable volume.”
Typically when the driver gets a call via Bluetooth, the sound system is muted so the passengers lose their tunes. Bose SeatCentric audio lets the kids continue to hear music and the driver conduct his phone conversation. And now the kids don’t hear the caller on the other end.
To activate the system, the user turns the passenger volume knob. Onscreen controls appear on the infotainment screen to raise and lower the volume at different seat locations.
MotorTrend said this and new 3D technology is “just about ready for production and Bose says it’s in talks with several automakers to incorporate them in upcoming new vehicles.”
Both Bose and Harman have demonstrated this individualized audio technology at CES for years. In 2021, Harman showed JBL headrest speakers and headrest “wing” speakers, using 3D spatial audio to create individual sound zones.
Rather than audio, OEM supplier Continental has developed individualized video, where the driver can’t see the front passenger’s screen images as a safety precaution. The system uses backlighting to achieve the privacy mode.
New Bose 3D technology, called 3DX, makes use of the new headrest and roof speakers, along with updated software to deliver more immersive sound, MotorTrend said.
Source: MotorTrend, Bose,
