A luxury car can be one of the best places to listen to music. Considering you’re surrounded by speakers and enclosed in a sound-deadened capsule, it’s a great way to experience the latest Lady Gaga album and sing your own rendition while cruising down the highway.

The standard audio system in most luxury brands are good, but the upgraded sound systems are typically much better. Let’s take a closer look at the five of the premium brands found in the most popular luxury cars currently on the market.

Acura – Krell

If you’re in the market for an Acura RLX Hybrid, then you will be treated to the sweet sounds of the 14-speaker Krell Premium Audio System. Not only does the system use “handsome speaker grilles,” but those that opt for the upgraded sound system will get “one-third less distortion than the leading competitor’s flagship luxury car amplifiers, according to Acura.

Those are bold claims, but rest assured that Krell is known for their home theater audio systems and you’ll be able to hear all the highs and lows of your favorite songs in the RLX Hybrid.  

Audi – Bang and Olufsen

When purchasing an Audi, you can either opt for the standard Audi system or the upgraded Bang and Olufsen 3D Premium sound. Next time you’re in the market, we highly recommend the upgrade as the Bang and Olufsen Premium system with 19 speakers is undoubtedly one of the best on the market.

If you have the option for the Advanced system, then we would say it’s worth the $4900 upgrade considering it comes with 23 speakers with a total of 1,920 watts. Enjoy your home theater on wheels.

BMW – Bowers and Wilkins

The Bowers and Wilkins system consists of 16 speakers and 10 amp channels for 1,400 watts of pure sound bliss. Aiding with the amplification are diamond tweeter domes, that’s right, they put tiny diamonds in the tweeter to get the purest sound.

Talk about dedication to the craft. It will cost you, though, as the Bowers and Wilkins audio upgrade typically costs between $3,400 and $4,200. But we’re sure it’s worth every penny, and diamond.

Lexus – Mark Levinson

Mark Levinson sound systems have been the audio upgrade for Lexus models since 2001, which shows that they definitely know what they’re doing. With 23 speakers and 2,400 watts of clear listening, we would say that paying an extra $1,900 for your Lexus would be worth it.

Mercedes Benz – Burmester

Every Burmester sound system has been made in-house and handmade by highly trained technicians since 1971. They provide the upgraded sound system for various Mercedes models, from the C-Class to the S-Class, and the upgrade packages vary depending on the model.

For the S-Class, the sound system contains 27 high-performance speakers and produces 1,590 total watts. It’s impressive, but even more impressive is that some of the speakers are installed on the headliner. Talk about surround sound!

Sounds good

No matter which luxury model you go with it seems that you’re in good hands when it comes to upgrading the sound system. At this level, gone are the days of going to your local audio shop and getting an aftermarket system installed, hoping that it actually sounds decent. Next time you’re shopping for a luxury car, check the box for the upgraded sound and be prepared to sing along to your favorite tunes in a crisp, clear fashion.