Special Tesla Model Y Boasts Technology Found on Rolls-Royce Models

If you have ever bought an above-average sound system for your room or house, you might have noticed that it didn't perform as expected on the first try. Even after adjusting the equalizer several times, something might have felt off. But after moving some speakers around and trying again with your song of choice, it sounded a lot better.

That took a good chunk of your time, and the effort needed to reorganize a 2.1 or a 5.1 sound system can sometimes be overwhelming or frustrating, especially if the product you got was pricey. Now imagine having to make the same arrangement in a much smaller space where no straight walls and materials can adequately reflect the waves emitted by tweeters or the subwoofer. That's the challenge automakers face.

Sound engineers must work with automotive designers to find the best solution possible. Still, they often end up doing the same placements in almost any car – using the bottom part of the doors as housings for the audio system. That limits what cabins can look like and may eat into the available storage room.

But a Tesla Model Y that can be admired at the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA Mobility) 2023 boasts a novel solution allowing manufacturers to free up the door pocket space without downgrading their audio systems.

Dirac and Treves worked together to apply a special acoustic treatment to the well-known all-electric Tesla crossover and to move the speakers to less conventional places. Called "Sonified," this solution guarantees the same level of sound quality in vehicles without forcing automakers to put them in the doors or to add tweeters in the dashboard.

Sound system components can now be installed under floor carpeting or inside seats. We've seen such implementations from Bose with the tweeters hidden inside the headrest or some BMW models that came with under-seat subwoofers.

A new (audio) path forward

The best thing about Dirac's solution is that it allows audio systems not to compromise their output. They also don't have to be larger to compensate for not being put in the doors. That enables automakers to spend less on speaker redesigns and buying parts with specific shapes from suppliers. The Opteo system can also help audio solutions be lightweight, which greatly matters for EV efficiency.

A good sound system is paramount for all-electric vehicles because they are inherently more silent than gas-powered cars. Everything must be fine-tuned so vibrations or alterations don't affect the speakers' capabilities.

Dirac has also put new software in the demonstrative Model Y and a Volvo XC60. The vehicles will be displayed at IAA 2023, where participants can see how different implementations for various cabins lead to the same sound quality.

Dirac's software solution, known as Virtuo, does not require hardware upgrades to make the sound system work as best as possible and allow people inside the car to experience an immersive audio output.

Twelve years ago, Dirac started working with Roll-Royce and created a sound correction solution for the British marque. The Swedish brand took the elegant but conservative cabin of a Ghost and developed solutions that allowed the swanky sedan to treat the driver and their passengers to a studio-quality sound experience.

The evolved and perfected version of that solution can now be observed on a Tesla Model Y and a Volvo XC60. The latter also includes Dolby Atmos technology that enhances how the listener experiences the music and the artist's voice. Dirac worked its magic to make sure that Dolby's solution wasn't affected by the acoustic environment of a car. It found the right settings for accurate staging and secured a well-balanced sound field in all seating positions.

Finally, brands like NIO, Polestar, Genesis, BYD, and Rolls-Royce currently use Dirac's products.