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 The
best entertainment spot in the house just might be in
the garage — or more specifically, in the car.
In-car
entertainment has come a long way from the days when
your options were AM/FM radio and/or cassette tape player.
Now, improved audio-visual technologies and increasingly
sophisticated entertainment tastes mean that cars can
become mobile concert halls, or even mobile video arcades
or theaters for kids (and others) in the rear seats.
Depending
on your driving habits (e.g., whether your typical drives
consist of short hops to the bank or grocery store,
longer commutes to work or school, or full-scale road
trips), your passenger mix, your entertainment preferences,
and your budget, you can choose from a growing range
of in-car products to turn driving into a vibrant, enveloping
entertainment experience.
Let's
start with a brief look at some audio technologies available
for in-car applications, and what they do.
Audio
Technologies at a Glance
Many in-car entertainment products include Dolby technologies,
considered by many the "gold standard" for
high-quality audio and surround sound in the cinema,
home theater, broadcast, and professional recording
studios, and now also putting "surround in motion."
Dolby Laboratories does not sell products directly to
consumers; instead, it licenses its technologies to
companies at every step of the entertainment continuum,
from recording studios to consumer electronics products
and content. Other companies with in-car audio technologies
worth noting are dts and Logic7.
Here
are some in-car entertainment technologies that you
might encounter
Dolby®
Digital: The state-of-the-art 5.1-channel surround format
— i.e., five full-range channels (left, center, right,
left surround, right surround) plus a low-frequency
(bass, or sub-woofer) effects channel (the "0.1")
- experienced in the cinema and in DVDs, digital television
(HDTV and SDTV) and games. Dolby Digital technology
in the car can be incorporated into rear-seat entertainment
systems featuring DVD-Video players.
Dolby
Pro Logic® II: Pro Logic II converts two-channel
stereo into natural, richer surround sound and can be
incorporated into car sound systems to transform conventional
stereo into an exciting new listening experience. Pro
Logic II works with any high quality stereo source,
including CD, FM radio, cassettes, XM or Sirius satellite
radio, and MP3 files.
MLP™ Lossless: The core audio technology behind DVD-Audio, the highest-quality audio format available today, MLP Lossless technology enables studio master disc-quality audio to be encoded on an optical disc, with no loss in quality. MLP Lossless provides the listener a sonic replica of the original studio master tapes during playback, so the listener hears music exactly as it was recorded in the studio, with bit-for-bit clarity and accuracy. DVD-Audio offers sonic resolution that is 1000 times better than CD quality.
Dolby Headphone: Dolby Headphone technology accurately simulates, through any standard set of headphones, the experience of hearing a 5.1-channel speaker system properly set up in a listening room. The annoying, fatiguing "in the head" effect that plagues headphone listening is gone. In the car, Dolby Headphone technology enables rear-seat passengers to enjoy their favorite entertainment without disturbing the driver.
dts®: An alternative sound technology to Dolby Digital and Pro Logic II, dts can be found on some DVD-Video players and DVD discs.
Logic 7®: An alternative sound technology to Dolby Pro Logic II, Logic 7 is found in several new vehicle models but does not offer its technology to aftermarket products.
Some In-Car Entertainment Scenarios
Unlike a typical family room in the home, a vehicle provides a great listening environment, with its defined space and fixed seating arrangements. Improving the quality of your in-car audio experience can be as simple or as complex as you decide to make it.
For example, if you're a true audiophile interested in spending solo commutes immersed in your favorite music, you will probably be drawn to DVD-Audio, the audio format that is widely regarded as the successor to the CD. DVD-Audio plays back music with a richness and density impossible for CDs; in fact, this exciting format reproduces original studio or concert performances with bit-for-bit accuracy. DVD-Audio has built-in multichannel capabilities for real surround sound, and it even offers a host of multimedia "extras" such as visual displays of lyrics, liner notes, artist photos and biographies, and more.
On the other hand, maybe you're more likely to drive your SUV or minivan accompanied by a child or two or three in the rear seats. In this case, a rear-seat entertainment system with a DVD player and/or a game console might be ideal. If you'd rather not "share" the sound of the 24th consecutive showing of the latest Barney DVD, headphones for the kids might be a worthwhile bonus.
Or maybe you aren't interested in driving a mobile video arcade or movie theater, and you'd rather that everyone in the car be able to enjoy CDs or radio music (FM or satellite) with the richness and fullness of surround sound. In that case, a receiver or head unit with Pro Logic II technology and a front center speaker might do the trick.
How to Shop for In-Car Entertainment Products
There are two primary ways to incorporate high-quality audio and surround sound into your driving experience: Purchase a vehicle with factory-installed Dolby technology-based products, or choose after-market components.
While still not universally available, factory-installed options are becoming more commonplace each year.
For instance, the Volvo XC90 SUV features a factory-installed premium audio system with Dolby Pro Logic II. The XC90 was voted Most Versatile by ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine, including recognition of the vehicle's superior sound system.
Acura has announced the world's first DVD-Audio system for its 2004 TL Concept Sedan, while the 2004 Cadillac XLR will be introducing a Dolby Digital entertainment system.
New vehicle purchasers in coming years can expect a growing number of Dolby in-car entertainment technology offerings to fit their individual needs.
After-market alternatives are more numerous. Here are some categories of products and manufacturers that you might consider:
In-Car Entertainment Categories:
- For the ultimate all in one mobile entertainment system with Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby Digital, and MLP Lossless: Kenwood Excelon KVT-915DVD, Pioneer AVH-P7500DVD
- In-dash CD Receivers & head units with Dolby Pro Logic II: Alpine PXA-H700, Clarion DXZ925, Rockford-Fosgate RFQ5000
o Rear-seat DVD players with Dolby Digital: There are many manufacturer options as all DVD-Video players contain Dolby Digital, some of the noted ones are: AudioVox, Kenwood, Panasonic, and Pioneer
- In-car and mobile game consoles with Dolby technology: Sony PlayStation2, Xbox (Please note, however, that most game manufacturers do not make automotive-specific application, so putting this technology in the car will require a professional installer)
Becoming an Educated In-Car Audio Buyer
With increasing options for in-car entertainment also comes the increasing challenge to keep abreast of the latest and greatest technologies and products available. One resource to learn more about audio in general is the Dolby Laboratories website (www.dolby.com/in-car), which includes FAQs and other information, as well as the ability to ask questions on the website that are answered by audio experts.
In many ways, the automobile environment is the last frontier in entertainment. We've grown accustomed to multichannel surround sound in the cinema (since the first Star Wars movie in 1977) and in our homes (since the DVD emerged in the late 1990s). Finally, the car environment is embracing surround sound. With a bit of knowledge at hand, you can join this mobile entertainment revolution, taking surround in motion.
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