KevinHee

I heard the M5 system is actually even more embarrassing. BMW saves the exhaust sound clip in the computer and plays it through the car audio system.

So the 100K super sedan becomes a freaking giant mp3 player and people probably can adjust the base, treble and surround level of your "exhaust note".

Smith837

Gotta say, whether I like the idea of it or not, agree with the use of it or not, or bemoan the direction of automotive tech or not, Audi's implementation of this is pretty cool and very well done. In my 3 test drives, it sounded and felt like real engine noise -- both inside the car/beyond the dash and outside the car with windows rolled down (just like rolling the windows down in a car with a loud engine). Your body/brain won't know the difference, and neither will passengers...and I suspect passersby won't know the difference too.

slvrro

I wonder if a) the sound that this speaker puts out can be manipulated, for example to approximate say a 12-cylinder F1 engine from the 90s; b) or to pipe an altogether different sound, like a siren?

Would retrofiting this Soundkator thingymajig to a 2010-2012 model be possible?

Smith837

You'll need to wait for the iCar and its app store.

KevinHee

I respect your opinion, and at the end of the day most people won't care that much.

But a well-implemented mp3 player is still an mp3 player to me. And instead of "your brain won't know the difference", my brain will always know, and doubt, at the back of my mind that whether the sound is from the real engine / exhaust instead of a 99-cent mp3 clip.

LeadToRome

I want my exhaust to play "Hail To The Chief" so people will stand at attention when I drive by.

With this new technology I think it's do-able.

NWS4Guy

From what I have seen, it supposedly is not just making sounds like a larger engine - according to Audi it is actually creating sound waves aimed at interaction with the stock exhaust sounds and causes the entire sound to change coming out the tailpipe, one reason you can hear it outside the car very well. Of course, it stands to reason if you change the exhaust to aftermarket, and don't disconnect this (assuming it works the way they describe it) you might end up with a very odd sounding car.

JohnEnglish

What you're describing only applies to the new twin turbo V6 diesel that Audi is rolling out in Europe next year.

The current S4 and S5 cars use a single speaker in the engine compartment and placed next to the firewall.

spacemanrick

Is the refreshed 2013 S4 supposed to have this "sound actuator"?

Smith837

The press release I found -- and referenced in my original post -- offered a possible clue as to how the S4/S5 might be producing the new sounds. Can't say whether the facelifted cars have some version of the sound actuator, or whether they a producing the sounds in another way. I find it a bit odd that Audi would not herald HOW they've pulled this off in the V6T (vs. saying almost NOTHING about it). Odd too that dealers have no idea. :roll eyes:

This article mentions the sound actuator and other tech in the 2013 S6: http://www.netcarshow.com/audi/2013-s6/