Why Audiophiles Choose the Bowers & Wilkins System in Volvo Models

Volvo's partnership with Bowers & Wilkins delivers studio-grade sound quality that rivals dedicated home audio setups. Available in select Volvo models, the Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity audio system brings decades of acoustic engineering expertise directly into the cabin, offering clarity, precision, and the ability to hear music exactly as the artist intended.

For audiophiles in Ontario, the Bowers & Wilkins system represents a rare opportunity to enjoy reference-quality sound without stepping into a recording studio.

The Philosophy Behind True Sound

Bowers & Wilkins has spent over 50 years refining high-performance audio technology, earning recognition from recording studios and musicians worldwide. Their approach, known as "True Sound," centres on one principle: deliver music to your ears precisely as the artist intended, without colouration or distortion.

In Volvo models equipped with the Bowers & Wilkins system, this philosophy translates into carefully positioned speakers, studio-derived loudspeaker technology, and advanced digital signal processing. The result is a soundstage that feels natural and immersive across classical orchestration and modern electronic production alike.

Tailored Systems Across Volvo's Lineup

Volvo offers the Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity audio system across multiple models, each tuned specifically for that vehicle's cabin architecture:

Volvo EX90:

• 25 speakers positioned throughout the 7-seat cabin
• 1,610-watt digital amplifier
• Dolby Atmos support for three-dimensional sound placement
• Speakers integrated into dashboard, doors, headlining, rear-wheel housing, and front-seat headrests
• Abbey Road Studios Mode (available via over-the-air update)

Volvo XC60:

• Updated speaker mesh design
• Tuned to complement the model's quieter cabin and optional laminated windows

Each configuration is optimized for its specific interior acoustics, ensuring consistent performance regardless of seating position.

Room Modes: Shaping Your Acoustic Environment

One of the system's most distinctive features is Room Transformation technology, which recreates the acoustic characteristics of specific listening environments. Available modes include:

• Studio Mode: Replicates the neutral, uncoloured sound of a professional recording studio, optimized for any seat
• Individual Stage: Creates the sensation of a private performance, as if the artist is performing exclusively for you
• Concert Hall Mode: Reproduces the acoustic ambiance of Gothenburg Concert Hall, Volvo's home city venue
• Jazz Club Mode: Captures the intimate atmosphere of a live jazz venue

These modes allow listeners to tailor the soundstage to match their musical preferences and the genre they're enjoying.

Abbey Road Studios Mode: A World-First Collaboration

In the Volvo EX90, Bowers & Wilkins has introduced Abbey Road Studios Mode, a technology developed in partnership with the world's most iconic recording studio. This mode captures the sonic signature of Abbey Road's characteristic acoustic spaces and the equipment used by artists and engineers to create some of music history's most revered albums.

Abbey Road Studios Mode includes several presets optimized for different listening styles, plus a Producer Mode that allows you to engineer your own sound. You can adjust:

• Acoustic character from retro vintage to modern depth
• Stereo sound field width
• Acoustic environment characteristics

This level of customization brings professional mixing capabilities into the vehicle, allowing audiophiles to fine-tune their listening experience with the same tools used in professional studios.

Dolby Atmos: Three-Dimensional Sound Placement

The EX90's Bowers & Wilkins system supports Dolby Atmos, a format that allows content creators to place individual sounds intentionally in three-dimensional space. When artists mix music, podcasts, or other content in Dolby Atmos, they can position each element—vocals, instruments, ambient effects—precisely within a 3D soundstage.

In the EX90's cabin, this translates to greater depth, detail, and clarity. Every passenger experiences an immersive sound environment with audio elements appearing to originate from specific locations around them, creating a more realistic and engaging listening experience.

Design Integration: Form and Function

Volvo's Scandinavian design philosophy extends to the visual presentation of the Bowers & Wilkins system. Speaker grilles feature double-etched and brushed stainless steel housed in backlit wood panelling, achieving high acoustic transparency while maintaining premium design detailing.

Speaker placement is carefully integrated into the cabin architecture—dashboard, doors, headlining, rear-wheel housing, and front-seat headrests—contributing to the minimalist aesthetic while optimizing sound dispersion. The result is a system that performs exceptionally without visually dominating the interior space.

The Fresh-Air Subwoofer Innovation

Several Volvo models equipped with Bowers & Wilkins systems feature an innovative fresh-air subwoofer design. Unlike conventional sealed subwoofers, this approach uses the vehicle's structure as part of the acoustic chamber, allowing for deeper, more accurate bass response without requiring large enclosures that consume cargo space.

This design delivers powerful low-frequency performance while maintaining the practical versatility Volvo owners expect from their vehicles.

Complementary Technologies

The Bowers & Wilkins system performs best in Volvo's exceptionally quiet cabins. The EX90 features one of the quietest interiors Volvo has ever created, thanks to advanced sound insulation and the inherent quietness of electric powertrains. The 2026 XC60 benefits from an even quieter cabin than previous generations, with optional laminated windows and air suspension further reducing external noise.

This acoustic isolation allows the Bowers & Wilkins system to reveal subtle details in recordings that would otherwise be masked by road and wind noise—details like the breath between vocal phrases, the decay of piano notes, or the spatial positioning of individual instruments in an orchestral arrangement.

Why the Upgrade Matters

For listeners who can distinguish between compressed streaming audio and lossless formats, who notice when a speaker colours the midrange, or who appreciate the difference between stereo imaging and true soundstage depth, the Bowers & Wilkins system represents a meaningful upgrade.

Standard automotive audio systems prioritize volume and bass impact. The Bowers & Wilkins approach prioritizes accuracy, resolution, and the faithful reproduction of the original recording. This difference becomes immediately apparent when listening to well-recorded material, particularly acoustic performances, classical compositions, and high-quality studio productions.

Key Specifications at a Glance

Experience the Difference at Volvo Cars Oakville

The Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity audio system transforms Volvo's already refined cabins into mobile listening rooms that preserve every note, every instrument, and every vocal nuance with reference-quality accuracy. For audiophiles who refuse to compromise on sound quality, this system delivers a listening experience that rivals dedicated home audio setups.

Our team at Volvo Cars Oakville invites you to experience the Bowers & Wilkins system firsthand. Schedule a demonstration in our showroom in Oakville to hear the difference this technology makes across various musical genres and listening modes.