Lincoln Aviator’s 28-Speaker 3D Sound System Is An Audiophile’s Dream

Lincoln’s all-new 2020 Aviator allegedly boasts one of the most immersive sound systems in the industry in the new Revel Ultima 3D, featuring three listening modes in Stereo, Audience and On-Stage.

It also comes with an immersion control slider in the center stack and four sets of dual-height speakers in the SUV’s headliner. In total, the sound system features no fewer than 28 speakers and produces a 360-degree listening experience, according to the automaker.

“With this new system, the listening experience is immersive and designed around the client no matter where they’re seated in the Aviator,” said Lincoln multimedia supervisor Joe Kafati. “Our engineers obsessed over the interior quietness and sound quality in the vehicle, just like all other aspects to truly transform Aviator into a sanctuary on the road.”

In stereo mode, Aviator passengers sit precisely in the sweet spot between a pair of speakers, whereas Audience mode allows them to enjoy the best seat in a concert hall “as the stage widens in all directions” and the On-Stage mode provides 360-degree sound.

“As you increase the immersion, you find yourself inside an incredibly expansive listening environment – one that seems to extend beyond the vehicle interior. Guitars, left and right, are very wide. The vocals are incredible. It’s really changing the norm of what you’d expect from sound in terms of reinforcement and position,” added Revel exec, Brandon Wheeler.

Pump up the volume

In the Aviator, new dual 40-millimeter speakers are positioned above each occupant in the front and second row, which means there are a total of 8 speakers in the ceiling, working alongside the three-way speakers in the doors and two-way front and rear speakers.

The Revel Ultima system also comes with Clari-Fi, a patented Harman technology that rebuilds audio details lost in digitally compressed music in real time. To help with the quality of the sound, the Aviator also boasts an acoustic laminated windshield and side glass, as well as acoustic underbody shields and wheel arch liners. Meanwhile, the chassis has been tuned to reduce road-induced low-frequency rumble and there’s an additional barrier between passengers and the engine compartment to keep vibrations and noise out.

“The first time you hear it, you’ll get goosebumps,” stated Wheeler. “I can almost guarantee it.”