Harman’s New EV-Focused Audio System Is Lightweight, Energy Efficient And Upgradable Over-The-Air

The automotive industry is going electric and Harman is acknowledging this trend by introducing several new technologies at CES.

Designed specifically for electric vehicles, EV Plus+ Solutions are lightweight and energy efficient. This makes them ideal for electric vehicles as automakers are always trying to increase range.

While many people don’t give much thought to their car’s audio system, Harman created a new Ecotect system which “ensures powerful audio performance with half the parts.” This helps to reduce weight and power consumption, which are two enemies of electric vehicles.

Also Read: Harman Finds Clever Ways To Improve In-Car Conversations

We spoke to Harman officials ahead of CES, and they told us the Ecotect system is about twice as efficient as a traditional audio system and also half the weight. This means a typical system weighing about 44 lbs (10 kg) could be replaced by an Ecotect setup weighing just 22 lbs (5 kg).

Given its eco-friendly focus, the Ecotect system has high-efficiency speakers, a Prodigy Booster amplifier and Power Manager 2.0 technology. The system also uses a unique architecture which “leverages innovative speaker locations, sustainable materials and sophisticated signal processing to deliver premium audio and communications experiences with EV-optimized efficiency.”

Harman officials were particularly excited about the switch to electric vehicles as they noted EV platforms open up new possibilities in terms of design. Thanks to their optimized packaging, it’s possible that speakers could be integrated into new areas such as the center console.

One of the most interesting aspects of EV Plus+ Solutions is the new Audio Marketplace. The cloud-based service allows users update their audio, entertainment and communication features on-demand. These over-the-air updates promise to bring a “new level of personalization and flexibility” to vehicles throughout their lifecycle.

The Audio Marketplace isn’t just limited to updates either, as users can upgrade their audio system via “software-enabled branded audio.” This allows owners to go from a base audio system to a branded system – such as Bang & Olufsen, harman/kardon or JBL – at the push of a button, even after a vehicle is purchased.

The features don’t end there as the Audio Marketplace also has a trick setting known as “Voice-Sensing Volume Fade.” Designed to improve in-vehicle conversations, the feature can determine when people are talking and then automatically lower the audio volume. Once the conversation is finished, the volume automatically returns to the previous level.

Another cool gimmick is eESS Safe and Sound. It links the pedestrian warning speakers to the audio system to create an external sound system that would be perfect for bonfires or tailgating.

Other features include the HALOsonic Road Noise Cancellation technology and a calming NatureScapes mode. For the latter, Harman partnered with the National Park Foundation to capture audio from several parks including Yosemite and Mammoth Cave. It promises to make rush hour a tad more relaxing.