Jaguar XF Bowers & Wilkins wins best audio
August 5, 2008 by George Skentzos
In the prestige car market, supreme sound quality is an absolute obsession which defines bragging rights among manufacturers.
The Bowers & Wilkins in-car audio system in the Jaguar XF has recently been voted the best in its price category by The What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision Ultimate Guide to High End Entertainment.
The exact system under scrutiny was a Bowers & Wilkins 440W Surround Sound System with a remote amplifier, Dolby Pro-Logic II 7.1 Surround Sound with a total of 14 speakers.
A brand highly acclaimed by audiophiles, artists and recording engineers alike, the Bowers & Wilkins system boasts Kevlar cones in the large speakers to improve linearity of response and reduce distortion.
“This Bowers & Wilkins has huge appeal. Its sound quality is terrific, and just as importantly, it’s sensibly priced, meaning more drivers will choose to specify it.”
While aluminium domes on the tweeters improve sound reproduction at high frequencies by reducing weight of the moving part.
The Jaguar XF out classed a category which included Lexus, Audi and Volkswagen to be judged the winner based on its sound-per-dollar performance.
The Bowers & Wilkins 440W surround sound system is optional on all XF models except SV8 where it is included as standard equipment.
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Having sat in one ast the London motorshow with the B&W stereo it did sound pretty smooth and punchy. Deserves the award. Also more down to earth listen to the optional Sony head unit in the Ford Mondeo/Focus, I was impressed certainly better than the stnadard head.
Pity they stole the wheel design from the MkV Golf GTI.
I got it as a $2,200 option in an xf V8. I wasnt going to bother, because my s60R had pro-logic with 11 speakers, and it wasnt that good (the 8 speaker sound in my wife’s s40T5 was better, IMO) because it would get muffled with doof music. Glad I went with it, though – the B & W is a great setup – subs need to be turned down a little for these old old ears, but crystal clear through the whole range and when it is turned up loud. Havent had it up too much, though – too happy listening to that sweeet V8…
I wonder what audio company has got the worst audio?
Duck the answer to that is Peugeot. Our Pugs 406 radio died after 7years, was a pain in the ar5e to tune and adjust tone and base. Frankly awful.
to reckless1, same goes to the new fpv gtp
A british magazine gives a british car featuring a british audio system the award for best audio in a car. What a surprise….
ditto jimmy james. no doubt the jags audio would be beautiful but i wanted to know who won outright, money is no option when it comes to cars in this price range. sure most rich people are more tight than poor people, but when it comes to good audio, money must not stop the sound from being the best it can be!