After the announcement almost a year ago, Mercedes-Benz is finally unroll Spatial audio from Apple Music in select electric and luxury vehicles. The Dolby Atmos-powered surround sound audio already works on multiple Apple devices, including the HomePod speaker, Apple TV, and AirPods headphones, but it’s the first in-vehicle implementation.
“Mercedes-Benz drivers who already subscribe to Apple Music will have immediate access to an ever-growing selection of songs and albums available in Spatial Audio,” the companies said in a statement. press release. And if you are not an Apple Music subscriber, select Dolby Atmos content available from Universal music also.
The feature will be available in select EQS and EQE sedans and SUVs (including the new EQE SUV), along with Mayback and S-Class vehicles. To use it, you must have a vehicle with the MBUX interface and optional Burmester 3D or 4D sound systems with 31 speakers, an option that starts at $4,550 on top of the vehicle’s price (the 2023 EQE 350 sedan expected to start at $70,000 or so). The technology will come to other models “soon”, according to Mercedes.
Apple Music’s Dolby Atmos implementation creates a 3D soundstage by spreading sounds across different channels, although the level of the effect depends on a song’s mix. In the Mercedes version, the spatial audio effect will come from six of the 31 loudspeakers located above the driver. Other speakers include four near-ear speakers in the front seats, eight sound transducers (two per seat), and two amplifiers pumping 1,750 watts of power.
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