Ford and HARMAN collaborate to take in-vehicle audio experience to the next level with B&O PLAY

Dearborn, 13 September 2016: A recent Ipsos 2016 Automotive Audio Branding study revealed that roughly one-third of new car buyers say that the audio brand in their next vehicle would have a significant impact on their purchase consideration.

Exploring the possibilities on this front are Ford and HARMAN; who are now collaborating to introduce the all-new B&O PLAY audio systems in Ford vehicles worldwide – to take the audio experience to the next level.

Customers value consistent, high-quality audio experiences, which remains one of the significant ways to create a richer, more engaging in-vehicle experience for a manufacturer. Ford announced the exclusive collaboration with HARMAN during the automaker’s annual Further with Ford trend conference, revealing that B&O PLAY will debut in Ford vehicles globally starting next year.

B&O PLAY will create a customized audio experience for customers with specifically tailored speaker placement and calibration for each vehicle in the Ford range. The dynamic tuning would ensure that optimal sound is maintained in the cabin no matter what driving conditions are like, and regardless of where someone sits.

To illustrate the power of sound, Ford and B&O PLAY unveiled an installation called Sound Journeys, an on-site experience that triggers the five senses. Using B&O PLAY products, the installation brings to life three different environmental habitats – a forest, a canyon and an ocean – featuring amplified sound. The experience ‘visualizes’ sound waves, demonstrating how sound can transform everyday spaces, creating richer, more visceral experiences for people.