Sound United Uniquely Positioned for Automotive Market Growth With Acquisition of Bowers & Wilkins

Following the recent Bowers & Wilkins acquisition, Sound United LLC, parent company to Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, Classé, and Boston Acoustics, announced its intent to capitalize on Bowers & Wilkins’ in-depth knowledge of the automotive audio industry to expand its development into the growing automotive market. "Bowers & Wilkins’ heritage of automotive audio excellence empowers Sound United with deep well of knowledge, bettering its position for growth," the company states.

Expanding on its successful car audio partnership announcement at CES 2020, Sennheiser and Continental’s speakerless immersive audio system for vehicles was selected as a CES Innovation Awards 2021 Honoree. The new audio system explores new ways to enhance in-car entertainment experiences by integrating Sennheiser’s patented AMBEO 3D audio technology with Continental’s speakerless Ac2ated Sound system.

The pace of innovation within the automotive industry is contributing to the competitive growth of premium audio system solutions. The latest report from SAR Insight & Consulting, "In-Car Audio Distribution: The Connection Between Audio and Vehicle Brands," highlights the significant rise and transformation of in-car audio systems and speakers exceeding the expectations of the connected consumer.

STMicroelectronics announced the new FDA901 class-D audio amplifier IC, a new design that incorporates the world-class audio expertise of Japanese manufacturer of car audio equipment, Alps Alpine. The new ST chip aims to contribute to the creation of multi-function, high-fidelity car audio systems that fuse the high efficiency of class-D amplifiers with the high-quality sound of ST’s class-AB amplifiers.

Japanese car audio and navigation systems manufacturer Alpine Electronics, Inc. and Italian automotive speaker manufacturer Faital (Fabric Italiana Altoparlanti) S.p.A., have reached an agreement for a capital and business alliance to strengthen their in-car entertainment and audio business. Expanding on the Alpine share investment in the Faital Group, the two companies are pursuing a common vision in order to offer new high-end car audio products for premium applications and develop further integration of the brand's portfolios.