Exploring Huawei's Revolutionary Approach to Automotive Sound Engineering: The Shanghai Acoustics Lab
Stepping inside Huawei's Shanghai Acoustics R&D Centre feels like embarking on a fascinating journey beyond the humdrum of traditional automotive audio systems. What seems like a standard facility tour quickly transforms into an exploration of groundbreaking automotive sound engineering—an innovative realm where art meets science.
Founded on a vision of superior sound quality since its serious investment in audio research in 2012, the Shanghai acoustics lab houses an impressive array of testing environments. With a fully anechoic chamber measuring 4.8x4x4 meters, a larger semi-anechoic room of 14x12x5 meters, and a specialized listening room configured in a 9.1.6 layout, the facility is designed to push the boundaries of in-car audio experiences. Unfortunately, due to proprietary technology, photography wasn’t allowed—but trust me, the impressive specifications tell a story of their own.
The Challenge of In-Car Audio
At the helm of this innovative endeavor is Goller, a distinguished figure with a rich background at companies like Gamut Audio, Bang & Olufsen, and Harman International. He leads what Huawei terms a “master-tuning methodology,” integrating precise acoustic measurements with psychoacoustic principles to hone the final sound presentation.
During the tour, Goller passionately articulated Huawei's philosophy: to recreate music the way artists intended, generating a “phantom effect” that immerses listeners in the authenticity of the original recording space. This meticulous process blends scientific measurements—like frequency response curves and distortion characteristics—with subjective, experience-based tuning that compensates for the challenges presented by vehicle cabins.
Introducing the HUAWEI SOUND ULTIMATE Series
The fruits of this dedicated research are evident in the HUAWEI SOUND ULTIMATE Series, Huawei’s most luxurious audio system to date, currently appearing in the Maextro S800 luxury electric sedan. Yes, it’s a feast for the ears, boasting 43 speakers powered by dual amplifiers that deliver an astounding 2,920 watts of total power.
The system strives to achieve an "industry-first" seat-specific 4D immersive surround sound experience. This nifty feature includes rear 4D exciters that sync with music and video, adding a much-anticipated layer of tactile feedback that enriches the auditory vibe.
What truly distinguishes Huawei's innovation are the specific designs of their components. For instance, the Tangential Force Woofer pivots traditional door-woofer designs by 90 degrees, curbing panel resonance while enhancing bass response. Meanwhile, a patented dual-diaphragm subwoofer cleverly makes use of the cabin space itself, rather than being restricted by conventional enclosure designs.
Moreover, the Crystal Star-Ring Diffuser, an automatic feature that rises when passengers enter, synchronizes with ambient lighting, contributing to a 30% improvement in sound uniformity from the previous generation.
A Soundscape Like No Other
The HUAWEI SOUND system takes audio innovation even further with its independent sound-zone technology. Each of the four headrests is equipped with four drivers—two tweeters and two mids—making it possible for the main speaker array to function as an active noise silencer, limiting audio spillover between front and rear rows. Just imagine sitting in the front, enjoying your ideal playlist, while the folks in the back catch up on their favorite drama—all in hush.
Let’s not forget about road-noise cancellation, which includes Huawei's “omnidimensional model” and multi-channel amplification to apply ear-adaptive cancellation. The use of multi-layer acoustic glass and other sound-absorbing materials creates an impressive “library-level” baseline noise floor.
The Investment Question
Huawei has committed substantial funds to this endeavor, revealing an astonishing CNY 179.7 billion (around £20 billion) for R&D alone in 2024. This comprises 20.8% of their total revenue, with over 113,000 employees pouring their expertise into research and development. Naturally, this showcases Huawei's ambitious automotive sound engineering goals, where they currently provide solutions to over twenty different automakers.
While its technological prowess is palpable, the question remains: can Huawei scale this sophistication into mass production while keeping costs in check for consumers? Goller’s ultimate desire to bring recorded music closer to the auditory experience intended by the artist is profoundly ambitious—one that traditional automotive sound engineering has struggled to realize owing to environmental constraints.
Having experienced both the lab's intricacies and the in-car auditory marvels of Huawei, I can't help but feel optimistic about their direction. Every potential market reality hinges not solely on acoustic performance but also on production scalability and consumer willingness to invest in such advanced audio experiences.
With such a solid technical foundation laid down, only time will tell how Huawei transitions these innovations from premium showcases into mainstream driving experiences. The automotive sound engineering landscape is bound for a shake-up, and Huawei appears ready to lead the charge.
