Sound Revolution: Huawei’s 43-Speaker Audio System for a $120,000 Car

Experience the cutting-edge Huawei car audio system with 43 speakers delivering immersive sound tailored for luxury vehicles.

A Sonic Journey Like No Other

Not every day do you get the chance to travel the world and immerse yourself in one of the finest automotive sound systems. The Maextro S800 sedan, a luxurious flagship sedan priced at $120,000, now boasts an audio system worthy of its status — courtesy of Huawei car audio system.

Inside this opulent ride, you’ll find an astounding 43 speakers powered by a 2920-watt amplifier spread across 7.5.10 channels. This powerhouse audio setup belongs to the HUAWEI SOUND ULTIMATE audio system series, offering more speakers and greater power than the Dynamic and Superior versions found in slightly more affordable cars.

Huawei’s chief automotive sound and acoustics advisor, Lars Goller, personally took us through the system’s design and performance — a treat for any audiophile.

Goller and Huawei aim to deliver 4D spatial sound customized for each seat, using rear exciters that sync with music and video to create a truly immersive experience.

Pioneering Personalization and Sound Isolation

The Maextro S800 is equipped with 16 speakers embedded into the headrests alone — that’s four per seat! Each headrest operates as its own surround sound speaker, giving every passenger a personal, 360-degree audio bubble.

But the personalization doesn’t stop there. With proprietary sound-field management algorithms, all speakers also function as noise-canceling units, achieving up to 30 dB sound isolation from front to rear. This means front and back passengers can enjoy different audio without interference.

These smart algorithms create an acoustic barrier against outside noise, crafting a “sound sanctuary” inside the cabin. Multi-layer acoustic glass and sound-absorbing materials complete the setup, delivering a library-like silence throughout the vehicle.

Innovations That Reshape Automotive Audio

There’s plenty of innovation under the hood too. In the doors sits the industry’s first tangential power woofer, rotated 90 degrees from traditional speaker placement to minimize door panel resonance, while delivering deeper bass and clearer low frequencies.

Another marvel is the new Star-Ring diffuser, featuring crystalline materials with precise diamond-cut facets intertwined with metal rings. This diffuser elegantly rises when you enter the car, with ambient lighting pulsating to the beat of the music. Most importantly, it guarantees a clean and even central channel sound.

The Mind Behind the Masterpiece

Chatting with Lars Goller reveals the depth of thought poured into every aspect of this system. Through audio facilities in both Germany and China, Goller and his team constantly refine the automotive audio experience.

“We try to find solutions for everything. The main challenge is that development in China moves so fast. Sometimes we have to make new things next time — and that really happens next time.”
— Lars Goller, Huawei Chief Automotive Sound Advisor

Creating perfect sound varies by car — screens, rearview mirrors, and other elements affect tuning precision. Huawei compensates for these challenges with a deep understanding of noise and vibration starting at the earliest assembly stages.

Goller leads a growing team of sound experts, essential as Huawei’s automotive projects multiply.

“I give instructions to our sound engineers to keep learning. We guide and fine-tune constantly. Huawei has so many projects; I couldn’t do it all alone. People have to take over most of it, and I just check the final results.”

Meticulous Measurement Meets Subjective Listening

Huawei’s Chinese facility is a testament to the company’s commitment to sound tuning, where measuring and testing are fundamental. Yet, Goller stresses that no measurement alone determines good sound — listening is king.

“No single measurement says it’s good sound,” Goller insists. “But we do a lot of scientific measurements — frequency response, impulse response, phase response — in every seat position to understand changes.”

The next step involves designing filters and placing crossovers appropriately. Cars aren’t like home speakers; their cabins respond differently, causing sounds to shift in various spots. The first optimization is aligning all speakers with filters for maximum consistency.

“Our goal isn’t to satisfy measurements but to satisfy subjective perception. We do nothing without listening.”

A Listening Experience That Transforms You

We took Maextro S800 for a spin — in the name of research, of course — playing everything from Jungle to The Weeknd, Paul Simon to Max Richter. The scale and detail blew us away.

Voices came through smooth and clear, while instruments were perfectly positioned around the cabin, panning left to right, front to back, just as the tracks demanded.

Kendrick Lamar’s “Luther” delivers deep, impressive bass notes, and Chris Jones’ “No Sanctuary Here” was just as emotional and poignant as expected.

The most jaw-dropping feature? The system’s ability to instantly tailor sound to your seat position. One tap, and anyone can become the “boss seat.” The sound focus shifts flawlessly and immediately, as if the band turned to play solely for your ears. This is personalization at its finest.

Unsurprisingly, we lingered inside, enjoying our favorite tracks and watching how they came alive in this car. It’s easy to imagine cruising or simply sitting and savoring the HUAWEI SOUND system’s magic.

Is This The Hi-Fi Holy Grail?

Goller makes it clear the automotive audio arena has its own perks.

“In cars, it’s about correcting and optimizing all cabin influences. We have much more control over the experience we want to give the customer compared to two-channel hi-fi.”

Building a system like this at home? Nearly impossible. And according to Goller, this is just the beginning.

“We’re moving toward better and better transducers. We also know we can do better compensation with better speaker placement. Probably you’ll see more speakers elsewhere in cabins in the future, and more directional speakers. If you control surface reflections, it just makes the job easier, using DSP or some acoustic treatment if possible.”

After experiencing the HUAWEI SOUND ULTIMATE in the Maextro S800, it’s easy to believe the future of car audio is limitless.

FAQ

• How many speakers does the Huawei system in Maextro S800 have?
  The audio system features 43 speakers spread throughout the vehicle.
• What is unique about the headrest speakers?
  There are 16 speakers integrated into the headrests, providing personalized 360-degree surround sound for each passenger.
• How does the system handle noise isolation?
  It uses proprietary algorithms and sound-canceling speaker capabilities to block external noise up to 30 dB, creating a quiet cabin environment akin to a library.
• What innovation is featured in the car doors?
  The doors house the first tangential power woofer in the industry, rotated 90 degrees to reduce door resonance while enhancing bass clarity.
• Can the sound system personalize the audio experience?
  Yes, the system can instantly adjust sound focus to your seat with a single button, making it feel like the music is playing just for you.

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