On November 16, NIO, a Chinese electric car manufacturer, announced that a Dolby Atmos audio system would be installed as standard in the new NIO ET7 sedan. This immersive 7.1.4 system, developed in collaboration with Swedish digital audio pioneer Dirac, is supposed to exceed user expectations for car audio.
First used in movie theaters, then in home theater systems and more recently by streaming services, Dolby Atmos technology allows for the full transmission of artistic expression and creates a deeper connection between artists and their fans. Widely used by artists, record companies and music streaming services, music in Dolby Atmos goes beyond the usual listening experience by revealing details with great clarity and depth. It gives artists more freedom to fully realize their vision and create new emotions in their music.
Dirac technology uses digital signal processing (DSP) to improve audio systems and overcome the acoustic challenges inherent in cars (non-optimal speaker placement, reflective surfaces that interfere with sound, etc.) so that the system reproduces sound more accurately, without unwanted coloration and without the need to install new equipment.
The audio system of the ET7 is composed of 23 speakers and a 20-channel amplifier with a total power of 1000W. The four main channels use a three-way configuration with a dedicated tweeter, midrange driver and woofer, as well as a subwoofer and four in-ceiling speakers. By combining advanced Dirac algorithms with the clarity and detail offered by Dolby Atmos, the NIO ET7’s car hi-fi system will likely provide drivers with a highly immersive listening experience.
Mark Zhou, executive vice president of NIO and chairman of the product committee, said, “NIO aims to keep improving the value of the car apart from driving and riding, and creating surprises for users through the integration of technological progress and emotional experience. The collaboration between Dolby and NIO will make users more deeply bonded with the music they love, and jointly push forward the in-car experience.”
John Couling, senior vice president of Dolby Laboratories’ Entertainment division, said “We are excited to extend the future of car audio to consumers in China and internationally by integrating Dolby Atmos in the ET7. Music is an important aspect of the in-car experience. Whether you want to immerse yourself in the music or simply complement your drive – once you experience the subtle detail and raw power of Dolby Atmos – music in your car will never be the same. We cannot wait to bring that extraordinary listening experience to users with the ET7.”
Unveiled in January 2021, the NIO ET7 electric car will go on sale in Europe later this year. For now, it is the only car to benefit from a Dolby-Dirac sound system, but hopefully the results of this promising new collaboration will be added to cars that are more readily available outside of the Chinese market.
NIO was founded in 2014 and specializes in the design and development of electric vehicles. This rival of Tesla is known for its development of battery swap stations as an alternative to conventional charging stations. It seems logical that the future of electric vehicle production is in China, since 79% of the world’s lithium-ion batteries are manufactured there. The country also dominates in other stages of the battery supply chain, including the mining and refining of battery minerals such as lithium and graphite. In addition, the first mass-produced plug-in hybrid car (the BYD F3DM) was Chinese.
