Inside Huawei's Shanghai acoustics lab: Where automotive sound engineering meets science
Key Takeaways
- Huawei operates a sophisticated automotive sound engineering R&D center in Shanghai with specialized testing facilities.
- Their audio development relies on a 'master-tuning methodology' combining objective acoustic measurements with psychoacoustic principles.
- The flagship product is the HUAWEI SOUND ULTIMATE Series, featuring 43 speakers, 2,920 watts, and 4D tactile feedback.
- The system employs innovative hardware, including a Tangential Force Woofer and a patented dual-diaphragm subwoofer.
- A key technical ambition is independent sound-zone technology utilizing active noise cancellation between seating areas.
The author toured Huaweiâs Shanghai Acoustics R&D Centre, revealing a comprehensive automotive sound engineering operation that challenges existing in-car audio norms, developed since Huawei began serious audio research in 2012. The facility includes specialized testing areas, such as a large semi-anechoic room and a 9.1.6 listening room, underpinning their "master-tuning methodology" overseen by experts from companies like Bang & Olufsen. This process uses objective acoustic data alongside psychoacoustic principles to achieve a "phantom effect," aiming to reproduce music exactly as intended by the artists despite cabin acoustic challenges. The resulting HUAWEI SOUND ULTIMATE Series, deployed in the Maextro S800, features 43 speakers, 2,920 watts, and unique hardware innovations like a rotating woofer and a subwoofer leveraging cabin volume. Furthermore, the system offers an industry-first seat-specific 4D immersive experience and independent sound zones using active noise cancellation technology to minimize audio spillage between passengers.
