CES 2020: Music without speakers

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show has seen its fair share of high-tech innovations – and this in-car speakerless audio system is no exception.

Created through a partnership between tech company Continental and audio specialist Sennheiser, the invisible ‘Ac2ated Sound’ system allows surfaces in the vehicle to vibrate “just like speaker systems” and was inspired by classical string instruments that use their wooden body as a resonance chamber.

On display at this week’s CES in Las Vegas, the ground-breaking sound system debuted inside a Mercedes-Benz A 200 and according to Engadge it “didn’t immediately sound any different than any other high-quality audio system”.

According to Continental, actuators cause components such as the A-pillar trim, door trim, roof lining and rear shelf to vibrate so they emit sound in different frequency ranges.

It’s also designed to save weight and space inside a vehicle by up to 90 per cent (compared to conventional systems), which is ideal for weight-sensitive cars like EVs and supercars.

“The invisible audio technology gives vehicle designers and manufacturers the freedom to do more with an automobile’s interior, as they no longer need to account for large speaker faces taking up valuable space,” stated Continental in a press release.

“Together, we have developed an audio system out of nowhere,” said Helmut Matschi, Continental’s Head of Vehicle Networking and Information.

“We have brought together the highest levels of expertise in the areas of acoustics, infotainment and vehicle design. In Sennheiser we have found an audio expert who helped us make our pioneering audio system even better,” he said.

At this stage there’s no word on if or when Continental’s Ac2ated Sound system will arrive in production vehicles.