Focal and DS Automobiles Collaborate for 3D In-Car Sound Experience

French companies DS Automobiles and well-known loudspeaker brand Focal have collaborated on a new EV that could be this boutique automaker's last roll of the dice.
It's unclear who DS Automobiles is today, but from what we can establish, the brand was spun off from Citroen at some point.
What we do know is it's a French luxury-premium marque, and its DS N°8 is its new flagship all-electric coupe SUV that the company says "epitomises avant-garde design and ultimate performance". It appears that it will be available in the UK and France, and they are seeking "registrations of interest" at the moment.
In this writer's humble opinion, its refined and sleek design is both futuristic and timeless, while the wood-grain trimmed interior blends lux with high tech to deliver first-class comfort and sound. But it's inside where readers of StereoNET will take an interest, given it's where the French audio-innovators Focal have waved their wand.
DS N°8 features the exclusive Electra 3D by Focal® hi-fi system featuring 14 high-fidelity speakers, which the company says "delivers breathtaking 3D soun - a truly immersive journey for every passenger, across all musical landscapes."
Focal worked with DS to deliver "unmatched immersion of 3D sound". This included everything from speaker placement to interior structure and exclusive technologies, with every detail meticulously crafted to deliver an in-car experience elevated by Focal sound. DS N°8 also benefits from benchmark acoustic insulation, further enhancing sound purity.
The hi-fi system has been designed to offer the driver and all passengers a personalised experience and total comfort. Two listening modes are available: "All Passengers," a stereo mode optimised for each passenger, and "Front Optimised," an immersive experience that enhances the stereo soundstage in both width and depth for the front seats.
Additional settings include the 3D sound intensity levels (Light, Immersive, Intense) to elevate the soundstage, as well as adjustments for the subwoofers and surround speakers.
The 14 speakers that make up the system comprise:
- 1 Polyglass midrange centre speaker (30 W) with high excursion, delivering voices with remarkable clarity, significantly enhancing the sound image.
- 4 inverted dome tweeters (4 x 15 W) made of aluminium/magnesium, a technology that provides extremely fine treble, controlled directivity, and low distortion.
- 2 TAM 3D tweeters (2 x 15 W) with extended response, offering unparalleled immersion and great versatility of use.
- 2 surround speakers (2 x 20 W) that amplify emotions and sensations.
- 2 high-excursion woofers in the front doors and 2 compact woofers in the rear doors. Their Polyglass membranes deliver an exemplary frequency response in terms of linearity.
- A compact elliptical subwoofer (3 x 50 W) positioned in the trunk, integrating Power Flower™ technology, ensuring stable and powerful bass.
- 690 watts of amplification using boosted Class D technology, combining high power/consumption efficiency, very low distortion, and low energy consumption.
Up front in the cabin is the large 16-inch screen, which stands out for its slim and airy look, almost appearing to float in the cabin. At the heart of a range of innovative connected services, DS IRIS SYSTEM includes advanced features such as real-time navigation, media management and dedicated apps, to combine comfort, safety and driving enjoyment. The DS IRIS SYSTEM voice recognition system integrates SoundHound Artificial intelligence powered by ChatGPT API.
Price has been reported to be around £60,000 in the UK, depending on the model and trim level. With styling almost unmatched by rivals and a reported range of 469 miles (~750kms), German rivals may well have cause for concern if DS can get the traction needed to get sales on the board.
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Marc Rushton
StereoNET’s Founder and Publisher was born in England and raised on British Hi-Fi before moving to Australia. He developed an early love of music and playing bass guitar before discovering the studio and the other side of the mixing desk. After writing for print magazines, Marc saw the future in digital publishing and founded the first version of StereoNET in 1999.
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