http://www.isuppli.com May 25th, 2011 Mark Boyadjis

Regardless of the segment, premium audio offerings are abundant. The progress with innovative technologies, new brand strategies and cost control on premium sales has brought the option into the line-ups from luxury to economy. What separates these systems is often times a matter of wattage, speaker count or most often surround sound technology. IHS iSuppli research sees a growing market segment in premium audio and more volume vehicles offer more options to buyers. Combine this with a decreasing cost of entry for suppliers for innovative technologies like Class D amplification, and it is likely to continue in developed markets, as well as developing markets. 

Eco-Friendly Solutions

Premium audio has been successful in the luxury segment since size, cost, and power are generally not a problem to overcome. Yet, in the emerging world of eco-friendly vehicles like advanced hybrids and the emergence of EVs, OEMs struggle to combine the technology and battery life. Traditional Class AB amplifiers have been known to steal significant power from the converters in the car, in some cases costing fuel efficiency.

Fortunately, the relatively new Class-D amplifier has grown significantly over a short period of time and has enabled the level of audio quality that is expected without incurring costs to battery life or MPG. A great example is the Bose Energy Efficient series that has now seen exposure in the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the 2012 Fiat 500 - one vehicle being a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, the other being a simple ICE subcompact car. 

Brand Recognition
Brand is a powerful component of the audio experience within a vehicle. In nearly every available premium audio solution on the market, an equally powerful brand is plastered to the head unit, speaker grille, or sometimes displayed in graphics on infotainment screens.

Some vehicles even offer multiple branded solutions. Audi has been offering optional Bose and Bang & Olufsen audio since it first hit the market in 2005 with the Audi A8. New for model year 2011/2012, the Chrysler 300 offers three optional audio options besides the standard non-branded system.