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When LA Audio File published its most recent Surveying the Best New Car Sound Systems report comparing the finest that car companies offer in the way of premium audio systems, a lot of familiar names rose to the challenge. In the end, it was a Volkswagen Phaeton with its obscure-sounding No. 9VE premium sound system option that ascended to the top.

The Phaeton system was an audio juggernaut. VW eschewed edge-of-the-art technology in favor of brute force. It lacked finesse, not to mention true, discrete multi-channel surround sound. It did have a surround mode, but it was signal processing derived from two-channel stereo. The system made everything sound good, if not entirely accurate. Still, it was the Raging Bull of the factory audio community, and it knocked out all of its competition at the last go around. That was then. VW of America has since retired the sound system as well as the car.

Several new systems have since appeared to go after the championship belt. Lexus has introduced a third-generation Mark Levinson system it calls the Reference Surround Audio system, Mercedes Benz teamed up with Harman/Kardon to design an impressive system for the latest S-Class sedan. Aston Martin teamed up with Linn Audio Systems (makers of the famed LP12 turntable) to design the sound system in the new V12 Vanquish sports car. read full review on : laaudiofile.com