The Ultimate Sound Machine: Strange Story of BMW Seeking Audio Perfection

Any BMW enthusiasts that have ever found themselves really rocking out to their favorite track while at the wheel of a Z3 roadster; owe a debt of gratitude to audio designer Bob Carver, though they probably don’t know it. In a humorous interview with The Absolute Sound magazine, the audio maestro reveals his interesting, and illuminating first impression with the BMW sound team.

Carver was asked by the German automaker to come to Munich and lend a helping hand in the design of a subwoofer for the Z3. When he arrived at the BMW audio lab, Carver says that he instantly knew he was among like-minded audiophiles.

(Click through the jump to read on.)

The audio engineer walked into a white-walled room, empty of anything save a BMW sedan with the front doors removed. In place of the doors, Edgar Kirk, chief acoustician for BMW, had wired up a set of Apogee Scintilla loudspeakers that were connected to the car by thick cables. Kirk reportedly looked at Carver and said, “This is what we have to achieve, but in a more practical way.”

BMW undoubtedly found its “more practical” way, as we don’t recall a speaker-door option on any production model, but Carver’s story has allegedly gone on to become the stuff of many retellings within the industry.

+ AVguide

If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com