Concerning high end audio names in new cars

Car audio is pretty complicated.  Licensing home audio companies to put their names on car audio systems is kind of a joke.  I am sure the companies try to do whatever they can to help out, but no one gets into their car to listen critically to music.  If the do, they will be disappointed.

A graphic equalizer may help some, but cars are for driving, and listening to some tunes is nice, but it ain't home audio and never will be.  As for companies like Bose (PLEASE!) and Mark Levinson--oh, my--well, you wanna pay extra for those names on you speaker grills, go buy the little plastic name things and paste them on, I guess.

Cheers!

I don't know how "fluff" it is.  I've been in B&O equipped Audi, and it sounded as horrible as their headphones.  It really was the true B&O signature sound. Piercing and whizzy. 

The JBL system in my Toyota however is quite decent and a worthwhile upgrade from the standard system.

I was just at a media event where I got to spend some time with the new Grand Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee with the McIntosh systems. I ran a series of FLAC files through the system hardwired to my phone. That system is legit. 

Songs I ran through it:
2049 - Hans Zimmer

Back To Black - Amy Winehouse

Before Today - Everything But The Girl

Don't Know Why - Norah Jones

Graceland - Paul Simon

Invisible Sun - The Police

Mosaic - Art Blakey

Car audio is not 100% marketing ploys. I happen to know a sound engineer that works for a major auto maker and has work for several. While sometimes the systems can be not that great or potentially marketing, some of these designers are really working to put great sound in cars. I would caution against making opinions about the sound of what’s in the Wagoneer without hearing it first. It is a truly high-end vehicle and I venture to guess that they use some serious engineering before sticking that sound system in there.

I drive an Audi RS7 I bought used - it happened to come with the 19 speaker B&O, which is an $8000 msrp add-on. The speakers were crap, so I replaced 11 of them. I absolutely do not expect it to sound as good as my home hifi system but it does sound OK now. I drive a lot so at least want it to be decent sounding. 

But again, wow, they make it an $8000 upgrade option, and the speakers they pair with that option are woefully lacking in quality.