Concerning high end audio names in new cars

Wrong. The base system in a previous Lexus and  another current model was/is worlds batter. Not even close.

I have the Levinson system in my 2009 Lexus LS.  It was way better sounding to me than the basic audio system.  I listened quite a while to both.  I wanted the better one. To me it was worthwhile upgrade and I have enjoyed it for years.  It is still a car surrounded by glass.  I did not buy it because of blue meters.

I have a new Alfa Romeo Giulia with the upgraded 14 speaker Harmon Kardon system and it sounds great. My previous Alfa had the same but the bass used to vibrate. That’s fixed in the new one. It’s not like listening to my home system but pretty darn good.

Those meters are ABSURD,. What a nice size GPS screen, I hope it has optional use. Have you seen a Tesla display, holy crap.

Any decent sound system, in a large car/truck should have a fader for front/rear balance, but it is nice if it is balanced by default. I often need to reduce the volume in my Volvo back seat when someone is there. I used to boost the rear in any vehicle when the kids were young.

The T-Birds, both old and new had settings to automatically lower the volume when you slowed down/stopped. The old one was a rheostat connected to the gas pedal, worked better than this new one.

The new one, 2005, you can tell it if 1 or 2 people are in, i.e. adjusts for the driver’s position.

Who the heck knows if another maker’s speakers would be better.

If you let my niece drive your car, you better know where to readjust the bass boost because she will find it!

I had to stop reading these answers. I’m sure there are a couple of experienced, auto sound aficionados in the group, but those that aren’t, started wading in, and it quickly got maddening. I don’t have the time or inclination to even start the book of explanations and education necessary for this to conversation to make any headway. Better to just keep going. I’m in the middle of trying to buy a HT system and I’ll be heading back down that street. Thanks to my email for suckering me into this.🖕

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!