Saint-Étienne hosts a dedicated sound lab where Focal asserts that the human voice serves as the benchmark for all audio quality. Through a collaboration with this lab, DS model passengers enjoy a listening experience that emphasizes surround acoustics designed to feel natural and intimate inside the cabin.
Yet achieving studio-grade sound in a car remains a challenge. Even in premium vehicles, complete suppression of road noise is unattainable and the seating arrangement cannot replicate the ideal acoustics of a recording booth. In a studio, listeners can position themselves to perfection, letting the sound tailor itself to personal preference. Car interiors must instead rely on engineered solutions that deliver superior clarity within a moving environment.
To push the envelope on in-car audio, DS employs a range of acoustic innovations. Special sound-absorbing films line the door panels while side glass features dedicated sound-damping layers. Engineers refine woofer and midrange designs and optimize their shapes and mounting positions to maximize what the cabin can hear. This careful tuning helps create an even, immersive sound field across the entire interior, rather than concentrating energy in a single seat or zone.
Collaboration between sound engineers and vehicle designers is essential in this arena. Automobile layouts demand space for batteries, shelves, airbags, assistance systems, and control hardware, which often leads to a proliferation of compact loudspeakers to achieve broad, even coverage. In the DS lineup, including the compact DS 4, as many as 14 speakers can be integrated to deliver a cohesive listening experience that remains intelligible at highway speeds.
The outcome is a listening experience in DS vehicles that many describe as strikingly clear and natural, even when the car is moving quickly. The vocals retain their pure timbre across volume levels, and the bass is delivered with precision rather than a loud, artificial rumble intended to imply subwoofer presence. This emphasis on vocal clarity ensures dialogue and musical voices stay intelligible, preserving the emotional intent of performances while maintaining musical balance.
Jacques Maul, founder of Focal, began his career working with professional studio equipment. The aim has always been to replicate the richness of surround sound, and this philosophy now travels from studio control rooms to road cars. Focal systems are increasingly integrated into Peugeot and DS models, enabling a consistent, spacious auditory image that feels like a personal surround environment. The promise extends to upcoming models such as the DS 4 and the next generations of the DS 7 and DS 9, where surround sound and refined acoustics are expected to play a central role in the driving experience.