For the competition, MECA judges used three evaluations: a sound-pressure test to measure sound volume, real-time analysis to measure audio fidelity, and the judges’ evaluations of the listening experience.
“Audiophiles believe that rating audio performance requires critical listening as well as measuring output,” said Steve Stern, MECA president. “Sound provides a baseline rating of the potential of a sound system, but does not necessarily equate to a great-sounding system. Only the human ear can gauge how natural and believable the listening experience is.”
The competition included three, comparably equipped cars with factory-installed audio systems, including:
- 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 2LT with the Pioneer nine-speaker sound system available as a $445 option on Cruze LT and LTZ models
- 2010 Toyota Corolla LE, with a six-speaker sound system available starting at $490 on Corolla LE models
- 2010 Honda Civic EX, with a six-speaker, 160-watt sound system included on EX models and above
For the tests, all three sound systems were set to the factory presets.
For the sound-pressure test, judges used a decibel meter to measure sound volume. The Cruze took first place, delivering 112.9 dB of pressure without distortion, compared to 105.6 dB for Corolla and 105.2 dB for Civic. That seven decibel advantage represents nearly double the volume of competitors’ systems.
The real-time analyzer gauged audio fidelity by measuring how accurately the systems recreated preset frequency tones. The Cruze finished third, with 14 points out of a possible 40, compared to 22 points for Civic and 24 points for Corolla.
For the subjective evaluation, judges listened to the same music selections in each car for consistency, and awarded points based on system noise, tonality, realism, staging, and placement. The Cruze took first place, with an average of 74.83 points out of a possible 100, compared to 69.75 for Corolla, and 58.83 for Civic.
““The most important measure of an audio system is how well it recreates the experience of listening to a live performance,” said Stern. “From that perspective, the Cruze was clearly the best of the group, delivering more presence, more realistic sub-bass, and silky smooth midrange.
“In our competitions, stock systems typically score between 55 and 65 points,” Stern said. “With nearly 75 points, the Cruze delivers the performance we would expect in a luxury car – not an $18,000 car.”
That evaluation is music to the ears of Matt Kirsch, lead audio engineer for the Cruze.
“We set out to deliver a far better audio experience than a typical compact car,” said Kirsch. “As such, we used more speakers and more power to fill the Cruze with sound. We also spent a great deal of time tuning the sound system for ambiance and clarity, so sitting in the Cruze sounds like sitting in the front row at a concert hall.”
[Source: Media.GM.com]