I stepped into the Shanghai Acoustics R&D Center in Huawei and was hoping for a standard facility tour. Instead, what I came across was a comprehensive automotive sound engineering operation that challenges the established order of audio systems within the car.
The facility that Huawei has been developing since its launch in 2012 with serious audio research investments, houses three different test environments. A fully unpleasant chamber of 4.8x4x4m, a large semi-echo room spanning 14x12x5m with reflective floors, and a dedicated listening room consisting of a 9.1.6 layout. Photos were not allowed due to concerns about their own technology, but the technical specifications tell their own story.
In-car audio challenges
Goller will oversee what Huawei calls the “master tuning methodology,” including positions at Gamut Audio, Bang & Olufsen and Harman International. This is a process that begins with objective acoustic measurements, but relies heavily on the psychoacoustic principles of final vocalization.
Speaking in the listening room on the tour’s first agenda, Goller outlined Huaway’s development philosophy. The purpose is to create what is described as a “phantom effect” that faithfully reproduces the recording as intended by the artist to listen to, as it is described as a “phantom effect” that transports the listener into the original recording environment. This requires combining scientific acoustic measurements and artistic tuning expertise with dedicated hardware.
The technical process he described begins with objective measurements – the characteristics of frequency response curves, phase relationships, timing behavior, and distortion. These establish performance boundaries. From there, extensive subjective listening sessions use psychoacoustic principles to improve vocalization and correct for cabin’s inherent acoustic tasks, asymmetry, near-range reflections, and bass loads.
The goal is to stay true to the source material, while still working within these constraints.
Huawei Sound Ultimate Series
The specific results of this study are the Huawei Sound Ultimate series, Tech Giant’s most luxurious audio system currently deployed on the Maextro S800 Luxury Electric Sedan. The system consists of 43 speakers powered by dual amplifiers delivering a total power of 2,920 watts.
Called Huawei, the “industry-first seat-specific 4D immersive surround sound experience” includes a rear 4D exerter that syncs with music and video content, adding tactile feedback to your auditory experience.
Hardware innovations are concrete rather than general. Tangential force woofer rotates traditional door woofer geometry 90 degrees, reducing panel resonance while expanding bass response. The patented dual-dia flag subwoofer utilizes the cabin volume itself, rather than being constrained by traditional enclosure designs.
The Crystal Star-Ring Diffuser automatically rises when residents enter and integrates with rhythm-synchronized ambient lighting while improving central image accuracy. Huawei claims 30% sound uniformity compared to its previous generation.
The Spatial Audio implementation uses 10 overhead channels, adaptive sound field control, and what Huawei describes the ASA’s own spatial audio track model for placement and clarity. Interestingly, the system integrates with Harmono and extends beyond pure audio to what Huawei calls “sound-to-light” technology.
Independent Sound Zone
The most technically ambitious feature is independent sound zone technology. Each of the four headrests integrates two tweeters and two midrange units. In combination with Huawei’s sound field control algorithm, the main speaker arrangement acts as an active silencer, targeting audio leakage between the front and rear rows.
Huawei claims a separation of up to 30dB between rows and 99% energy separation. During the demonstration, the front passengers listened to classical music while the rear passengers watched the action film and watched with minimal audible crosstalk.
The system also incorporates road noise cancellation using what Huawei describes as the “omni-demental model.” Multi-layer acoustic glass and absorbent materials offer passive isolation and target what the company calls the “library-level” baseline noise floor.
Investment Questions
Huawei disclosed substantial R&D spending: in 2024 it accounted for $179.7 billion (approximately £2 billion / €23.4 billion), accounting for 20.8% of its total revenue, with over 113,000 employees becoming R&D rolls. The company says that around $60 billion (approximately £6.6 billion / €7.8 billion) is being used especially for basic scientific research.
These numbers contextualize Huawei’s automotive music engineering ambitions. The company currently provides solutions to more than 20 automakers, spanning driver assistance, cockpit systems, acoustics and controls. However, Huawei has established itself as a component supplier. Individual car manufacturers decide on market availability and regional launches.
Impact on the market
The automotive sound engineering landscape has traditionally been dominated by established European brands. Huawei’s systematic approach – employing expertise from dedicated testing facilities, legacy audio companies, and critical capital investments represent challenges to its established order.
The question isn’t whether Huawei can build an impressive technology demo. The Maextro S800 system clearly works. The question is whether this level of refinement leads to a wider production volume across multiple vehicle platforms at a commercially viable price range.
Goller’s stated goal is to “optimal reproduction of recordings – bring closer to the artist’s intended experience.” This is the purpose of standard audiophiles, but given the constraints of the environment, it has historically been a struggle for car sound engineering to achieve.
evaluation
After experiencing both laboratory facilities and in-vehicle systems, Huawei’s program appears methodologically sound. The combination of measurement-driven development and subjective tuning improvements represents standard practices for high-end audio that fit the context of the automobile.
Whether this leads to market success depends on factors beyond acoustic performance, whether production scalability, supply chain integration with diverse automakers, and ultimately, consumers value independent sound zones and sophisticated tuning sufficient to pay premium prices.
Huawei has built a technology foundation. Commercial proof emerges as these systems move from flagship demonstrations to a wider car lineup.
See: Huawei Details Huawei Connect 2025 Open Source AI Development Roadmap
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