Unlocking Immersive In-Car Audio Experiences: Nissan’s Patrick Dennis Shares the Key

If you know, you know. There’s something special about great in-car audio. We chatted with Nissan‘s sound guru Patrick Dennis to find out more.

Creating Sanctuary Spaces

Did you know that 45% of buyers note that a car’s sound system influences their buying decision? Is it any wonder? Vehicles have become more than a mode of transportation. Years ago, they stopped being solely a means for getting from Point A to Point B. In turn, vehicles became something more vital and intrinsically woven into the fabric of the lives of modern Americans. Patrick Dennis gets it. Principal Engineer for Audio Sound Quality at Nissan Technical Center North America, he is putting his “Golden Ears” to good use crafting sound experiences for Nissan and INFINITI buyers. He and the audio team are responsible for helping to shape the in-cabin sound of vehicles on the market and coming soon.

Choosing Partners

From the personal Bose speakers in the headrests of the Kicks to the 12-speaker concert experience in the Armada, the audio team in the Michigan-based Research and Development facility is hard at work testing options and bringing the sound experience to life for each passenger in the vehicle.

When we asked Dennis about the process, his entire face lit up like a kid asked to walk into the candy store with an unlimited budget. He noted that sound is a sensory experience that leaves an imprint on the user. Likening it to the memories associated with attending your first concert, the in-car sound experience is viscerally personal.

Be it a podcast, playlist, or morning talk show, there is something uniquely special that every person listens to immediately upon entering the vehicle. Whatever option they choose, drivers expect it to have a particular sound… and they expect it to be perfect. “We want the customers to feel like they’re at a live show. That’s the vision,” Dennis said. “We want to transport them there.”

Hence, Nissan’s partnership with some of the legendary names in audio. Building on a stellar in-house team, they actively choose partners that are some of the best in the business. Bose, Klipsch, and Fender, just to name a few, have been added to the mix to the delight of Nissan buyers across the country. “It’s not that my ears are naturally better than anyone else’s – it’s that I’ve been trained to identify certain things in the music that other people might not be able to catch,” he notes.

Making Good Great

We test several dozen vehicles a year, and it only takes a few seconds to notice the difference between good and great audio quality. For some vehicles, the speakers are too high, too low, or hidden in some crazy place. Dennis says, “A car is not an ideal space for an audio system. You’re competing with noise from the powertrain, road, wind, and surrounding traffic.” He notes that the audio and engineering teams “manipulate” the sound through tech and speaker placement to feel closer to the listener and create an all-encompassing experience.

In turn, the sound experience is immersive and engaging. In the Kicks, the premium audio add-on adds speakers to the headrests, creating a personal headphone moment without ever slipping a pair on. In the Armada, 12 speakers provide focused sound and personal concert experience that had us thinking of excuses to ride around and listen to the next chapter of our audiobook. Add in the new advancements in software development, and Nissan has been able to create a beautiful experience with just a few speakers in some cases. For example, the Active Sound Management Software assists in identifying and controlling engine noise with opposing frequencies. It sounds like sci-fi, but the result is a quieter cabin and a stronger base for a great sound experience.

With their eye focused on their customer and pointed toward the future, the team is excited for buyers to experience the fruit of their labor. When asked about his favorite part, he talks about the you know it when you know it moments. “You have to work with the system to get it to pop. When it does, you know it – you feel that fun factor immediately. And you can’t wait for the customer to experience it too,” he said.

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