Sony Home Theatre Audio on 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum

Sound plays an important role in our daily life. We use sound to communicate idea, show feeling and effect mood. Listening to rock music can get us pumped up for the gym, while classical music helped us unwind and relax after a long day at the office.

Last week, I was in Toronto to attended the media presentation for the brand new Ford Explorer Platinum. The 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum is the industry first to featured a 500 watt Sony Audio System with Live Acoustics and Clear Phase.

Greg Watkins, Ford of Canada Product Marketing Manger, welcome us to the iconic Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. Built in 1960, the Sony Centre is Toronto’s first performing arts centre & Canada’s largest soft-seat theatre. It’s the perfect venue to experience the sound of the new Explorer.

“Explorer is about pushing boundaries, and authentic high-end home theatre sound isn’t just for the living room anymore,” said Craig Patterson, Ford utilities marketing manager. “The new Platinum series gives customers everything, including a sound system that will knock your socks off.”

Tony Cheslick, Sony Electronics Account Manager, walk us through behind the Sony technology. Live Acoustics and Clear Phase is exclusive to the Platinum series.

“This technology was previously available only in our high-end home audio systems,” Shiraishi-san said. “We’ve now applied the algorithm of Live Acoustics to Ford Explorer Platinum’s audio system to transform the listening experience to be among the finest in the world.”

Home theatre sound isn’t just for the home anymore. Sony engineers spent hundreds of hours fine tuning the new sound system to deliver the ultimate in car experience. The 500 watt, 12 high power speakers are strategically placed in 10 locations around the cabin.

The Clear Phase technology simulates a sound stage inside the Explorer. Every instrument is located in its proper place and vocals are clarified without any distortion.

Basically, you will hear the music sound as though it’s coming from a larger stage than the vehicle itself.

To develop the Live Acoustics algorithm, Sony engineers, led by Goro Shiraishi, also a concertmaster with the Sony Philharmonic Orchestra, visited the great halls in Amsterdam, Berlin and Vienna and installed microphones to measure their acoustic qualities. The goal is to re-create the concert hall experience at home or inside the Explorer.

The Explorer Platinum is also the first production model to carry a brushed aluminum oval instead of the classic blue oval.

I must say the technology lives up to its name. The clarity and depth of each note is mind blowing. It is the ultimate listening experience on 4 wheels.

As the flagship model, the 2016 Explorer Platinum comes standard with 20 inch aluminum wheels, adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, real Brown Ash Swirl wood and aluminum accents, BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert, dual-panel moonroof, enhanced active park assist with parallel parking, park out assist, reverse perpendicular parking, and forward and side sensing systems, inflatable rear safety belts, Nirvana leather, lane-keeping system.

The Explorer Platinum also got a major overhaul under the hood, a brand new twin-turbocharged, direct-injection 3.5L EcoBoost V6 produced 365 hp & 350 lb. ft. of torque. It delivered a V8 performance with the fuel economy of a V6.

With a long road trip ahead, one of my favourite feature is the massaging front seats.

Ford knows how to party! We ended the night with an intimate concert for 200 Ford employees, dealership partners and a handful of bloggers.

MAGIC! performed their massive hit, Rude. Rude was #1 in seven countries, 9th best-selling song of 2014, with global sales of 8.6 million units.

Thanks Ford for the awesome concert and experience.

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