Skip to main content

The history of Bose in-car audio, from an ’83 Seville, to the 2015 Escalade

Bose introduced the first premium in-car stereo system in 1982, and in doing so, helped launch an entirely new industry. Since then, big names in audio like Infinity, Bowers & Wilkins and Harman Kardon have joined in, as have ultra high-end brands such as Mark Levinson and Bang & Olufsen.

What started out as a relatively modest 4-speaker system in a 1983 Cadillac Seville has grown into a monstrous industry filled with component speaker systems, subwoofers, multi-channel amplifiers, custom equalization, DVD playback, built-in navigation, and more. And what started out as a GM exclusive in the early 1980s has developed into a partnership with over 15 auto manufacturers.

You might be surprised to learn that Bose has also explored other avenues of automobile technology outside of audio. Though none of its inventions have really taken off commercially, it is hard to deny the engineering behind some of these inventions is impressive.

Check out our video for a retrospective on Bose’s love affair with the car, from past to present, culminating with an ear-bending 11-speaker system featured in the new 2015 Cadillac Escalade.

Editors' Recommendations

Caleb Denison
Digital Trends Editor at Large Caleb Denison is a sought-after writer, speaker, and television correspondent with unmatched…
We tested them all — these are the best Sonos soundbars in 2024
Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar.

If you're shopping for a soundbar, you've probably stumbled upon Sonos. The company is responsible for many of the best soundbars of 2024, thanks to a combination of rich audio, time-tested reliability, and (fairly) reasonable prices. Sonos soundbars are great for home theaters, but they're just as capable of serving as a dedicated sound system for your favorite music, making them a hot commodity among all types of shoppers.

But which Sonos soundbar is the best? Many specs are shared across all devices in its lineup, which can make it difficult to figure out which is best for your needs. Should you opt for the expensive Sonos Arc? Or would you be better served by the affordable Sonos Ray? And what about the mid-range Beam – is it good enough to serve as the anchor of your home theater?

Read more
What is Sling Freestream?
Sling TV Freestream logo.

If you were to ask about the biggest trend in streaming video of late, chances are it’d be something called FAST. That’s short for free, ad-supported television. It’s everywhere. And if you’re looking to watch something without having to pay yet another monthly fee, it’s got you covered.

Sling TV has its own FAST service, called Sling Freestream. As the name implies, it’s free. In fact, you don’t even have to have a Sling TV account to watch.

Read more
Samsung S95D OLED first look: a reflection on excellence
Samsung S95D OLED

I recently traveled to New Jersey to visit Samsung for an up-close and personal look at the flagship TVs in its 2024 lineup, which includes Samsung’s 8K Neo-QLED and 4K Neo-QLEDs, and the reason we’re here today: the S95D.

The S95D is Samsung’s flagship OLED TV for 2024, and it has been the subject of some consternation for some TV enthusiasts because it has a new anti-glare or anti-reflective screen coating. Is there any merit to that concern? Has it overshadowed how good this TV could actually be thanks to a new 3rd generation QD-OLED panel? Is it any brighter? Should we be excited about this TV?

Read more