New Bentley Continental

Richard Dane posted:

Ardbeg10y posted:

Which Cantate Domino if I may ask? (always interested in choral music)

IIRC it was the famous mid '70s Thorsten Nilsson recording.

Bought. Did not have that one yet. Thanks for the reply.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Richard Dane posted:

B&O have had a relationship with VAG for a while now.  

The PR says the B&O system is 1500 watts and "...with illuminated speaker grilles is aimed at lifestyle-oriented customers."

"A Naim 2,200 W, 18-speaker system with Active Bass Transducers built into the front seats and eight sound modes is offered for the true audiophile."

Sorry I just noted this... 

i couldn't think of anything more cheesy for a marketing dept to say...

"...with illuminated speaker grilles is aimed at lifestyle-oriented customers."

what sort of people are switched on by this? in my circles (and that's across most wealth groups) being 'lifestyle-oriented' is used as a patronising put down for a shallow consumerist .. it's funny how we must all live in our bubbles...

 

You mean...you haven't got a string of multicoloured LEDs stuck round your home speakers that pulse in time to your MP3s? Oh God, I feel so cheap...

When Naim first joined with Bentley to produce their sound system, Steve Sells kindly gave me a very thorough demo of the installation inside a nice car at the London motor show. I must say it was very impressive. To drive the multiple speakers and DSP systems whilst trying to overcome the difficult and noisy interior acoustic of a large car at speed takes a lot of  power and much expertise. If I was in the market for such a car I'd naturally want the Naim option, but as others have mentioned I'm not really too bothered with sound systems in the car, they're just background for me. The BMW's standard sound systems seem just fine for what I want.

Richard Dane posted:

Analog, on that logic the same should apply to Lamborghini, Bugatti, Porsche etc..?

I'm told the underpinnings are all new compared to the outgoing Continental GT and it's lighter as a consequence.  The styling has some nice elements of the EXP 10, and that boot and rear roof line...  hmmm... reminds me a bit of the old DBS.

Oh yes, and the Naim system is significantly more powerful than before.  I haven't heard it yet but looking forward to doing so soon.

it's now based on a new aluminium platform co developed with Porsche. It's significantily lighter than Conti 1 but i guess is still a heavy car. Esthetically wise i still prefer the Aston DB11, or the Rolls Wraith, a proper classy GT car.

See the excellent Harry's report on the road to Villa D'Este

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dwBrCO3Qi4

Regards

Roberto

jon honeyball posted:

Its just disappointing that B&O have got a foothold there. 

The issue is that some people will now go for the B&O system, just because they would think it's a watt game

1600 watts sounds like a lot for a car, and if costs less than the Naim one.

Yes it is very disappointing. Any further marketing claims are bound to be shot down by ASA anyway, so yes now it's a Watts proposition.

If I were every lucky enough to win that lottery ticket, I would own the bentley just for the Naim system, but then I am obsessed with (Naim/Chord Electronics/Dynaudio) hi-fi 

PS : it's a fantastic car, but I've made a lifelong policy to not be curious about such kind of cars I can't afford (Lambo, Ferrari, RR and Bentley etc etc etc. Same logic for statement, I won't listen to it until I can afford)

Silly of me, I suppose.

I will however make the trip to our local bentley showroom just to hear the Naim system 

If you look at some of Samsung's recent acquisitions they have included companies that produce electronic components for the motor industry well away from the Audio side and I see they have just been given a license to test driver-less cars in California.

With the changes coming in vehicle technology, electric cars, hybrid vehicles and the new electronic platforms that will be required to furnish these vehicles it looks as if Samsung are looking at a bigger slice of the cake.