Press release
Source: Volvo
How do we get an engine to sound impressive?
Acoustic design for cars is becoming increasingly important. With a brand-new acoustic laboratory, Volvo Cars' sound experts can make further progress in the area of engine noise. Volvo cars are to have a unique Scandinavian sound.
The new acoustic laboratory is located in new premises in the very heart of the Volvo Cars production complex in Torslanda, Sweden. The chamber has a network of sound-absorbing protrusions embedded in the walls and ceiling to give optimal preconditions for testing engine noise. No background noise penetrates, no standing sound waves occur to disrupt the tests.
On the other hand, the acoustic lab's hard floor is a very realistic representation of the surfaces on which cars operate. It recreates the same sound effects as when driving on tarmac.
"With our new test chamber we can test four-wheel drive cars in an entirely different environment than we could previously," says Eva Lahti, acoustic engineer at Volvo Cars.
The new test chamber is part of the NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) Centre at Volvo Cars where more than 60 people work to create the right sound pattern for Volvo's cars.
"Most of our work relates to creating the foundation for the best acoustic comfort from the customer's viewpoint. Customers who purchase a premium car expect that," says Johan Stenson, manager of the NVH Centre.
Work on designing a car's sound is divided into three parts:
1. Sounds that irritate - for example squeaks and rattles, road rumble and wind roar.
2. Sounds that inform - for example engine noise and the "click" of various controls.
3. Sounds that impress - for example engine note and the sound of a door shutting.
It's all about eliminating sounds from the first category so that the others are heard as intended. Acoustic design has developed into something of a science among premium car manufacturers today. Having said that, it is a relatively new science.
"There's no long tradition in the sphere of acoustic design, but it is gaining in importance. Our challenge is to create an experience that delivers the right ‘Volvo sound'," says Johan Stenson.
Source: Volvo
How do we get an engine to sound impressive?
Acoustic design for cars is becoming increasingly important. With a brand-new acoustic laboratory, Volvo Cars' sound experts can make further progress in the area of engine noise. Volvo cars are to have a unique Scandinavian sound.
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| The Volvo Cars Acoustic Laboratory |
The new acoustic laboratory is located in new premises in the very heart of the Volvo Cars production complex in Torslanda, Sweden. The chamber has a network of sound-absorbing protrusions embedded in the walls and ceiling to give optimal preconditions for testing engine noise. No background noise penetrates, no standing sound waves occur to disrupt the tests.
On the other hand, the acoustic lab's hard floor is a very realistic representation of the surfaces on which cars operate. It recreates the same sound effects as when driving on tarmac.
"With our new test chamber we can test four-wheel drive cars in an entirely different environment than we could previously," says Eva Lahti, acoustic engineer at Volvo Cars.
The new test chamber is part of the NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) Centre at Volvo Cars where more than 60 people work to create the right sound pattern for Volvo's cars.
"Most of our work relates to creating the foundation for the best acoustic comfort from the customer's viewpoint. Customers who purchase a premium car expect that," says Johan Stenson, manager of the NVH Centre.
Work on designing a car's sound is divided into three parts:
1. Sounds that irritate - for example squeaks and rattles, road rumble and wind roar.
2. Sounds that inform - for example engine noise and the "click" of various controls.
3. Sounds that impress - for example engine note and the sound of a door shutting.
It's all about eliminating sounds from the first category so that the others are heard as intended. Acoustic design has developed into something of a science among premium car manufacturers today. Having said that, it is a relatively new science.
"There's no long tradition in the sphere of acoustic design, but it is gaining in importance. Our challenge is to create an experience that delivers the right ‘Volvo sound'," says Johan Stenson.
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| Johan Stenson, manager of the Noise, Vibration and Harshness Centre at Volvo Cars. |