The early nineties were big for Mazda – they won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 787B and they had a product range that stretched from the 121 to the 626, as well as the MX-5 and MX-6, but at the same time the third generation Mazda RX-7 was in the pipeline. It was decided that an extraordinary sound system was needed for Mazda’s extraordinary sportscar. Bose were chosen as partners and so the engineering ingenuity begun.
Bose’s exceptional Bose’s Acoustic Wave Cannon system was shoehorned into the cabin of the RX-7, miraculously compromising on neither the interior space or the sound quality of the system. Powerful bass and impactful sound were what they set out to achieve, and that’s exactly what they did.
The same innovation was seen with the Mazda MX-5. Of course, top-notch sound quality in a top-down convertible had always been a challenge for manufacturers, and Mazda and Bose managed to solve this. When the top is lowered, an EQ switch automatically adjusts the sound setting, with UltraNearfield speakers embedded within the headrests allowing for a completely immersive sound experience, roof up or down. In addition to this, Bose’s AudioPilot noise compensation technology continuously monitors the noise within the cabin and then automatically adjusts the audio accordingly, compensating for prevailing road and wind noise.
Since the latest Mazda3, the woofers were moved into the cowl side from the door panels, reducing rattling and increasing the richness of the bass production as the bass energy is reflected by the floor, firewall and kick panel area simultaneously. An additional subwoofer is installed at the rear of the vehicle which “matches” the low frequency performance across the whole cabin – this is why the system is called BassMatch.
A collaboration defined by a shared passion for pushing the limits of what is possible, and the belief that premium solutions require a bold, unconventional approach, Bose and Mazda continue to innovate, striving towards a common aim: The perfect connection between car, driver and music.