December audio power & speaker quantity rankings: New Forces Dominate, Luxury Brands Exit One After Another

By 2025, the car industry has long seen the word "competition" extend to the auditory domain. Attending a new car launch event, the ever-increasing hardware specifications and promotional rhetoric likened to benchmarks can always be dazzling.

The promotional paths for car companies' audio systems have gradually divided into three factions: "brand," "technology," and "specifications."

The most undeniable factor is the power of the brand. After all, we have received such messages.

This year, not only traditional luxury brands are dedicated to "big brand collaborations," but also domestic new energy vehicles like Zeekr 9X and IM LS9 have chosen to enhance their style with brand logos, marking their first collaborations with Naim and B&O, respectively.

A few brands are focusing on "technological innovation," experimenting with new features like detachable outdoor speakers, multi-functional karaoke, and AI tuning.

Most ambitious domestic newcomers have almost collectively plunged into the battlefield of "parameter involution."

To give everyone a clear view of this chaotic battle, in the last month of 2025, we have compiled and updated the Speaker Quantity List, Sound System Power List, and the Top 100,000 "Luxury" Sound Systems List. Let's take a quick look at these three rankings.

Speaker Quantity Ranking

AudioLab | Speaker Quantity List: Encountering the "Stacked" Domestic Kings of Overdrive, Even "Big Berlin" Has to Step Aside? (For a detailed introduction to the speaker list, you can click the link in the article for more information.)

With 25 speakers as the "selection threshold," the most striking change is that the top positions, previously dominated by the BBA (Benz, BMW, Audi), are now all occupied by the "roll kings" of domestic new forces.

In the rankings, new power models equipped with thirty to forty speakers have topped the list, but what does this number mean? Many netizens have raised this question.

The doors, roof, and even headrests are filled with sound units, which might be described as "full of holes," but this is what the officials claim is an immersive sound field.

However, the million-level Maybach GLS, after spending more than 60,000 on optional upgrades, only has 26 speakers.

As a media outlet that test-drives and listens to over a hundred car models each year, we always want to remind everyone that car audio is not a "numbers game."

The number of speakers does not directly represent a good sound field; if the tuning and phase are chaotic, it can lead to the problem of "sound fighting" against each other.

Sound Power Rankings

Audio Power Rankings: New Cars' Peak Power Collectively "Surge," How Many Watts Do We Really Need? (For a detailed introduction to the power rankings, you can click the link in the article to learn more if needed.)

With 20 million watts as the "entry threshold" for the power list, the competition becomes even more intense.

Zeekr 001 takes the lead with a peak power of 4680W, followed closely by NIO ES8, Zeekr 9X, and IM LS9, all of which have exceeded 3000W in power.

Few car companies actively mention that these "impressive numbers" mostly refer to "peak power," akin to an athlete's instantaneous sprinting speed, which can only be sustained for a few milliseconds. In everyday listening, it's actually hard to reach.

Therefore, just as some netizens have commented to us, sometimes the high power we see doesn't necessarily mean better sound quality; if the rated power is insufficient, the sound will distort at higher volumes.

We previously tested the Bowers & Wilkins sound system in the Volvo S90. While it may not rank among the peak power ratings, its actual maximum sound pressure is indeed the only model this year to exceed 105 decibels (dBA). In terms of sound quality, it actually outperforms some new energy vehicles with "high peak but low rated" specifications.

However, it's still worth mentioning that even if you've opted for a high-end sound system, it's not all smooth sailing. If the car's sound insulation is poor and the NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) hasn't been properly addressed, top-tier equipment will struggle to perform at its best.

This year we have also seen a clear trend in car audio systems, which is the transfer of functions and technology to lower models.

The 100,000 Most "Luxurious" Sound Systems List

Even in cars within the 100,000 to 150,000 range, the sound system is more than just there to "make noise."

The upgrade in dimensions such as no longer having a single-digit number of speakers, Dolby Atmos layout, and karaoke functions has appeared in more car models.

When novel features and experiences can break through the price barrier and reach more people, just based on this point alone, it seems that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Written at the end

From the messages we received in the backend, it seems that in the face of the "continuous bombardment" from new forces and the issue of whether to choose brand-name speakers or develop them in-house, opinions among everyone are also varied.

However, more and more people are able to see the essence of audio equipment through its appearance.

Regardless of the brand logo or hardware specifications, the key to good sound quality ultimately lies in tuning.

Finally, I want to say that the competition in car audio systems in 2025 essentially marks the beginning of an "experience upgrade," but don't be misled by the "promotional forms."

The core of selecting a sound system is also very simple: first consider the budget, then the needs.

If you are a music enthusiast who pursues detail restoration and spatial sense, even HiFi restoration, then cars like Volvo and Bowers & Wilkins, which have "hardware and tuning both online," are more suitable. You can also opt for upgrades for a more comprehensive enhancement.

If you mainly listen to pop music and use navigation in your daily life, but value gameplay and new experiences, then features like surround sound and karaoke developed by some new emerging brands are more suitable.

For friends who are very particular about audio experience, it's best to visit a physical store to listen to the car in person when choosing a vehicle. Use familiar songs to feel whether the mid and high tones are clear, whether the bass is muddy, and whether the soundstage is three-dimensional. After all, truly good sound quality isn't created by "piling up" numbers.