3 weeks into my Lucid Air Touring Ownership Experience – love the car, absolutely hate the stereo.

[NYRICAN]

I’ve been driving my Lucid Air Touring for about three weeks now, and I have to say, this car is an absolute game changer in so many ways. This is my first electric car, and transitioning from an Audi RS7 which I absolutely loved has been an exciting journey. There are so many things I adore about this car:

• The tech is cutting-edge and truly futuristic.
• The power delivery is instant and exhilarating nothing compares to how smooth and quick it is.
• The regenerative braking and essentially one-pedal driving make every trip feel seamless and engaging.
• The cool factor of the car is undeniable it turns heads everywhere I go and that's coming from a Daytona Grey matte RS7.
• The simplistic yet luxurious interior feels like stepping into the future while still being incredibly comfortable.
• Overall, the driving experience is unmatched it’s smooth, powerful, and just fun.

On top of that, Lucid’s service has been amazing. I had an issue with the heater, and a mobile tech (Winston, you're freaking amazing !) came to my driveway and resolved it immediately. That level of convenience and care reinforced how much Lucid values their customers.

That’s why it’s so frustrating that there’s one glaring issue that takes away from the joy of this otherwise phenomenal car: the audio system. For a vehicle at this price point, it’s beyond disappointing that the Touring model (and the Pure, as I’ve learned) comes with a base stereo that’s completely subpar.

Music is such an integral part of the driving experience for me, and I expected a car as advanced and luxurious as the Lucid Air to deliver premium sound by default. It feels unacceptable that a car with so much innovation and cool tech would be paired with a sound system that doesn’t match the rest of the experience.

I recently found out during a service appointment that Lucid offers premium audio as an à la carte option. While I understand the approach to customization, installing such a basic system in a car of this caliber feels like a major oversight.

How do other Lucid owners feel about their audio system? Does anyone else have the basic stereo, and how does it compare to your expectations? What's the best way to get this feedback to Lucid for a response?

 

[DreamTour]

I don't think the base stereo has stereo midbasses. Only 9 drivers (4x mid/tweeter L/R front, rear + 1x 8" woofer) all off on 1 Class D amp. Thus will have no body. Its about as base as you can get. It's really an optioning strategy if you don't care about audio you can save a few $$. Otherwise to get the full experience you need the upgrade the stereo. Pretty sure Lucid knows exactly what they put in the stereo / that the base system is limited in functionality.

The upgraded stereo is decent as far as upgraded stereos go, it was pioneering for Dolby Atmos in a car implementation and has recently had the software upgraded to improve the output.

 

[Captain Hook]

Hi NYRican--I took delivery of my Lucid Air Touring on 12/23/24. I am a former Tesla Model 3 owner and decided to sell my Tesla for multiple reasons. I am very pleased with my vehicle as well, for all of the reasons you cite.

I have the same stereo as you...the surreal sound, or base sound system. When I first listened to music using Apple Car Play and LiveOne app, the sound lacked depth, registers and overall quality.

After reading multiple posts about the base stereo, I created a Tidal account so that I could access the "native" Tidal app offered directly from the vehicle. This did improve the sound quality noticeably. Tidal does offer more resolution than Spotify. Honestly, I wish I could just play my favorite CD's! I also plan to subscribe to Qobuz (another "native" music streaming offering on Lucid) as I enjoy listening to classical music as well.

https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-online-music-streaming-services

I do have a technician scheduled to assess the sound system on 1/24 as I made a complaint within the first week. I'm not sure what can be done, but I wanted to make my views known. I agree with you that a luxury vehicle should offer a decent sound system, even with base offering.

For now, my advice is to use a music streaming service with greater resolution.

Kind regards,
Capt. Hook

 

[AirPlur]

My impressions exactly. Love the car (my second after a extremely professional lemon return), hate the key fob and don't love the stereo. In fairness, streaming through Bluetooth severely affects sound quality through no matter the system versus higher bandwidth sources and connections (like the native tidal app or using the usb media player). And the SSP system is an improvement, but ultimately I think the audio systems were a low overall priority, and sound the part. Atmos is neat, but a novelty that offers less to the vast majority of music listening than a well-designed/executed 2-channel setup.

But, as I imagine you'd agree with, while I wish they'd had the time/resources to make the stereo as impressive as the handling/range/comfort/packaging, I have no buyers remorse. Too bad I can't transplant an MB/Porsche Burmester, a JLR Meridian, a BMW B&W, a Lincoln Revel, a Bentley Naim...honestly even the harmon/kardon logic7 from my 2006 MB, but making the compromises they did made a pretty phenomenal car

 

[NYRICAN]

Hi NYRican--I took delivery of my Lucid Air Touring on 12/23/24. I am a former Tesla Model 3 owner and decided to sell my Tesla for multiple reasons. I am very pleased with my vehicle as well, for all of the reasons you cite.

I have the same stereo as you...the surreal sound, or base sound system. When I first listened to music using Apple Car Play and LiveOne app, the sound lacked depth, registers and overall quality.

After reading multiple posts about the base stereo, I created a Tidal account so that I could access the "native" Tidal app offered directly from the vehicle. This did improve the sound quality noticeably. Tidal does offer more resolution than Spotify. Honestly, I wish I could just play my favorite CD's! I also plan to subscribe to Qobuz (another "native" music streaming offering on Lucid) as I enjoy listening to classical music as well.

https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-online-music-streaming-services

I do have a technician scheduled to assess the sound system on 1/24 as I made a complaint within the first week. I'm not sure what can be done, but I wanted to make my views known. I agree with you that a luxury vehicle should offer a decent sound system, even with base offering.

For now, my advice is to use a music streaming service with greater resolution.

Kind regards,
Capt. Hook

I did setup a Tidal account but haven't messed around with it too much as the interface is way different and not used to it yet. Thanks for the advice!

 

[NYRICAN]

I don't think the base stereo has stereo midbasses. Only 9 drivers (4x mid/tweeter L/R front, rear + 1x 8" woofer) all off on 1 Class D amp. Thus will have no body. Its about as base as you can get. It's really an optioning strategy if you don't care about audio you can save a few $$. Otherwise to get the full experience you need the upgrade the stereo. Pretty sure Lucid knows exactly what they put in the stereo / that the base system is limited in functionality.

The upgraded stereo is decent as far as upgraded stereos go, it was pioneering for Dolby Atmos in a car implementation and has recently had the software upgraded to improve the output.

Oh, I'm sure Lucid strategically chose the stereo And completely understand it's an options aka $$$ game. However,IMHO it's absurd to offer a vehicle of this caliber without a"decent" speaker system.

My impressions exactly. Love the car (my second after a extremely professional lemon return), hate the key fob and don't love the stereo. In fairness, streaming through Bluetooth severely affects sound quality through no matter the system versus higher bandwidth sources and connections (like the native tidal app or using the usb media player). And the SSP system is an improvement, but ultimately I think the audio systems were a low overall priority, and sound the part. Atmos is neat, but a novelty that offers less to the vast majority of music listening than a well-designed/executed 2-channel setup.

But, as I imagine you'd agree with, while I wish they'd had the time/resources to make the stereo as impressive as the handling/range/comfort/packaging, I have no buyers remorse. Too bad I can't transplant an MB/Porsche Burmester, a JLR Meridian, a BMW B&W, a Lincoln Revel, a Bentley Naim...honestly even the harmon/kardon logic7 from my 2006 MB, but making the compromises they did made a pretty phenomenal car

Agree, wholeheartedly that they made a phenomenal car. I'm even fine with the cheap plastic key as it's not really needed, but I'm really having a difficult time with the extremely poor sound quality.

 

[Cosmo Cruz]

Surreal Sound Pro with Tidal Atmos .

Best audio I have ever heard in a car.

Mind blown.

There has been much discussion on the Lucid Air audio here, and several audio professionals have commented.

 

[RWALKER5481]

I’ve been driving my Lucid Air Touring for about three weeks now, and I have to say, this car is an absolute game changer in so many ways. This is my first electric car, and transitioning from an Audi RS7 which I absolutely loved has been an exciting journey. There are so many things I adore about this car:

• The tech is cutting-edge and truly futuristic.
• The power delivery is instant and exhilarating nothing compares to how smooth and quick it is.
• The regenerative braking and essentially one-pedal driving make every trip feel seamless and engaging.
• The cool factor of the car is undeniable it turns heads everywhere I go and that's coming from a Daytona Grey matte RS7.
• The simplistic yet luxurious interior feels like stepping into the future while still being incredibly comfortable.
• Overall, the driving experience is unmatched it’s smooth, powerful, and just fun.

On top of that, Lucid’s service has been amazing. I had an issue with the heater, and a mobile tech (Winston, you're freaking amazing !) came to my driveway and resolved it immediately. That level of convenience and care reinforced how much Lucid values their customers.

That’s why it’s so frustrating that there’s one glaring issue that takes away from the joy of this otherwise phenomenal car: the audio system. For a vehicle at this price point, it’s beyond disappointing that the Touring model (and the Pure, as I’ve learned) comes with a base stereo that’s completely subpar.

Music is such an integral part of the driving experience for me, and I expected a car as advanced and luxurious as the Lucid Air to deliver premium sound by default. It feels unacceptable that a car with so much innovation and cool tech would be paired with a sound system that doesn’t match the rest of the experience.

I recently found out during a service appointment that Lucid offers premium audio as an à la carte option. While I understand the approach to customization, installing such a basic system in a car of this caliber feels like a major oversight.

How do other Lucid owners feel about their audio system? Does anyone else have the basic stereo, and how does it compare to your expectations? What's the best way to get this feedback to Lucid for a response?

The Pure I have has the upgraded sounds system and it sounds GREAT! Ask if you can upgrade yours with an Over The Air update. But the option cost $2,900 on the Pure I got!

 

[segbrk]

Honestly, I wish I could just play my favorite CD's!

You can. Rip them to FLAC, put them on a USB drive. Stick that in the USB port inside the armrest and the car will play them.

I also plan to subscribe to Qobuz (another "native" music streaming offering on Lucid) as I enjoy listening to classical music as well.

The car does not have native Qobuz, sorry.

 

[ColonelBadger]

My take is, having had loaner Lucids that had Surreal Sound Pro vs the base sound system in my touring, is that the main thing missing in our vehicles for regular music (not Atmos) are the speakers in the footwell at the front. That in my opinion would make a big improvement to the overall warmth of the sound, which can often sound tinny. Certainly the quality of the source material makes a big difference. As an audiophile who has owned high end home stereo equipment I find its stereo placement and clarity pretty damn good. To my ears it sounds very Kef like. But it’s missing the warmth that a good mid to low range adds. And in the loaner vehicles that seemed to come from those footwell speakers.

It’s not a coincidence that the most recent sound update in 2.5 required a service ticket for the tape in the footwell related to those speakers. If only Lucid would offer an upgrade to add those speakers. I’m sure the mounting place etc is all there in our vehicles. It’s also a shame that Lucid decided to remove the extra SSPro hardware from later vehicles so there wasn’t an upgrade path. But I understand the cost implication.

So Lucid, if you’re listening (@mcr16) can we get an upgrade to add those speakers footwell speakers? I’d happily pay.

 

[DreamTour]

My take is, having had loaner Lucids that had Surreal Sound Pro vs the base sound system in my touring, is that the main thing missing in our vehicles for regular music (not Atmos) are the speakers in the footwell at the front. That in my opinion would make a big improvement to the overall warmth of the sound, which can often sound tinny. Certainly the quality of the source material makes a big difference. As an audiophile who has owned high end home stereo equipment I find its stereo placement and clarity pretty damn good. To my ears it sounds very Kef like. But it’s missing the warmth that a good mid to low range adds. And in the loaner vehicles that seemed to come from those footwell speakers.

It’s not a coincidence that the most recent sound update in 2.5 required a service ticket for the tape in the footwell related to those speakers. If only Lucid would offer an upgrade to add those speakers. I’m sure the mounting place etc is all there in our vehicles. It’s also a shame that Lucid decided to remove the extra SSPro hardware from later vehicles so there wasn’t an upgrade path. But I understand the cost implication.

So Lucid, if you’re listening (@mcr16) can we get an upgrade to add those speakers footwell speakers? I’d happily pay.

Might be a little involved to add the midbasses

Thread 'Lucid Air aftermarket Hifi upgrade summary (and quality / configuration of the factory audio)'

Feb 5, 2023

Hi All, I recently had a HiFi upgrade done on my Lucid. To give you a sense of budget envelope, it was low 5 figures. So a serious upgrade.

I will be sharing learnings, pics, my experience thus far so hopefully other owners can benefit from understanding "what they will get" with the Atmos Surreal Sound system and likely what to expect with the Standard Stereo system. Also what's practical for audio upgrades.

The work was done by Sound Innovations here in the Bay Area, they specialize in Car Audio / Hifi systems. I'm a past customer (They did my Model S) so i knew what to expect...

• DreamTour
• Replies: 115
• Forum: Music & Sound

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[ColonelBadger]

Might be a little involved to add the midbasses

Thread 'Lucid Air aftermarket Hifi upgrade summary (and quality / configuration of the factory audio)'

Feb 5, 2023

Hi All, I recently had a HiFi upgrade done on my Lucid. To give you a sense of budget envelope, it was low 5 figures. So a serious upgrade.

I will be sharing learnings, pics, my experience thus far so hopefully other owners can benefit from understanding "what they will get" with the Atmos Surreal Sound system and likely what to expect with the Standard Stereo system. Also what's practical for audio upgrades.

The work was done by Sound Innovations here in the Bay Area, they specialize in Car Audio / Hifi systems. I'm a past customer (They did my Model S) so i knew what to expect...

• DreamTour
• Replies: 115
• Forum: Music & Sound

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• 
• 

Urgh. You’re not wrong. I didn’t realize they’re behind the dash. Dammit.

 

[AirPlur]

It’s also a shame that Lucid decided to remove the extra SSPro hardware from later vehicles so there wasn’t an upgrade path. But I understand the cost implication.

I wonder what the cost implications are for this, as class D amps and most OEM speaker drivers aren't very expensive (but of course,  can be expensive depending on who makes them). I'd figure one pulled upgrade trigger would cover the material cost of a dozen idle drivers and amps, but that's entirely speculation and discouraged (feel free to find AirPlur in the diyaudio.com forums to continue speculating).

Also, really interesting to see the range of impressions of the car's audio across us owners. Some love it, some don't, some really don't. I really wish I weren't in the latter camp, but hey if it really bothers me I can discreetly wear my 6-driver IEMs plugged into my portable DAP and enjoy better audio than any car stereo. Hypothetically, because illegal and whatnot.

 

[DeaneG]

Music on USB is a little wonky to use, but IMO offers the best sound quality for stereo tracks.

 

[thong1999]

Have you played with the speaker balance?

K

Thread 'Air music audio balance observation'

Oct 9, 2024

My observation of Air sound system

(Please use headphone when watching the video as cellphone speaker does not have enough bass)

- Touring with 2.4.4
- SSPro all equalizer set in the middle.
- Tidal

Observation:

When balance is swiped to the back, front speakers got turned off resulting in weak mid ranged and tweet.

When balance is swiped to the front, back speakers got turned off, including woofer resulting in weak or non bass.

When balance is set some what middle, all speakers are on resulting in the fullest sound.

Thought:

Lucid Air balance instead of setting the sound stage for...

• Ktw13
• Replies: 4
• Forum: Interior / Exterior

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[fisheral]

I hate to say it, but the regular SS is a joke compared to other cars I've had. Hell, the sound system on the wife's Solterra is a breath of fresh air every time I drive it. My Outback sound system put this one to shame.

I'll also be getting my third replacement woofer on Monday, even though I don't play music very loud, and my bass is kept reasonable.

I love this car, but I feel like they really nickle and dimed an $80k plus vehicle on the sound system. That's not the place to save money in a luxury car at this price bracket.

 

[GratefulMed]

Would wired connection to a phone through USB offer better sound that Bluetooth?

 

[Rogue]

I don't understand some of the positions here. If you knew audio was this big of a deal, why would you not check and buy the upgraded package?

 

[fisheral]

I don't understand some of the positions here. If you knew audio was this big of a deal, why would you not check and buy the upgraded package?

Didn't have it available for on-site bonus credit.

 

[Rogue]

Didn't have it available for on-site bonus credit.

Again... In risk of repeating myself, why would you not ask and purchase the upgraded audio? Compare the two?

2k credit is a rounding error at these price points.