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

[fisheral]

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.

My bonus was $5k.

 

[Rogue]

My bonus was $5k.

So 5k quibble for a car ranging between $69-154k. 7.2% down to 3.2% cost of the car. This seems like a non-issue at this price point in my eyes to get what you want unless you are spending well above your means.

I'm not accusing that you or anyone is spending above their means, but I am trying to understand the nickle and dime mentality in threads like this one and others.

 

[hydbob]

So 5k quibble for a car ranging between $69-154k. 7.2% down to 3.2% cost of the car. This seems like a non-issue at this price point in my eyes to get what you want unless you are spending well above your means.

I'm not accusing that you or anyone is spending above their means, but I am trying to understand the nickle and dime mentality in threads like this one and others.

Also making a choice and then complaining about that choice later seems disingenuous.

 

[GratefulMed]

While I understand the idea about making your choice on options and then complaining about the results is an example of buyer beware, I think the original idea of the post is valid. High-end cars should have good base stereos and great quality optional stereo upgrades. I have surround sound pro and think the sound is excellent. I’ve never been in a lucid that has the base stereo, but I would be upset if I spent $70,000 or more (and some have spent $100,000 or more without surround sound pro) and the stereo that came standard sounded very bad to me. With many of us buying these cars without being able to visit a showroom, it’s hard to A-B the stereo choice.

 

[jedwin]

While I knew what I was getting, and I definitely didn't feel a need to drop more $$ on my car stereo than my home one, I have to agree that they could/should have done better with the base system. Not sure if any of the tuning they're doing with OTAs will help us out, of it's mostly for SSPro; time will tell.

I may end up reverting to my pre-EV routine of doing long drives with earbuds or headphones.... granting that bluetooth still takes its hit, the sound is still plenty present, and definitely clearer, for me that way, compared to subpar car audio.

Again, not disappointed; it was clear going in this was the reality.

 

[fisheral]

So 5k quibble for a car ranging between $69-154k. 7.2% down to 3.2% cost of the car. This seems like a non-issue at this price point in my eyes to get what you want unless you are spending well above your means.

I'm not accusing that you or anyone is spending above their means, but I am trying to understand the nickle and dime mentality in threads like this one and others.

Unfortunately the studio near me didn't have one in stock to compare when I went for my test drive. So it would have been a $10000+ option if I'd ordered one with it (loss of $5000 in stock bonus plus $2900 ssp option, plus the start of EV sales tax in my state shortly thereafter) for a system that was highly divisive and had many reviews on here at the time saying it wasn't worth it.

I don't struggle for money, nor am I a miser, but I don't like paying more than 10% extra for an unknown with mediocre reviews.

Mine also may be a dud as I'm on my 3rd woofer replacement in 5 months.

Don't take this as me not loving this car. I do and I want to drive Lucids forever. I just think this is an area where they skimped and could have done better as the sound system is an integral part of the driving experience and base sound systems on other cars in the price range are superior.

My apologies if this exchange comes off as combative or overly complaining.

I made my choice and I own it, but perhaps Lucid seeing these kinds of posts will encourage them to put an excellent base sound system in the Gravity or the next generation of the Air.

 

[Cosmo Cruz]

I want to qualify my praise of the audio by saying two things:

1. I am a recovering audiophile that has spent more than the cost of my car tweaking my dedicated listening room and gear.
2. I had my hearing tested a while back: My right ear rolls off at 6kHz and left at 8kHz. It's probably a lot worse now.
( It was more fun being 20 in the '70s than it is being 70 in the 20s. Yes I have a Woodstock story).

I was completely wasting my time and money on hi-fi home audio once I was old enough to afford it, but having a blast imagining I could hear up to 20kHz with speakers capable of bat frequencies. Too many rock concerts and bar bands in my miss-spent youth. Sold all my high-end gear and dismantled the room.

Did I really enjoy listening to the Beatles on a "stereo" like this:

Yes I did. I did not know what I was missing.

Having the Air with the premium audio and Tidal ATMOS has revived my love. I listened to the ATMOS remix of Cream "White Room" from the center back seat of the Air = for the first time I heard what all the "super-group" fuss was about. Peter Baker's drumming = fantastic. Fleetwood Mac "Landslide" ... the Doors "Riding on the storm" Joni Mitchell "Blue" (crying my eyes out), Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" ...

Perhaps I'm imagining it but I maintain this is the best factory car audio I have ever heard. (or not). It's probably the ATMOS mixes, but it is so worth the extra cost. I'm not a fan of overdone bass that is so popular with the young folk, so maybe it's some of that too. I do not find the bass to be lacking in my AIR. Others seem to call out the bass as the big problem with the AIR audio. I hear the music as the audio engineer intended ... (do not listen to hip-hop or rap) ... nor do I want to disturb the whales with window-shattering sub-bass. I'm more of a jazz person in my dotage, and hear the acoustic double bass just fine. I find that even organ music with the 40-foot pipes is more than adequately reproduced in the Air.

I have not heard the "standard" audio in the Air = is it really so disappointing ?

It sure sounds to me like Lucid tweaked their premium system to the car's interior.

Also, I wonder how much having the glass roof or solid roof changes it ... did they re-jigger the tuning for each roof ? If not that may be the problem.

 

[j4gates]

I do find it a bit comical - in the worst way - when I read these threads. I feel like I can predict the responses after reading a post like this one. OP simply offered an opinion on the sound system - after providing a glowing review of the rest of the car - others provided similar opinions, and then comes the cavalry to defend.

Lucid built a phenomenal car that hit home runs in many area, but there are a few flaws. Some of those flaws are with the options. OP has a valid opinion that Lucid missed the mark for a base sound system option in this price range. The base Surreal Sound system would be worthy of complaints if it were in a $40,000 car.

If you haven't lived with the base system just be happy you haven't. But to add comments about Surround Sound Pro or to say people should have chosen different options is not helpful. You're making assumptions about individual situations. In my case, while test driving Airs, all of the test mules were optioned with SSP. There was no ability to listen to the base system prior to purchase. Having owned several cars in this price range, my assumption was the base system would be sufficient. I was wrong and it ended up as a let down after delivery of an otherwise exceptional car.

For many, music is an important aspect of creating a positive environment in a motor vehicle. The fundamental flaw of the base Surreal Sound system in the 2024/25 Air, which was already identified, is lack of midbass drivers at the front of the vehicle. I assume Lucid didn't have the runway to dedicate resources toward developing 2 respectable sound system levels. It is a curious decision, though, that their path to creating the base system was to gut the foundation of a proper soundstage. Keeping 2 more amplifier channels (with associated signal processing) and the midbass drivers in the kick panels would have likely helped the base system immensely.

 

[Blue Lectroid]

My bonus was $5k.

So, you saved $7k+ between the bonus and NOT paying for SSP. That is NOT small change and likely represents well over 50% of Lucid’s Contribution Margin on an $80k car. Options are there for EXACTLY this reason…if you listen to podcasts and news (or nothing at all)? Save $7k. If you LOVe music in your car? You gotta go SSP and spend the $$. Simple.

Folks, if you make the mistake of not buying a feature that’s important to you, it’s 100% on you, not Lucid.

I mean I love high performance cars…I almost bought the Pure (had one on order, in fact). I test drove all three models TWICE. As much as I wanted to save $25k+? I knew that every time I really wanted to nail the accelerator that I’d be bummed. I cancelled the Pure and bought the GT.

How would I sound if I said, “I just came over from a Tesla M3P that did 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. It’s ridiculous to me that a $70,000 Lucid doesn’t accelerate as quickly as a $55k M3P. This sounds absurd, right?

To me complaining about the base audio system not being good enough because folks who love and want a great system, but neither tested both options nor spent the extra $$ to ensure they were getting the most feature rich option for something important to them? It just makes zero sense to me at all.

Do your homework BEFORE you spend your $$ and, if you don’t? That’s fine too, but then own it — mia culpa!

 

[Blue Lectroid]

While I understand the idea about making your choice on options and then complaining about the results is an example of buyer beware, I think the original idea of the post is valid. High-end cars should have good base stereos and great quality optional stereo upgrades. I have surround sound pro and think the sound is excellent. I’ve never been in a lucid that has the base stereo, but I would be upset if I spent $70,000 or more (and some have spent $100,000 or more without surround sound pro) and the stereo that came standard sounded very bad to me. With many of us buying these cars without being able to visit a showroom, it’s hard to A-B the stereo choice.

If you can’t visit a studio and sound is important to you, you gotta pay the extra money…if nothing else, as an insurance policy and, respectfully, if you spend $70,000 (or more) on a car and try to save $2k when you know sound is important to you? Come on. Own your mistake.

This Forum was here when everyone who is now complaining about something like this was thinking about buying their car. The research could have easily been done to avoid disappointment and the incredible irony is that the available tool (this Forum) was NOT appropriately used to prevent a mistake, and now gets used instead to shunt the blame onto Lucid.

It’s just not right at all IMHO.

 

[Blue Lectroid]

I want to qualify my praise of the audio by saying two things:

1. I am a recovering audiophile that has spent more than the cost of my car tweaking my dedicated listening room and gear.
2. I had my hearing tested a while back: My right ear rolls off at 6kHz and left at 8kHz. It's probably a lot worse now.
( It was more fun being 20 in the '70s than it is being 70 in the 20s. Yes I have a Woodstock story).

I was completely wasting my time and money on hi-fi home audio once I was old enough to afford it, but having a blast imagining I could hear up to 20kHz with speakers capable of bat frequencies. Too many rock concerts and bar bands in my miss-spent youth. Sold all my high-end gear and dismantled the room.

Did I really enjoy listening to the Beatles on a "stereo" like this:
View attachment 25957Yes I did. I did not know what I was missing.

Having the Air with the premium audio and Tidal ATMOS has revived my love. I listened to the ATMOS remix of Cream "White Room" from the center back seat of the Air = for the first time I heard what all the "super-group" fuss was about. Peter Baker's drumming = fantastic. Fleetwood Mac "Landslide" ... the Doors "Riding on the storm" Joni Mitchell "Blue" (crying my eyes out), Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" ...

Perhaps I'm imagining it but I maintain this is the best factory car audio I have ever heard. (or not). It's probably the ATMOS mixes, but it is so worth the extra cost. I'm not a fan of overdone bass that is so popular with the young folk, so maybe it's some of that too. I do not find the bass to be lacking in my AIR. Others seem to call out the bass as the big problem with the AIR audio. I hear the music as the audio engineer intended ... (do not listen to hip-hop or rap) ... nor do I want to disturb the whales with window-shattering sub-bass. I'm more of a jazz person in my dotage, and hear the acoustic double bass just fine. I find that even organ music with the 40-foot pipes is more than adequately reproduced in the Air.

I have not heard the "standard" audio in the Air = is it really so disappointing ?

It sure sounds to me like Lucid tweaked their premium system to the car's interior.

Also, I wonder how much having the glass roof or solid roof changes it ... did they re-jigger the tuning for each roof ? If not that may be the problem.

I agree with everything you said about the upgraded audio in the Air.

In fact I am a bass player (and have been since 1980) and managed (and was part owner of) one of the premier electric bass builders on the planet (Fodera Guitars) for over a decade. The bass in my AGT is what bassists strive for (including me) who are true virtuosos on the instrument (I do not include myself here, however!) and are willing to pay nearly limitless amounts of money on their rigs to convey their true tone in a live setting to an audience.

The boomy, shake your molars thing that is popular now in many genre’s of music is more of a special effect than it is “bass.” And that’s totally cool, BUT, if you want that you’ll need to add a subwoofer to a system like this to be happy.

 

[AirPlur]

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

Fair question imo I would have had i been able to compare the two, however I ordered my car before I could hear a base system in a showroom. That said, *I personally* still subjectively feel the SSP is only marginally better, so i didn't bother when I ordered my second Air. If I could have paid 5k more for something on par with what competitors offer, no question I'd have done it...even as a lessee.

 

[Blue Lectroid]

Fair question imo I would have had i been able to compare the two, however I ordered my car before I could hear a base system in a showroom. That said, *I personally* still subjectively feel the SSP is only marginally better, so i didn't bother when I ordered my second Air. If I could have paid 5k more for something on par with what competitors offer, no question I'd have done it...even as a lessee.

I think here we have entered the realm of the purely subjective. I think that the Pro version is MUCH, MUCH better than the base system (I listened to both with tracks from Tidal that I am familiar with as part of my buying process), and I also think it is one of the finest reference audio systems in any car I have yet heard (including what several of the competitors offer). I come from an audiophile world and the sound in my AGT hits that sweet spot -- exceptionally natural and uncolored with a fantastic and realistic soundstage (something almost universally absent in much of car audio). Spacing between individual instruments / performers, low level background information on live recordings, proper timber in everything from orchestral to small jazz combo settings, you name it, it's there.

Of course audiophile sound is not everyone's cup of tea so these things that I hold so dear and that I am amazed that the system can give me in a car? Well, for some it is experienced as "there's no deep bass and it's not loud enough." I get that. So, after almost taking an available car with the standard version system (it would have saved me the cost of the upgrade plus the $5k being offered for a car "on the lot,"), I made an extra trip back to the Studio to give a listen to both systems and am very glad I did. The base system really is not great...BUT for someone who does not listen to music in the car and wants to save $7k+? why not. And, were I to not have been in a position to compare both? I had decided that I would pay the extra $$ anyway because sound is very important to me.

 

[joec]

In fact I am a bass player (and have been since 1980) and managed (and was part owner of) one of the premier electric bass builders on the planet (Fodera Guitars) for over a decade. The bass in my AGT is what bassists strive for (including me) who are true virtuosos on the instrument (I do not include myself here, however!) and are willing to pay nearly limitless amounts of money on their rigs to convey their true tone in a live setting to an audience.

I knew there was a reason I liked you.

Bass players unite!

 

[joec]

I think the OP makes a fair point about the base system. It should (and can) be better on a car in this class.

I wouldn't count out the possibility that this changes in the future, though. Lucid have already updated the software to make the base system sound better. (It was truly dreadful at launch, from what I was told.) And that was BEFORE they hired the latest audio team, who have been working feverishly to update the SSP system. They managed to get a ton more bass and fullness out of the SSP system. I have no doubt they could tune the base system as well.

To the OP, I would suggest this: First, make absolutely sure you have the latest software. If for some reason your car has the original audio software (doubtful) there's a chance what you are hearing is even worse than it can already be.

Second, perhaps in the future you will get an update that improves the situation for you. It may not work miracles, but it could very well make enough difference to at least satisfy your needs. Some time in the next six months, keep an eye out for any software updates that may help.

Third, enhancing the system via a third-party is a possibility. Might cost more than SSP would have if you really want to go nuts. But others here have enhanced their systems (do a search). They may be able to point you in the direction of affordable upgrades that will make a big difference.

There's no reason to live with a car you otherwise love that makes you angry every time you turn on music.

 

[AirPlur]

I agree with everything you said about the upgraded audio in the Air.

In fact I am a bass player (and have been since 1980) and managed (and was part owner of) one of the premier electric bass builders on the planet (Fodera Guitars) for over a decade. The bass in my AGT is what bassists strive for (including me) who are true virtuosos on the instrument (I do not include myself here, however!) and are willing to pay nearly limitless amounts of money on their rigs to convey their true tone in a live setting to an audience.

The boomy, shake your molars thing that is popular now in many genre’s of music is more of a special effect than it is “bass.” And that’s totally cool, BUT, if you want that you’ll need to add a subwoofer to a system like this to be happy.

I'm sincerely jealous that i don't feel this way about the SSP, which I've probably spent about 20k miles listening to across all the loaners I've had during the ownership experience of my last car (long lemon story but no complaints, thx Lucid Millbrae!), and am glad that I'm a minority of opinion. More than anything, I love to hear it when people have their passion for music reignited however it happens, and it's awesome that the SSP can do that.

I think here we have entered the realm of the purely subjective. I think that the Pro version is MUCH, MUCH better than the base system (I listened to both with tracks from Tidal that I am familiar with as part of my buying process), and I also think it is one of the finest reference audio systems in any car I have yet heard (including what several of the competitors offer). I come from an audiophile world and the sound in my AGT hits that sweet spot -- exceptionally natural and uncolored with a fantastic and realistic soundstage (something almost universally absent in much of car audio). Spacing between individual instruments / performers, low level background information on live recordings, proper timber in everything from orchestral to small jazz combo settings, you name it, it's there.

Of course audiophile sound is not everyone's cup of tea so these things that I hold so dear and that I am amazed that the system can give me in a car? Well, for some it is experienced as "there's no deep bass and it's not loud enough." I get that. So, after almost taking an available car with the standard version system (it would have saved me the cost of the upgrade plus the $5k being offered for a car "on the lot,"), I made an extra trip back to the Studio to give a listen to both systems and am very glad I did. The base system really is not great...BUT for someone who does not listen to music in the car and wants to save $7k+? why not. And, were I to not have been in a position to compare both? I had decided that I would pay the extra $$ anyway because sound is very important to me.

Subjectivity in the audiophile community?! In the 30+ years since I've been building my reference system (was once stereophile's youngest subscriber in the early 90s), including the years I worked at a hifi shop in SF, I've never heard of such a thing also fwiw I'm usually the guy who turns down the bass in most factory systems (bose, ahem), and while the bass in the base isn't phenomenal, that's less the issue for my subjective, drumset/rave/percussion-embatteled ears than other characteristics. Honestly as much as I listen to music in that car, which now being a RWD Pure has an even more quiet cabin, I'd consider a 5-figure aftermarket expenditure if I knew I planned to keep it post-lease (and it didn't threaten the integrity of the car and its remarked-upon one-use construction in areas). What Burmester, Meridian, and B&W (all brands I'm sure we were both well aware of long before they hit the door cards of a vehicle) have been able to do with one of the most acostically compromised environments is stunning, so I'm probably just spoiled in that the few times I've spent in those cars warped by expectations for what a premium sound system can do (subjectively, as always).

Also @Blue Lectroid I enviously congratulate you for your recovery from audiophilia. It's a unique drug that, like many, does more harm than good to most people who use it (coughclosemicvocaljazzcough).

 

[nothingemotional]

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?

I absolutely agree about the base surreal sound system. Very basic for a car at this price point even at the pure trim which I currently have. However, mine came with the pro trial for a month and it was good. But bass was lacking in the front. Had the recent patch fix but it only applies to SSPro which has been deactivated. Sound is good when the car isn't moving, but when driving, it becomes thin and loses whatever presence it has.

 

[Zinee]

I own a Pure with the base sound system, been driving a loaner with the Pro audio system for the last month. Bass player for 40+ years and 10-year senior editor of a home theater publication.

The base system can be tuned to sound very good, BUT as others have noted is very sensitive to quality of the input audio. As we used to say, it is "revealing." I only play hi-rez audio downloaded to my phone from Tidal or Qobuz. It is also sensitive to adjustment for both EQ and balance. At surface street speeds I am quite happy with the sound. However, at freeway speeds the low-mids disappear. Since my test drive was mostly on surface streets I didn't notice the bass drop off.

The pro system is much better out-of-the-box, and more forgiving of mid-rez source material. It also (as a bass player) has much fuller sound in the low-mids. No doubt if I could go back in time I would have picked the pro system. But I think the basic system gets a bit more grief than warranted. One thing Lucid could do--without changing hardware--is have automatic audio adjustments that boost bass at freeway speeds (and higher cabin noise).

Just my $.02.

 

[newlucidguy]

Side note, I likely would have gotten an RS7 as my next car after my supercharged A6. EVs had something different in mind for me and I've never looked back. I was in Audi Driver's Circle to provide input to Audi and as good as MMS is, I kind of like the simplicity reset of the EVs. Have had my touring now for a few weeks, it's great.

 

[Blue Lectroid]

I'm sincerely jealous that i don't feel this way about the SSP, which I've probably spent about 20k miles listening to across all the loaners I've had during the ownership experience of my last car (long lemon story but no complaints, thx Lucid Millbrae!), and am glad that I'm a minority of opinion. More than anything, I love to hear it when people have their passion for music reignited however it happens, and it's awesome that the SSP can do that.

Subjectivity in the audiophile community?! In the 30+ years since I've been building my reference system (was once stereophile's youngest subscriber in the early 90s), including the years I worked at a hifi shop in SF, I've never heard of such a thing also fwiw I'm usually the guy who turns down the bass in most factory systems (bose, ahem), and while the bass in the base isn't phenomenal, that's less the issue for my subjective, drumset/rave/percussion-embatteled ears than other characteristics. Honestly as much as I listen to music in that car, which now being a RWD Pure has an even more quiet cabin, I'd consider a 5-figure aftermarket expenditure if I knew I planned to keep it post-lease (and it didn't threaten the integrity of the car and its remarked-upon one-use construction in areas). What Burmester, Meridian, and B&W (all brands I'm sure we were both well aware of long before they hit the door cards of a vehicle) have been able to do with one of the most acostically compromised environments is stunning, so I'm probably just spoiled in that the few times I've spent in those cars warped by expectations for what a premium sound system can do (subjectively, as always).

Also @Blue Lectroid I enviously congratulate you for your recovery from audiophilia. It's a unique drug that, like many, does more harm than good to most people who use it (coughclosemicvocaljazzcough).

Loved this post!! And, yes, I have cured myself of both audiophilia AND oenophilia!! My wife and financial advisor appreciate both!!