Lucid Audio Experience AMA (March 11, 2025)

[borski]

(Just throwing in a thanks to Bob, Colin, and @marqie for fielding this so far, and to all the forum users for posting great questions! 45 minutes left! Keep the great questions coming!)

 

[marqie]

how about a simpler XM interface to get to favorites and channel lists

This is more of an question for our Infotainment team. I will pass this along to them for consideration.

 

[Rackdoctor]

Hi, I really love the original SSP. I would rather not upgrade to the latest version. I don't need more bass or vol. What are the options for people who are happy with the first version.

 

[marqie]

Any difference between the audio system in Air GT vs Gravity GT?

Response from Bob: "Yes, the Gravity sound system is a completely new design. More details to come soon."

 

[timpossible]

Different audio sources play music differently such that I would have to adjust the equalizer anytime I want to use a different source. Any plans on being able to save equalizer settings for different audio sources?

 

[Bunnylebowski]

Hi there got a breather from work as I was very much looking forward to participate here. Firstly I’m an ex professional audio engineer with 9 years experience in film post sound editing and mixing, and I think the system in the car is excellent. I’ve compared mixes I was intimately familiar with and was amazed by how well the car reproduced them given the challenges of the materials and acoustic surfaces. The question I have is this:
What do you guys use as your reference system for Atmos material before you bring the modifications into the vehicle itself? Is it a discrete 7.1.4 setup or more channels? I know prior to the last OTA there was an issue with the center channel seeming to have had a weird band pass filter sound or very high crossover cutoff and so no bass went to the center speaker, but maybe my ears were off. Just curious what you guys do technically (without revealing any secrets) to ensure accurate translation from professional listening environment to the car.

 

[Bunnylebowski]

Oh and also is there a specific brand manufacturer for the speakers/drivers in the car or are these custom made in house?

 

[marqie]

I have the Surreal Sound Pro on a 2025 Touring and experiencing a glitch in which the balance does not remain adjusted. I have to re-open the balance module for it to revert back each time I get in the car. I have rebooted multiple times to no avail.

Response from Bob: "Sorry to hear that - that's frustrating. This sounds like a software bug. We'll pass it along to our QA team for them to investigate."

 

[marqie]

Any future software (or minor hardware) adjustments coming to the Base Surreal Sound system?

I also notice that under very specific conditions in certain songs, the hertz of the music is just right to cause a buzzing in the subwoofer, regardless of volume.

I've been able to reproduce this with my original and a replacement subwoofer.

Thanks!

Response from Colin: "We are continuing to evaluate both the Surreal Sound Pro and Surreal Sound systems in Air to find additional opportunities to improve acoustic performance and add new features. There have been many improvements to the software over the past few months so please confirm that your vehicle is on the latest software."

 

[Tony Coroalles]

Hi, everyone.

The “Ask Me Anything” with the Lucid Audio team is now in session. I am here with Bob Windel, Technical Fellow and Audio Tuning Engineer; and Colin Mosgrove, Audio Product Manager.

For the next two hours, we will be answering your questions regarding audio tuning in your Lucid vehicle, specifically Surreal Sound and Surreal Sound Pro. Many of our owners admitted audiophiles, so we are also hoping to have a fun discussion about music in general and what your go-to playlists are.

We are looking forward to the conversation!

Marqie

Can we Find a way to delete or hide services like Spotify, xirius, etc that we don’t subscribe to from the screen?

 

[marqie]

Different audio sources play music differently such that I would have to adjust the equalizer anytime I want to use a different source. Any plans on being able to save equalizer settings for different audio sources?

Response from Bob: "Yes, every streaming service sends us a different LUFS level, which means adjusting volume for each is necessary. Source-dependent EQ wouldn't solve this, as it has no overall gain control (and upping lows, mids and highs doesn't equal even gain across the spectrum, contrary to popular belief). We could add dynamics processing or auto gain compensation, but that leads to its own complications (including losing dynamic range which is part of artist intent)."

 

[sri]

Any plans or update on Native Apple Music?

 

[marqie]

Can we Find a way to delete or hide services like Spotify, xirius, etc that we don’t subscribe to from the screen?

This is a question better suited for our Infotainment team. I will pass this along to them for consideration. I know that has come up before.

 

[scal_air]

I'm not sure if it's been asked before or if it's a more of a software question but are there plans to introduce an audio "off" switch and can we please have Amazon Music back?

 

[Bunnylebowski]

Response from Bob: "Yes, every streaming service sends us a different LUFS level, which means adjusting volume for each is necessary. Source-dependent EQ wouldn't solve this, as it has no overall gain control (and upping lows, mids and highs doesn't equal even gain across the spectrum, contrary to popular belief). We could add dynamics processing or auto gain compensation, but that leads to its own complications (including losing dynamic range which is part of artist intent)."

This is a great answer, in fact a single streaming service doesn’t even send consistent volume levels from track to track. I’m really glad you do not use aggressive limiters or auto gain as it messes up the audio and are taking a more purist approach.

 

[Bunnylebowski]

And sorry one more question, are there further plans to maximize the cabin gain effect in the Air? I know this is easier to do in SUVs and the angle of the deck lid/rear window in the Air probably makes it tricky but didn’t know if you guys think this is the limit of what can be achieved in the Air for Cabin gain effect or if there’s more that can be squeezed out of it?

And also here’s a complement, my EQ is set to 0,0,0 in the car and I’m happiest at that setting. That is NOT easy to do, even the Bowers & Wilkins system in my other car I’m rolling off some bass and augmenting highs.

 

[marqie]

Hi, I really love the original SSP. I would rather not upgrade to the latest version. I don't need more bass or vol. What are the options for people who are happy with the first version.

Response from Colin: "Our new audio team has gone through the SSP system to improve many fundamental issues as well as a ground up tuning. We have listened to hundreds of hours of stereo and Atmos content to make the system sound as close to the artists intent as possible. We believe that you'll really like the improvements."

 

[marqie]

Hi there got a breather from work as I was very much looking forward to participate here. Firstly I’m an ex professional audio engineer with 9 years experience in film post sound editing and mixing, and I think the system in the car is excellent. I’ve compared mixes I was intimately familiar with and was amazed by how well the car reproduced them given the challenges of the materials and acoustic surfaces. The question I have is this:
What do you guys use as your reference system for Atmos material before you bring the modifications into the vehicle itself? Is it a discrete 7.1.4 setup or more channels? I know prior to the last OTA there was an issue with the center channel seeming to have had a weird band pass filter sound or very high crossover cutoff and so no bass went to the center speaker, but maybe my ears were off. Just curious what you guys do technically (without revealing any secrets) to ensure accurate translation from professional listening environment to the car.

Response from Bob: "We have a 7.2.4 Genelec reference system that we use to verify an accurate representation in the car. You may be surprised what things actually sound like in some very popular mixes. We've adjusted our tuning to help some of those out. I'll leave it at that. "

 

[MapleMan]

Response from Bob: "We have a 7.2.4 Genelec reference system that we use to verify an accurate representation in the car. You may be surprised what things actually sound like in some very popular mixes. We've adjusted our tuning to help some of those out. I'll leave it at that. "

Looks like my home stereo set up

 

[marqie]

Oh and also is there a specific brand manufacturer for the speakers/drivers in the car or are these custom made in house?

Response from Colin: "All of our speakers are designed in collaboration with manufacturing partners and built to our exact specifications allowing us to create an optimized system for each vehicle."