Reporting indicated that the Bowers and Wilkins has been upgraded across-the-board but the Volvo build website seems to show the original B & W on the V60 and the upgraded one on the V90. They each cost the same. Has Volvo not updated the description on the website, or was the Bowers and Wilkins only changed on the 90 series? My local dealer only had that system on the V90 and S90 so I couldn't check myself.

I believe all 2021 models have the upgraded B&W. Easiest way to tell is what color the speakers are. Yellow are the previous generation (2020 and earlier). Gray is the new revised generation. Apparently it's different material and has a little more power. I had a 2020 XC90 with the yellow speakers and they were great! The bass seemed a little uncontrolled though. I now have a 2021 XC90 with the upgraded gray colored speakers. I don't notice a huge difference except it seems to be more controlled. It takes a little higher volume level to reach the feeling of uncontrollable. If that makes any sense haha.

I have to admit...I miss the yellow color.

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It's on all of them so far as I know, though I haven't seen the system in anything but the 90 series cars on our lot (our sales manager isn't an audiophile)... though we found a 2021 last week that didn't have Jazz mode in an XC90... Actually I forgot about that so I'll have to follow up tomorrow and see what was discovered.

 

My 2021 sometimes doesn't show the Jazz setting initially. I have to scroll left and select the sound experience and it will then show at the bottom of the row. No big deal to me as I almost exclusively use the concert hall setting

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All 2021's are upgraded across the board with the silver Continuum membrane in the midrange speakers along with amp and software changes to accommodate the improved ability of these speakers. I do miss the yellow tremendously, but the silver speakers in my car match the slate interior...they just don't "pop" with the color punch. Nevertheless the system is just phenomenal, and I've never heard something sound this good at this low of a price point. I have never hear a car interior be so specially accurate nor have the ability to shake the seats with low bass notes while being complete distortion-free. I would have paid substantially more for this kind of quality....it's stunning.

 

Agreed! I only heard the previous Bowers and Wilkins in the 2020 model and it was like magic - I tested with a high resolution flac file on a USB drive and it sounded as if the violinist was playing right in front of me. Any improvement for 2021 would be an incredible bonus.

 

Saw 2023 V60. Earlier it was 15 speakers and now it's 19. Looks like v60 matches with v90. There is no mention of this anywhere.

 

The BW in my 2023 S60 doesn’t impress me for the price. It lacks clarity and soundstage. My 2015 XC60s HK setup with sound deadening in the doors (no other mods) sounds better. It’s clearer, more spacious, and has tight bass (after the SD).

 

Either yours is broken or you have weird ears. Everyone I know or who has reviewed it is stunned at how good the B&W sounds.

 

Add another "stunning" from me too. I actually find myself sitting in the car to finish hearing a song. Never did that (much) before.

 

Would be great for a way to get lossless audio for Android customers. Fantastic sound system and I can only feed it lossy audio.