There are now many cars equipped with Dolby Atmos. And it’s no coincidence that they rank at the top of STEREO GUIDE’s car hi-fi leaderboard. Yet it’s rarely possible to understand exactly how a music production actually becomes an immersive listening experience on the go. That’s exactly the opportunity that presented itself at Bauer Studios in Ludwigsburg. There, Michael Thumm and his team remixed the track “Never Lose My Drive” by the jazz group Searching for Home for Dolby Atmos—with singer Lina Ida Wutzler and drummer Florian Anger in attendance. No sooner had the final touches been applied than the listening session moved from the acoustically optimized control room directly into the smart #5 BRABUS. The all-electric SUV, equipped with the Sennheiser Signature Sound System, was set to demonstrate just how much of the studio work actually translates to the road.
Where Music History Is Made
Located just a few kilometers north of Stuttgart, Bauer Studios has been one of the most renowned venues for high-quality music productions since 1949. Jazz legends, pop artists, and classical musicians from all over the world have recorded here. For nearly three decades, Michael Thumm and Bettina Bertók-Thumm have been carrying on the studio’s rich tradition, combining classic sound engineering with modern production formats such as Dolby Atmos.
In keeping with this, Searching for Home’s album “Hidden Arrows” was also recorded at Bauer Studios. During production in 2022, the band deliberately opted for a hybrid approach combining live recording, overdubs, and additional sound design. Johannes Kellig, the band’s bassist and, at the time, a sound engineer at Bauer Studios, handled the recording, mixing, and mastering.
Less Effects – More Music
It was particularly exciting to hear Michael Thumm create the new Atmos mix for “Never Lose My Drive.” Instead of taking advantage of the extra space for spectacular effects, the production remained surprisingly understated.
Even during the listening session in the control room, it was striking how subtly Dolby Atmos was used. Instruments don’t circle artificially through the space, but rather gain a sense of airiness and spatial depth. Lina Ida Wutzler’s voice stands out vividly, warmly, and tangibly between the speakers, without losing its natural character. At the same time, the distinctly dry bass—which already characterizes the original production—is preserved. Here, Atmos expands the recording space rather than reinventing it—a decision that audibly enhances the musical expression.
On Qobuz, you can listen to the album featuring the stereo version of “Never Lose My Drive”
Moving into the Car
No sooner had the remix been completed than what was perhaps the most exciting part of the day began.
A smart #5 BRABUS was already waiting outside Bauer Studios. Together with singer Lina Ida Wutzler and drummer Florian Anger, the listening session moved from the control room straight out onto the street. After all, the musicians were supposed to experience for themselves how their production sounded in a modern car.
The smart #5 BRABUS is the top-performing model in the series. With up to 475 kW of power, all-wheel drive, an 800-volt architecture, and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds—wow, that’s faster than my own 3-liter twinscroll turbo —this electric SUV combines impressive driving performance with high-quality craftsmanship and an interior that meets premium standards even to the touch.
The Studio on the Go
However, Stereo Guide found the BRABUS’s standard Sennheiser Signature Sound System—which is also included in the smart #5’s Premium trim—to be just as interesting. To achieve this, smart and Sennheiser jointly developed a system with twenty speakers, including a retractable center speaker on the dashboard. Patented algorithms such as Concerto with AMBEO technology and Contrabass are designed to enhance both spatial sound and bass response. The system was Dolby Atmos-ready from the start and received the necessary support later via a free over-the-air update. Since then, Premium and BRABUS drivers have been able to enjoy Atmos tracks directly through the integrated Amazon Music app—without needing a smartphone. This made the smart #5 the first European vehicle with a Dolby Atmos-capable Sennheiser sound system.
Surprisingly close to the studio
After just a few minutes, it became clear that the character of the new Atmos mix had been reproduced with astonishing fidelity inside the cabin.
Lina Ida Wutzler’s voice remained anchored exactly where it had been during the rehearsal: warm, full-bodied, and precisely centered. At the same time, the soundstage opened up far beyond the width of the vehicle without ever sounding artificial. I was particularly impressed that this sense of space wasn’t limited to the front seats. The vivid sound reproduction was just as compelling in the back, so that all passengers found themselves equally immersed in the music.
Jazz Meets Pink Floyd
After the musicians had left, the Sennheiser system had the chance to demonstrate just how versatile it is. Using the built-in Amazon Music app, a wide variety of Dolby Atmos productions were then added to the playlist.
Pink Floyd used the extra space more for atmospheric effect, while Kanye West placed much greater demands on the low-frequency foundation than the deliberately dry-sounding jazz track from *Searching for Home*. The Sennheiser system handled both styles with ease. Those who mainly listen to rock, pop, or hip-hop will get just as much out of this as lovers of acoustic music.
What I particularly enjoyed: On the way back, I was able to easily curate the public Atmos playlists on Amazon Music Unlimited right from the spacious central display and, as a passenger, switch between a wide variety of tracks at my leisure. This is exactly where it became clear just how seamlessly the controls, connectivity, and sound quality all work together.
Solitude Castle as a backdrop
The short but thoroughly enjoyable drive eventually led us up to Solitude Palace. Against the Baroque backdrop, the smart #5 BRABUS cut an excellent figure—and not just in photos. In terms of driving dynamics, too, the electric SUV—which is surprisingly agile for its size—impressed with a light-footedness that fits the “smart” name perfectly.
More Than Just a Test Drive
In the end, it wasn’t just the memory of a new car or a new sound system that remained. What was more exciting was the entire process of music production—from the recording studio to the Atmos remix and all the way into the car.
It’s rare to witness firsthand how musicians rediscover their own music outside the studio. The fact that this moment took place between Bauer Studios and Schloss Solitude, of all places, made this day far more than just an ordinary test drive. It offered an exclusive glimpse into how high-quality music finds its way from the recording studio to the open road today—and now even in vehicles that rank below the luxury models from Porsche, Polestar, or Volvo that have been tested so far.
