2011 Acura Active Sound Control

Acura Active Sound Control: In recent years automakers have developed "intelligent" cruise control that automatically adjusts vehicle speed for changing traffic conditions - and self-adjusting suspension systems that continuously fine-tune ride quality for changing road conditions. Now Acura has developed an audio system that "listens" to the environment inside the cabin and adjust its output frequencies to cancel out unwanted exterior noises - literally fighting sound with sound.

The car's interior is fitted with small microphones that register unwanted noise, such as the sounds emanating from the engine compartment under hard acceleration. This, in turn, triggers the system to emit precisely timed reverse-phase audio signals through the speakers, which renders the unwanted noise frequencies less audible to human ears.