Bentley Continental GT Mulliner with Naim Audio System

2008 was an auspicious year. Early in the year, my journey into this wonderful world of hi-fi began as I took on a role with hi-fi+. Shortly following this came the announcement that two great British brands had formed an allegiance. The press release arrived: “Bentley forms exclusive partnership with British audio manufacturer Naim to deliver the world’s best in-car sound system.” Arguably the latter was of more importance! Certainly, my interest piqued when, as a new recruit, I read this. What a bold statement – ‘world’s best in-car sound system!’ I was recently offered the opportunity to experience this, in the shape of a Bentley Continental GT Mulliner with Naim Audio System. It wasn’t something I was going to pass on and it gave me an opportunity to see if this 15-year-old statement really was the case.

The introduction of ‘premium’ audio systems in cars in 2008 was certainly not new; in fact, you could argue that Bentley was somewhat behind the trend. That being said, these partnerships are not formed overnight. I do not doubt there were months, if not years, of discussions behind the scenes.

Currently, if you purchase a new Bentley, you have three options: a standard, a Bang and Olufsen system or a premium Naim Audio system.

Perfect marriage

It is always great when you see iconic brands working in partnership. Particularly so when they hail from the same country, and they work so closely and cohesively. The partnership is equal, where learning experiences are shared and improved. This circular process ensures the end user receives the best possible finished product.

It is said that some of the learning experiences taken from the car projects helped the incarnation of the Mu‑so and Mu-so Qb launch. Of course, more recently Naim launched a Bentley branded Mu-so 2.

The Bentley Continental GT Mulliner with Naim Audio System is a prime example of the amalgamation between exceptional engineering and luxury. The minute you sit in the seat, you know you are about to experience something quite special, from the cooled or heated seats to the deep-piled carpets, which most homeowners would be proud of! Add in the multi-function massage seats and heated steering wheel and you’d be forgiven for thinking you are in a luxurious spa resort.

Full of surprises!

Upon initial inspection, you see a host of chrome switches and buttons nestled around the gear stick (automatic, naturally – one doesn’t change one’s gears!) Above this is a long wood effect panel stretching across ¾ the dashboard. Minimalistic, I thought, but I admired Bentley’s ideology not to cram in screens and buttons as is the won’t of most car manufacturers these days.

However, when you turn on the engine, a section of the aforementioned ‘plain’ panel flips over like a control panel in a James Bond car, to reveal a 12.3” touchscreen system with all the bells and whistles, Apple CarPlay, HDD navigation, Wi-Fi streaming… the list goes on. All this you would expect in a luxury car.

But… what you wouldn’t expect is that there is a third face to this panel – imagine a huge Toblerone bar with three faces that flip automatically when you press a button. The third face is an Analogue Face – featuring a compass, an outside temperature gauge and a chronometer.

You drive it?

This car is designed to provide an unparalleled driving experience, but it also offers a sensory overload. Pretty much every aspect of this vehicle is customisable or adjustable, from the interior mood lighting to the specific drive mode options which you can adjust to suit your bent. You could spend a day playing with all the options inside for fun!

In each car, the Naim Audio upgrade option is a bespoke system that has been designed specifically for the model. This Bentley Continental GT features 20 channels – 18 loudspeakers and two ‘shakers’ – a 2,200-watt amplifier, and various other advanced technologies that work together to deliver an immersive audio experience.

DSP

One of these other technologies is the DSP (Digital Signal Processor). This is responsible for processing and optimising the audio signal. It has eight sound modes, these feature very clever algorithms with which you can specify the ‘best seat in the house’, or the output can be divided between the front seats or all seats. Various other options enable you to change the setting to ‘Spoken Word’ if, for example, you are listening to a podcast or perhaps an audiobook.

Overall, the DSP is a critical component of the car’s audio system, helping to ensure that the audio signal is optimised and delivered to the speakers with maximum clarity and fidelity. Whatever musical genre you are listening to, the DSP in the Bentley GT helps to ensure that the audio quality is nothing short of exceptional.

The car contains two ‘kinaesthetic shakers’ – effectively these are bass vibration modules in the front seats. They offer an ‘enhanced’ experience if that is your thing. At first, I found them somewhat bemusing and questioned their purpose. But after playing with the settings and adjusting their ‘kineticness’ I began to enjoy the experience. I felt it was a great addition, and added to the fully immersive experience the experts are striving for.

Get Lucky

I eased myself in with some Daft Punk; ‘Get Lucky’. The first thing that strikes you about this sound system is the clarity. The bass and rhythm guitars were so perfectly clear that I expected to see Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers sitting on the dashboard in their sequined suits! The system can reproduce music in great depth, from the subtlest nuances to the most complex arrangements. The sound is crisp, clear, and vibrant, with no distortion even at high volumes and high speeds.

The beauty of a car of this calibre is that the engineers at Bentley have always prioritised dampening road noises. Even with the vastly clever W12 engine roaring away, the double-glazed windows and leather-clad interior absorb almost all exterior noises. This, of course, creates a perfect environment for listening.

I’ve always believed that a premium car experience gives acoustic engineers one of the best spaces to work with. The only variable is the passengers. Take your listening space at home for example. When your speakers were designed, the acoustic engineers didn’t know the dimensions of your room. Cars are unchangeable in terms of dimensions and speaker positioning – the end user cannot make tweaks, which could result in a denigration of quality, which the team has worked so hard to perfect.

Mesmerising, while driving!

Chameleon, ‘MusicScreen’ followed which I found mesmerising, not a particularly good experience when driving! Nonetheless, this high-energy track really benefitted from the ‘bass shakers’ in the seats; it seems Bentley copes with Acid music well!

I keep trying hard to challenge this system, trying to find a weak point. Still, I cannot find one – Rückenfigur, ‘Dardust’ – the piano and percussion intro was so detailed, crisp and alive, I had to find another track – surely I can find something – Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Lotti’s Crucifixus nothing was too difficult. I couldn’t get the system to distort or become screechy, however hard I tried. This was unlike most systems – it seemed unphased by anything I threw at it. This system is so incredibly versatile. It is always well-balanced, with no frequencies overpowering others, which is a testament to its quality.

The soundstage is truly remarkable. The Bentley Continental GT Mulliner with Naim Audio System’s 18 speakers are positioned strategically throughout the cabin, the two shakers are in the seats, which allows for a three-dimensional sound experience. The balance and positioning are such that the sound comes from all around you, creating an immersive listening experience that is second to none.

All the bass!

One of the standout features of this system is its ability to reproduce bass. The Naim sound system has a dedicated subwoofer that can produce deep, thumping bass that can be felt throughout the cabin. This is particularly impressive given the fact that this is a large and very heavy car.

Overall, the Naim Audio sound system is a true audiophile’s dream. It delivers the ultimate listening experience whilst retaining the expected features of this high-quality British brand, and does so with great ease.

It’s hard to separate car from car audio here, not simply because Naim’s equipment is so deeply integrated into the Bentley itself. But perhaps it’s because there is a commonality of purpose and goal that come together so well in this car. You realise this is more than a marriage of convenience; Bentley and Naim Audio aren’t just working together, they think alike. Bentley boldly states that sumptuous luxury and effortless power can coexist in the same space; Naim Audio makes the same statement but this time about musical delivery.

Expect nothing less!

Of course, the Bentley Continental GT Mulliner with Naim Audio System is all about refinement; you wouldn’t expect anything less, given the product, the brands, and the price tags. But there’s an almost unconscious understanding between the two brands that gives the buyer absolute confidence. Everything about this car and the audio system brilliantly bonded to it is about being the best there is. It’s big, it’s bold, it’s elegant and it’s bloody marvellous.

The Naim for Bentley premium audio upgrade option in this car is a touch over £6.5k  – I’d challenge you to find a system this good for this price! The flip side is you need another £275k for the car it comes with!

Price and Contact details

• Bentley Continental GT Mulliner: £275,000
• Naim for Bentley audio package: £6,595

Manufacturer

Bentley Motors

www.bentleymotors.com

Manufacturer

Naim Audio

www.naimaudio.com

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