ELS Studio® Premium Audio System Debuts In New Acura Vehicles

DETROIT, Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Expanding on its rich heritage of leadership in audio technology, Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America is launching the newest generation of its acclaimed ELS audio brand — the ELS Studio Premium Audio System. The system made its debut at the LA Auto Show in November on the all-new 2014 Acura RLX and appears in the MDX prototype that Acura revealed at the auto show. ELS Studio embodies nine years of relentless improvement to recreate the emotional experience of the recording studio.

"ELS Studio is without question the most advanced premium audio system that we have ever developed," said Elliot "ELS" Scheiner, the multi-Grammy^® Award-winning producer/engineer. "Our goal was to take premium audio to the next level by underscoring an exceptional experience for the driver. We were able to accomplish this by specifying the quality of the in-vehicle system hardware using studio equipment performance as our reference."

ELS Studio Premium Audio is a collaboration between Scheiner, Panasonic and Acura engineers. Personally involved in each phase of development, Scheiner utilized his expertise as a professional recording engineer and producer to tune the ELS Studio Premium Audio system to the RLX's and MDX prototype specific acoustic environments.

Each system features a new, high performance amplifier that provides powerful and accurate midrange and high frequency response with increased clarity. The RLX's ELS Studio Premium Audio System's 14 speakers create a dynamic listening experience for all seating positions.

2014 ELS Studio/RLX System highlights:

• Hybrid, Titanium Dome Tweeters reproduce a wide frequency range and low distortion
• 8cm Super Dynamic Range Speaker with double press polypropylene cone providing low distortion and extended bass
• 17cm Super Dynamic Range Speakers in the front and rear door featuring extremely lightweight designs
• 20cm Super Low Distortion Driver (SLDD) Subwoofer with extended bass response
• Multi-Channel Power Amplifier with 588 watts and powerful DSP for sound quality enhancements and independent control of front and rear door tweeters

"A key objective of the system was to provide listeners with the feeling of a studio sound environment inside their vehicle," said Tom Dunn, Panasonic Automotive Systems of America, Director of Marketing and New Business Development. "With ELS Surround available throughout the Acura vehicle line-up, the ELS Studio designation serves to distinguish this system, as well as the Acura RLX and MDX, as the ultimate automotive audio experience."

The MDX prototype will replace the current generation that's been in production since 2007. Specifications for the 2014 MDX and the ELS Studio Premium Audio System will be announced when the production version of the car is released.  

About Elliot Scheiner

After nearly 40 years in the music industry, Elliot Scheiner continues to be a highly sought-after producer and engineer. His career includes work with such music legends as the Eagles, Steely Dan, REM, Foo Fighters, Beck, Queen, Sting, Van Morrison and Eric Clapton. Scheiner has 24 Grammy nominations and has won his seven Grammy Awards, including the 2012 Grammy for Best Surround Sound Album for Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (Super Deluxe Edition) by Derek and the Dominos. Scheiner's recent works include, surround mix engineer for the documentary film on the Eagles' titled, "The History of the Eagles," which will premier at this year's Sundance Film Festival, and as mix engineer on Paul McCartney latest album, "Kisses on the Bottom." His extensive industry accolades include an Emmy^® for his work with the Eagles on their farewell tour broadcast and he has received four Emmy nominations. A TEC Hall of Fame inductee, Scheiner is the inaugural recipient of the Surround Pioneer Award, which honors individuals who have made significant groundbreaking contributions to the art of surround music production.

He holds an honorary doctorate in music from Berklee College of Music.  Scheiner is the first American to be awarded the Master of Sound honor from the Japan Audio Society.

About Acura
Acura offers a full line of technologically advanced performance luxury vehicles through a network of 272 dealers within the United States. The Acura lineup features seven distinctive models including the RL luxury performance sedan, the TL performance luxury sedan, the TSX Sport Wagon and sedan, the ILX compact luxury sedan, the RDX luxury crossover SUV, the MDX luxury sport utility vehicle and the ZDX four-door sports coupe.

Additional media information including detailed features, pricing and high-resolution photography of the Acura model line is available at www.acuranews.com. Consumer information is available at www.acura.com.

About Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America

Based in Peachtree City, Georgia, and with Detroit-area operations located in Farmington Hills, Mich., Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America is a division company of Secaucus, New Jersey-based Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation. (NYSE: PC) of Osaka, Japan, one of the world's leading developers and producers of innovative digital and other electronic products for consumer, business and industrial use. Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America also acts as the North American operating company of Panasonic's Automotive Systems Company of Japan, which coordinates global automotive industry systems and components operations. For more information on Panasonic Automotive, please visit: www.panasonic.com/business/automotive.

*ELS Studio is the registered trademark of Panasonic Corporation of North America, all rights reserved. Acura, RLX, TSX, ILX, TL, RDX, MDX, and ZDX are trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. GRAMMY is the trademark of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc.

SOURCE Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America