The Acura RDX audio system. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Your car is the perfect place to listen to music, right? A premium car sound system should be just as perfect.
Elliot Scheiner was mixing an album for the Foo Fighters and needed the band to listen to the tracks he was working on. But he was on one side of LA and they were on the other. Trying to get everyone into the studio was proving to be a challenge.
So, he loaded the files onto a USB drive and sent it over in an Acura. Then, he asked them to listen to it. In the Acura.
Further reading: Meet the all new Acura RDX
A Car as Sound Studio? Elliot Thought it Was a Brilliant Idea, and He Wasn’t Alone
After all, what better environment: the placement of speakers, the hard and soft materials and being surrounded by sound. It can sound like the back up singers are behind you and the guitarist is right next to you.
16 years ago Elliot, a Grammy-winning music producer, suggested the idea to Panasonic, his production equipment partner. They loved it. So they started talking to car companies. Literally every one turned them away. Then, a year later, Elliot got a call from Panasonic: Acura wanted to hear the idea. In 2004 the ELS Surround Premium sound system was born and became the exclusive high end sound in Acura models.
Further reading: Some of our other favorite sound systems and the cars you find them in
Elliot Scheiner, right, with Dave Russell (left) and Roger Nichols (center) accepting a Grammy Award for work with Steely Dan. Photo: Scott Gries/Image Direct for SteelyDan.com
Meet Elliot Scheiner and His Gaggle of Grammys
What better master chef to have behind the sound in your car than the producer behind Grammy-award winning albums from Beyoncé, Eric Clapton and Steely Dan? As a producer who’s worked with Van Morrison, the Foo Fighters, the Eagles, Faith Hill and Aerosmith, Elliot appreciates the full range of artistry that a car buyers demand.
Elliot has won 8 Grammys and been nominated for 25 for his work producing music, from studio work to live albums to movie soundtracks. What he loves to do most is capture an artist’s true sound so the listener can feel what it’s like to be part of the music, right there with the artist as it’s happening.
As if Bonne Raitt is crooning her soulful strains just for you.
As if Van Morrison is plucking his guitar strings purely for your delight.
As if Marvin Gaye is right next to you, lifting your soul with his magical voice.
Achieving this in a car should be natural, but it’s not always executed well. But Elliot knew he could do it; after all, you’re surrounded by speakers in an enclosed space. By focusing on directing the quality of mechanics and the path of sounds through the car stereo, Elliot creates the perfect sounds and is immensely proud of the sound that Acuras can produce.
Further reading: Take the ELS Surround Premium sound system for a test drive in the Acura ILX
Elliot Scheiner with the new Acura RDX. Photo: ELS Surround Premium Sound
This is Elliot’s Ideal Playlist
During our test drive of the Acura RDX we listened to a definitive playlist put together by Elliot. It represents the vast spectrum of musical genres and sounds that the ELS Surround Premium sound system produces, no matter your taste. This is just part of his list (our favorites, of course!).
What Does Elliot Listen to in the Car?
Whatever he’s working on now. Currently, he’s finishing a live album by Phish from their 13 day stint at Madison Square Garden. And then, it’ll be on to the next project.
The car, it turns out, is a favorite place for even the most accomplished musicians to listen to music, especially when it is perfectly reproduced. The Foo Fighters Dave Grohl agrees. After listening to the tracks Elliot sent over in the Acura, he approved so much so that he bought the car.
Win the ELS Premium Sound Experience with our “Stay Cool This Summer” Prize Pack!
We are giving away a pair of Panasonic wireless headphones and an ELS Acura water bottle, a prize valued at $100. Enter to win below; a winner will be drawn on August 6th, 2018.
Contest Rules:
Participants can enter to win an ELS Premium Sound prize pack of a pair of Panasonic wireless headphones and an ELS Acura water bottle by submitting qualifying entries via RaffleCopter before midnight, August 5, 2018. No purchase necessary to enter. A single prize of one pair of headphones and one water bottle will be given away. Prize has an approximate value of $100, is not exchangeable for cash or other items; the assignment of the prize is at the discretion of A Girls Guide to Cars. A single winner will be chosen at random from among valid entries. Contest open only to US residents 18 or older. Winner will be notified by email or direct message by August 15, 2018. If a chosen winner fails to respond to notification within seven (7) days that winner will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Winners must provide a valid US shipping address, not a PO Box, for prize shipment and may be asked to provide other information to verify qualification for this contest. Void where prohibited and subject to applicable law.
Scotty Reiss
Premium sound is important because it allows me to feel like I’m in the song more!
Premium sound matters because I’m in my car for most of the day. It’s part of my job & it makes the day go by faster.
This makes me want to get an Acura just for the sound system alone! Sounds awesome!
Sick looking stereo
The headphones look nice.
I would love to own this stereo.
I could definitely use this in my car; my bluetooth music won’t work 🙁
That’s a nice stereo!
A premium sound in my car matters to me because life is too short to listen to bad stereo systems. Plus I am a driver to my kids and all their activities.
One of my favorite songs from the above playlist is Keisha’s “Praying”. I love that song!
It’s hard to drive long distances with poor sound quality. I enjoy listening to music in the car, so a great sound system means a lot to me.
Sounds like an AWESOME sound system. It makes sense to go in with a music producer! Also commenting for Brinno Peephole Security Camera!
I need a stereo in my car. …mine sadly doesn’t work.
Makes the Drive Easier/Funner
The headphones could be useful to my passengers when they don’t want to hear polka music.
I love listening to good music in my car so I’m going to have to check out Acuras sound system! The Panasonic wireless headphones (with bluetooth) look awesome as well!
Premium sound is important for long trips in the middle of the night , because it would allow me to hear the music and not have to play it as loud. Then during the day I can’t imagine how great the sound would be !
I always have to listen to music in my car. It keeps me alert and entertained. Panasoinc wireless headphones are a terrific gift too.
Premium sound in my car does matter to me. I am in the car often and want to enjoy my music!
Premium sound in my car would be great especially with kids cranking it up.
It’s important because the music sounds the way it is supposed to!
Great sound quality enriches music and makes for a happy life
I love the look of this stereo!
Premium sound in our car is important for our many road trips
Because riding in the car is my quiet me time to relax after work,
Premium sound does not matter to me. sorry, I can get by with inferior sound & have for decades
Premium sound matters to me because I am passionate about music!
My husband is into all things audio. All of our cars are fully equipped with a good radio, great speakers and at fully tuned.
Thank you for this post I’m sharing it with him.
Premium sounds matters to me because I want to hear it well!
Not my thing…but, if you want this sounds like a good quality product. I am sure plenty do.
It is much less stressful to be stuck in traffic if there is good music playing in my car.
Reeling in the Years by Steely Dan is my favorite on Elliot’s playlist.
I have premium audio in my car and I can tell a huge difference when I ride in someone else’s car that has a standard radio and speakers.
My young ones love to listen to classical music. The system sounds amazing!
this sounds awesome
Mine too!!!
Nice way to pass the time on long journeys to visit family…two days :0
Premium sound in my car matters to me because I want to listen to my music and I want the quality of the sound to be good!
You have to have good stereo components to listen to good music!
Good looking head phones!
I love music so a great sound system is important. It makes the music so much nicer to listen to. Thank you so much for sharing this
spend so much time in the car premium sound is very important
A nice sound systems makes all the difference in LONG road trips
Because I love my tunes!
Premium sound is the only way to go. I want to hear it in its purest form
I love that I can turn it up and enjoy my ride. Can’t be loud in the house.
premium sound in my car is very important to me because i love to jam out when i am driving. especially when i have a long drive by myself.
I’m a big music fan and I’m on the road constantly because of my job so a good sound sytem really comes in handy! Thanks so much for the chance!
I like Lithium from your playlist!
I love to listen to music and podcasts in the car. It doesn’t matter if it is a commute to work or road trip. Having poor sound quality dampens the experience.
Premius sound is important because I can actually hear the lyrics and the music sounds so much better!
I love Grey Skies by Josh One.
I always have music on in my car…and am in my car often running errands, dropping off kids, etc!
Premium sound in my car actually lifts my spirits
Premium sound is especially important bc my car and area gets spotty signal so I plug in our amazon music in the car with adapt.
Thorough review. Thanks, I will pass it on.
I’m not sure what you want me to do…thanks for the review. Thanks and God Bless!
I would love to have this. One of my favorite things to do is drive and listen to my music. I always wish I had a better sound system.
concert in my car would be a good thing 🙂
What beautiful sound. If I ever got the money that is the car for me. O would I count my blessings … and count my blessings. He really knows music doesnt he? I love that I always wanted to be a producer.
It would make a nice replacement for our crappy system
Breathe by Faith Hill is an awesome song. Definitley on my playlists!
my car is lacking this! 🙂
Wow, looks like an awesome system.
I love listening to music in my car, it keeps me awake and focused. A great sound system is imperative as I like clarity and the music sounds much better.
One of my faves from his playlist: Nick of Time by Bonnie Raitt
We love to listen to music in the car as a family!!
This is my first time on the blog and i really in enjoy it! Definitely subscribed look forward to seeing more. Also the quality of it just sounds great I bet it sounds way better in person. From music to podcasts.
This sounds great
Nice thorough review. Thanks
Premium sound in my car lets me enjoy music the way it was recorded.
Nick of Time by Bonnie Raitt is my favorite song.
Awesome!
It helps make driving more relaxing.
I need good sound in my car because that’s where I do most of my listening to music
This sound system looks so effective.
The best premium sound that I can get is very important to me. Thanks for the chance to win.
I drive a lot and having a quality system helps me hear clearer.
The sound in my car is so important to me with my 1 hour commute. So that is an area where I escape on my drive to and from work and get lost in music.
Premium sound is important to me, especially in my car as it helps to calm me during rush hour. 🙂 Thank you.
Premium sound in my car matters so I can sing to it 🙂
My favorite song on Elliot’s playlist is Nick Of Time by Bonnie Raitt.
Amazing sound quality that I enjoy listening to
“Nick of Time” – Bonnie Raitt is my fave and premium sound is important – no, VITAL – to me, because I used to be an audio engineer and even if I’m in my car, every little sound has meaning.
Gotta rock good tunes when I’m driving!
Gotta have the tunes!
Many of us spend so much time our vehicles its great to have a quality sound system. We can help!
Nothing is worse than a terrible sound system… especially when traveling in the car long distances. Music always makes traveling or being stuck in traffic better.
music is important to me, i like to hear it as it’s meant to be heard!
Sometimes driving in my car is my only alone time so I love to listen to my tunes. Having great sound makes a better whole experience.
I like that it has a Acura Watch safety system.
It would be Lithium buy Nirvana. They are my all time favorite.
I am a bookkeeper and I spend a lot of time in my car driving to clients. it is my zone out time and I need the music to be perfect.
Premium sound is the way to go, I want to hear the music as the artist intended
very cool info.
A quality sound system is important to our family because we spend alot of time in our vehicles. We love to travel and we just like to drive in the country listening to music too.
I love feeling like I’m in the song, premium sound is tops!
Premium sound is important to me as I want to hear what the artist intended for me to hear
Premium sound is a must for a car, my radio needs to be replaced, I like this system, I will check into it for my Jeep
This car stereo is awesome.
The car’s the only place I have to listen to music, so I want it to sound good.
Probably Nirvana Lithium. It’s the only one I’ve heard.
The car is where I listen to music the most, and I LOVE music, so it needs to sound good!
Radio and other noise, especially premium sound, is a distraction to the driver much like a cell phone. I would not install it.
George Michael’s Careless Whisper
I like the premium sound so I can hear what the artist intended
Since U been gone by Kelly Clarkson.
I do not listen to music in the car much, but when I do, I prefer a great sound quality.
I am so passionate about music so of course when listening to music I want it to sound its best, even in the car going grocery shopping.
I feel it coming by The Weeknd, Daft Punk is my jam!!!
Premium sound is important because it drowns out my not so awesome singing.
I enjoy listening to music in the car, do premium sound capabilities are important to me.
the awesome sound quality so i can rock out as intended
i like my tunes
Looks like a great system
My car and the shower are my escapes from the world. I want to be enveloped in music in the car, without static and other noise.
You can’t go wrong with Nirvana. Lithium.
It is nice to relax, listen to music, and sing your heart out sometimes.
Premium sound is important because we spend a lot of time in the car and we all love listening to music. Premium sound makes the whole experience so much better.
Careless Whisper by George Michael is my favorite song
Music can make me happy and n a good mood.
I need to have my music from my phone connected to stereo in my car.
Donald Fagen’s “I.G.Y.”
It matters to me because I need music and sound when I drive, it makes me calm down, less anxiety behind the wheel.
Music is great in the car
Nick of Time by Bonnie Raitt is my favorite song from the playlist.
I like a premium sound because it just makes my listening and driving experience so much better!
Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott is my fav.
Premium sound matters to me because I love listening to music when I’m driving & it makes me more relaxed behind the wheel.
My favorite song on the playlist is Praying by Kesha.
Nick of Time- Bonnie Raitt
Premium sounds make my music and videos sound crystal clear.
Premium sound is important so I can be immersed in the music.
I am on the road a lot so premium sound is important to me. Good quality and clear sounding music!
Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson is my favorite song from the playlist.
It matters so I can enjoy music as it is meant to be
I have always liked Peg by Steely Dan, once heard a great version of it by doc severson on the tonight show.
I, too, find that I do most my music listening while driving, so a great in-car sound system is vital!