Auto Express – August 20, 2019

88 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk

Stuart Milne

[email protected]

OURCARS LivingwithaFordFocus

TipsChristopher tells Stuart (right) the

ideal waytoset up hisB&O Play set-up

to best enjoyitwhen he’s on the road

SECONDREPORTStuart gets some sound adviceonsetting up B&O audio

FordFocus

AREaudioupgradesreallyworthpaying

extrafor?Makingadecisionisoften

harderbecausethere’snoguaranteeyour

dealerwillhaveademonstratorinstock

withtheaudiosystemyouwant.Andeven

then,it’shardtojudgewhichisbest.

Fordhasmademuchofitsrelationship

withBang&Olufsen,theDanishaudio

companybestknownformakinghigh-end

stereosandspeakers.Andwithanasking

priceof£550,theB&OPlayset-upinmy

Focuslookslikeaverygooddeal.

Intermsofspecification,theB&O

Playimpresses:675watts,adigitalsound

processorand10speakers,includinga

subwooferthatsitsontopofthespare

wheel(androbsabitofbootspace).

WhileIlovemusic,I’mnoaudiophile.

IknowwhatIlike,butIdon’thavethe

finely-tunedearsofChristopherMinasians,

deputyreviewseditorofoursistertitle

expertreviews.co.uk,whoIaskedtoputthe

systemtothetest.Hewasimmediately

struckbytheB&OPlay’spricetag–more

soafterconnectinghisphonetoplaysome

ofhismusic.WhileI’venotreallyfiddled

aroundwiththetone,balanceandother

audiosettings,Christopherjumpedstraight

in,switchingbetween‘Stereo’and‘Surround’

modes,andthedifferencewasstark.

ChristopherexplainedthattheSurround

modetakesoutsomeofthemid-range

frequencies,buthewaspleasedthatthe

benefitsofhavinga360-degree‘sound

stage’didn’taffectitoverall.“It’slikebeing

inthemiddleofasmallnightclub,”hesaid.

Evenwhencrankingupthevolumeto

antisociallevels,thespeakerssoundedcrisp

tomyuntrainedears,althoughtherewas

somerattlingaroundthecabin–possibly

fromthedoorcards.Butyou’dhavetodrive

everywherewiththevolumeturnedupto11

forthattobeaproblem.Next,Christopher

switchedtoabass-heavyR&Btrack.Straight

Running costs

44.2mpg (ontest)

£61fill-up/£145 or 30% tax

Performance

0-62mph/top speed

8.5 seconds/130mph

awayhenotedhowthesystemsoundedwarm.

“Thesub-bassextendsreallywell,butwhile

themid-bassispresentitsoundsalittle

uncontrolled,likeit’sabitwobbly,”hesaid.

AwayfromtheR&Btrack’sbigbassnotes,

Christopherpraisedthefrequenciesin

thecentreoftheaudiorange,whichare

responsiblefordeliveringvoices,adding:

“Themid-rangeisveryaccurate,which

makesthevocalssoundverylifelike,andat

highfrequencies,thereisn’tanyharshness.”

Christopher’sadvicehasledtome

tweakingthesoundsettingstosuitmy

musicaltastes.I’vealwaystendedtoturn

thebasslevelsupalittle,buthisadvice

ofreducingthembyoneortwostepsis

reallypayingdividends,anditfeelslike

I’mmakingthemostofthesystem.

Audiotestover,Iasktheall-important

question:shouldbuyerschoosethisoption?

“For£550?Absolutely.It’sagreatadd-on,”

Christopherreplied.AndwhoamItoargue?

Ot

is

Cl

ay

Essentials

Ford Focus 2.0

EcoBlue 150PS

Titanium X5dr

Onfleetsince: June2019

Pricenew: £25,555

Engine: 2.0-litre4cyldiesel,

148bhp

CO 2 /tax: 114g/km/£145

Options: Metallicpaint(£700),

wirelesschargingpad(£100),Driver

AssistancePack(£500),blind-spotassist

(£400),ConveniencePack(£500),B&O

Playaudioupgrade(£550)

Insurance*: Group:18 Quote:£473

Mileage/mpg: 2,470/44.2mpg

Anyproblems? Nonesofar

*InsurancequotefromAA(08001070680)fora

42-year-oldinBanbury,Oxon,withthreepoints.

WE LIKEAndroid Auto connects

quickly and reliably,and the USB

port under the armrest keepsthe

wireout of the way. The system

workswell on the touchscreen

WEDON’TStuart’sphone doesn’t

have wireless connectivity,but

placing it on the charging pad,

the most convenientplacefor it,

oftensends the screen haywire

THEB&Ostereomightstealabit

ofbootspace,butthepriceand

outrightsoundqualitymakeita

must-haveupgradeforourman.The

restofthecarisjustasgood,with

sweethandlingandstrongeconomy.

★★★★★

Verdict