Luxury DS N°7 SUV arrives with immersive 14 speaker 690W Focal Electra 3D sound system

French premium car maker DS Automobiles has expanded its partnership with high-end audio specialist Focal by bringing the Electra 3D by Focal sound system to the all-new DS N°7 SUV. 

Making its debut in DS’s latest compact luxury model, the installation builds on tech first seen in the larger DS N°8 and combines a 690W Class D amplifier with 14 speakers to create an immersive three-dimensional listening experience. 

The DS N°7 is a significant model for DS Automobiles. Revealed earlier this year as the successor to the DS 7, it represents the brand’s first complete model renewal since DS emerged as a standalone marque in 2014. Positioned between the compact DS N°4 and flagship DS N°8, the new SUV adopts a more mature design language while introducing fully electric E-Tense and self-charging hybrid powertrains.

The French manufacturer describes the car as a ‘First Class SUV’, a premium compact crossover intended to compete with established rivals such as the Audi Q3 and BMW X1.

At 4.66 metres long with a wheelbase stretched to 2.79 metres, the N°7 boasts increased cabin space while maintaining the airy, lounge-like ambience that has become a DS trademark. 

The DS N°7 is a significant model for DS Automobiles. It represents the brand’s first complete model renewal since DS emerged as a standalone marque in 2014…

Inside the DS N°7

For me, however, one of the most interesting aspects of any luxury vehicle is invariably the audio system. Premium automotive sound has developed rapidly over the past decade, evolving from an optional extra into an important differentiator. This latest collaboration between Focal and DS Automobiles suggests both understand this shift.

The Electra 3D by Focal system first appeared in the DS N°8 during 2025. For the N°7, the Focal has re-engineered the installation specifically around the acoustic characteristics and dimensions of the SUV’s cabin.

At its heart sits a 690-watt Class D amplifier feeding 14 individual speaker drivers distributed throughout the vehicle interior. These include four aluminium-magnesium tweeters, four Polyglass woofers, a dedicated centre channel, two surround speakers and Focal’s distinctive Power Flower subwoofer.

The most interesting elements are arguably the dedicated TAM 3D tweeters mounted in the forward section of the roof lining and the surround channels integrated into the rear parcel shelf. Their purpose is to add height and depth to the listening experience, creating a more holographic sound field than conventional stereo or surround installations can manage.

The effect, according to Focal, is to move beyond left and right imaging and instead place occupants inside a three-dimensional acoustic space, with music extending forwards, sideways and above in a manner intended to evoke a live performance.

Delivering this convincingly requires more than simply adding extra speakers. Focal employs advanced DSP to time-align every driver so that sound from each location arrives at every listener’s ears simultaneously. 

Instruments and vocals occupy stable positions within the soundstage, rather smearing across the dashboard.

The system also benefits from Focal’s experience in high-end home audio. The Power Flower subwoofer is designed to provide low frequencies that are both deep and controlled, avoiding the exaggerated boom often associated with automotive sound systems.

Owners can tailor their listening experience through multiple sound modes. An All Passengers setting distributes sound evenly throughout the cabin, while Front Optimised focuses the soundstage towards the front. Three separate levels of spatial processing, Light, Immersive and Intense, determine how pronounced the spatial effect becomes.

Importantly, the sound system hasn’t been developed in isolation. The DS N°7 itself has been engineered to support the acoustic performance through laminated glazing, additional sound absorbing materials and an interior architecture intended to minimise intrusive noise.

This quieter cabin provides a cleaner canvas for the system to perform, while high-density seating and carefully considered interior materials contribute to an environment designed around long-distance comfort.

The Electra 3D by Focal system also integrates closely with the latest DS IRIS SYSTEM 2.0 infotainment platform, centred around a 16-inch display that combines navigation, connectivity and media functions with the audio controls.

High-end automotive audio increasingly mirrors developments in luxury home cinema and Hi-Fi, where room treatment and speaker positioning are often as important as the electronics themselves. The DS N°7 appears to apply much the same philosophy, treating the cabin as an acoustic environment rather than merely a place to install loudspeakers.

Whether the result ultimately rivals the very best automotive systems from the likes of Burmester, Bowers & Wilkins or Bang & Olufsen will require extended listening time. On paper, though, the ingredients are mouth-watering.

For drivers who view music as an essential part of the journey rather than background accompaniment, the Electra 3D by Focal installation may prove to be one of the more compelling reasons to spend time behind the wheel of DS’s latest premium SUV.

Prices start at £38,290 for the hybrid DS N°7, and £49,190 for the electric DS N°7.