Expect Improvements: Rivian Gen 2 Premium Audio

Sound quality has always been a top priority for me when car shopping, and my latest addition—the 2025 Rivian R1S Gen 2—is no exception. Naturally, I didn’t hesitate to add the $1,750 “Premium Audio” option. However, as I mentioned in my previous article, the quality falls short compared to premium sound systems from other manufacturers.

Since buying my first vehicle in 2016, I’ve consistently opted for upgraded sound systems. Music is a big part of my driving experience, and I’m the type of person who stays parked in the garage just to enjoy a few more minutes of a favorite song. While I don’t consider myself an audiophile, I do have a deep appreciation for sound. Growing up, my mom—who dedicated her life to teaching music, playing piano, and leading the church choir—instilled that love in me.

The first vehicle I purchased in the U.S. was a 2017 BMW 540i, and I opted for the Harman Kardon sound system. A few months later, I bought a Tesla Model S 100D, which came with the “Premium Package,” including Tesla’s in-house “Premium Sound System.” That was the first time I experienced disappointing sound quality in a vehicle I owned. I distinctly remember Elon Musk stating during the Model S reveal that it had an excellent sound system, and that, because EVs are quiet, it would feel like a sound studio. While that might be true when the car is parked, it was definitely not the case on the road, especially with the early Model S.

The poor NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) performance combined with the overall build quality created significant wind noise above 50 mph, making the listening experience much worse than in my half-priced BMW 540i, which had a much quieter cabin despite having a 6-cylinder engine under the hood. While Tesla’s build quality didn’t improve much over the years, the sound system certainly did. Nine months after buying my Model S, I purchased one of the first Tesla Model 3 Performances in August 2018, and its premium sound system was noticeably better, even without Dolby Atmos.

Tesla has repeatedly spoken about their advancements in audio engineering, and I can confirm that the sound systems in their current models, even base trims, are excellent. My 2023 Model X Long Range has the best sound system of all the cars I own—it blew me away when I played John Splithoff’s Raye. Tesla even released a video about their audio engineering, and it’s quite convincing.

Now, let’s talk about Rivian. Before purchasing the Gen 2 R1S, I test drove the Gen 1 R1S and even rented one for a film project, so I had the chance to experience both the early Meridian Sound System and the newer in-house system, “Rivian Elevation.” I wasn’t impressed by either. When I was ready to buy the Gen 2 R1S and saw Rivian hyping up their Premium Audio, I decided it was a must-have. That said, I personally feel the Meridian system sounds better than Rivian Elevation. The Gen 1 Elevation system features a 1,200-watt, 18-channel amplifier with 21 speakers, while the Gen 2 “Premium Audio” has a 960-watt, 16-channel amplifier with 19 speakers. But despite what the specs say, neither comes close to the sound quality of my 2023 Model X. Worse still, the Gen 2 Premium Audio actually sounds worse than the Elevation system.

I later realized there have been many complaints about sound quality on forums, with some owners even saying the Gen 2 base system is terrible. A few owners on Facebook shared their EQ settings, which improved things slightly, but not significantly. I’ve attached their settings below for anyone who wants to give them a try. Personally, I believe a good system should sound balanced and rich without needing EQ adjustments.

The good news is that Rivian seems aware of the issue. In a recent tweet, their Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid confirmed that the audio system is tunable, meaning future software updates could bring improvements. I’m hopeful this is not a hardware issue. Despite the sound system and a few minor problems, the Gen 2 R1S is still an incredible vehicle, and I’m excited to see it improve over time.

My R1S is currently in service. They’ve ordered parts and assured me that all the alignment issues I mentioned in my previous blog article will be addressed. I expect to have it back in two weeks, just in time to start my camping trips. Rivian’s customer service and staff have been excellent so far, which has really strengthened my confidence in the brand. I really hope the quality doesn’t decline over the years like Tesla’s has. These days, Tesla’s customer service doesn’t seem to care much when you ask questions or bring your vehicle in for repairs.

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