‘Golden Ears’: Meet the Man Fine-Tuning Nissan Audio Systems

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Patrick Dennis is a good listener. In fact, he has built a career on his ears. Countless hours of listening to music in cars, homes and concert halls have enabled him to precisely tune automotive speakers.

Dennis has spent nearly 20 years at Nissan Technical Center North America, helping shape the sound of Nissan vehicles across the lineup. He also lends his tuning expertise to select INFINITI models. At the R&D facility near Detroit, the audio team is dedicated to making sound systems the best they can be – whether it’s a standard four-speaker system or the premium Klipsch 12-speaker studio experience available in Armada.

Dennis’ ears help make that possible. His official title is principal engineer for audio sound quality, but around the office, he’s simply “Golden Ears.”

“It's not that my ears are naturally better than anyone else's – it’s that I've been trained to identify certain things in the music that other people might not be able to catch,” he said.

Concert-like sound in the car

Everyone remembers their first concert. Nissan audio engineers aim to recreate that excitement inside the vehicle.

“We want the customers to feel like they're at a live show. That's the vision,” Dennis said. “We want to transport them there.”

Providing a high-quality listening experience in an environment with many other noises comes with challenges.

“A car is not an ideal space for an audio system,” he said. “You’re competing with noise from the powertrain, road, wind and surrounding traffic.”

Plus, car speakers are oftentimes mounted far from passengers’ ears – for example, low in the doors. Thankfully, technology has enabled Nissan audio teams to precisely direct the music so it feels closer to the listener.

“We can now manipulate sound to give it the best quality possible, even with just a few speakers,” Dennis said. “We can make audio coming from door speakers sound higher in the vehicle than it actually is.”

With available premium audio systems like Bose Personal Plus¹ in the Nissan Kicks – featuring innovative speakers mounted in the headrests – the sound is immersive, like wearing high-end headphones without ever putting them on.

Software also plays a role in reducing external noise. For example, Active Sound Management uses an interior microphone to identify low-frequency engine sounds and neutralize them with sound waves of the opposite frequency. The system works similarly to noise-canceling headphones.

“The tools to tune audio and negate unwanted noise have become incredibly advanced,” Dennis said.

Brand partnerships provide a premium boost

Dennis fine-tunes in-house and co-developed systems, including premium partnerships with Bose, Fender and Klipsch — audio brands known for excellence in car sound systems.

In each partnership, the brands work closely with Nissan throughout the vehicle development process to create an optimal listening experience. They carefully position speakers and adjust them for metrics like treble, bass and clarity. Engineers monitor the sound with equipment and their own ears, making small tweaks until the sound is just right.

Dennis’ skills are critical in this stage.

“I've spent a lot of time listening to music in all forms. I got a feel for it and started building up my brain's database. Now, I know what to listen for,” he said.

Premium branded systems undoubtedly enhance the listening experience, but Dennis says the larger speaker count is what makes the biggest difference.

“With additional speakers, you get a more focused sound and a better sense of space. It allows us to provide that concert-like feel,” Dennis said.

Nissan audio engineers are currently collaborating with brands on systems that will debut in model year 2028 and beyond, including next-gen EVs and future flagship SUVs. By joining early in development, Dennis and his team fine-tune the sound system for each vehicle’s unique interior. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. “There is a ton of collaboration,” Dennis said. “It’s nice to have the ‘Golden Ear.’ It’s even nicer to get feedback from a group.”

After two decades of creating sonic magic, Dennis said the best part of the job is the moment he realizes the team achieved the desired tuning.

“You have to work with the system to get it to pop. When it does, you know it – you feel that fun factor immediately. And you can’t wait for the customer to experience it too,” he said.

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