The honor of OEM Car Radio of the Year 2011 went to the Fender audio system in the Volkswagen Beetle 2.0T Turbo, announced CNET, claiming that the Fender system sounds better than the Bose car audio system.

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Most impressive is the Fender audio system, standard on the SEL trim Passat, which we find is the best system available in the segment [...] this system produces excellent depth and detail [...] We were blown away by its ability to expose all the tones produced from plucking a single guitar string.

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The Fender system's strengths are detail, dynamics and spatial rendition. Pop in any complex recording, and you will hear crystal-clear vocals, both male and female, and all the instruments independently, rather than one big smear.

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Adding another bit of kind-of retro flair are the classic Fender emblems on the audio system [...] It sounds great, too, especially while playing the wailing notes of a Stratocaster.

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Fender has teamed up with VW (a first for Fender and the auto industry) to bring the Beetle a sound unlike any other Volks has ever had. And I have to say, it doesn't disappoint. Perhaps it's the acoustics of the Beetle (the domed shape, maybe?) but the sound was crisp with deep, clear lows and a rumbling bass that had me turning up the volume for all the best parts.

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For audiophiles, a killer Fender premium audio system is available. Developed in association with Panasonic, the eight-speaker, 400-watt system is standard on Highline and optional on Comfortline trims. Fender brings its expertise in making top-of-the-line guitars and amplifiers to the table in this system that is exclusive to Volkswagen.

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VW's new Fender premium audio system is among the standard features on all Passat VR6's. With crisp, clean sound biased toward the front of the interior to best replicate a live concert, this hi-fi is the best you'll find in a non-luxury car, and one of the best overall.

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We were able to spend some time inside a 2012 Jetta GLI equipped with the Fender Premium Audio System and came away impressed with both its punch and its definition. Also impressive was its ability to be played at high volumes without any undesirable vibration or rattling from either interior or exterior trim, as is so common in aftermarket stereo installations we've experienced.

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Starting with the 2012 Jetta GLI, Volkswagen is rolling out its new, 400-watt premium audio system by Fender, the American brand more famous for its Stratocaster guitars than its stereo equipment. After three years of cooperative research with VW and Panasonic, Fender has delivered a nine-speaker setup that emphasizes clarity at every volume. Although the collaboration may sound like a marketing ploy, the sound doesn't lie. For us, it's the new standard for entry-level automotive audio, easily surpassing the Dynaudio premium systems VW traditionally offers.

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Seeking a recognizable American brand for its new sedan's audio system, VW had Panasonic engineers work with the amplifier experts at Fender. The result is a system with a deeper bass response and less distortion when you crank up the volume. Plus, the Passat comes with stylish yet discreet Fender logos on the dashboard.

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At first blush, the VW-Fender mashup makes beautiful music. I can't wait to take on the road, where the two brands have built their respective reputations.

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[..]the pricier Autobahn trim also rolls in a fantastic Fender premium audio system. The kit was co-developed by Fender and Panasonic and pumps 400 watts of power through nine speakers. Trust us when we say this is one that will make you want to ditch your iPod and satellite radio in favor of a good old-fashioned, high-quality CD.

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One of the biggest highlights of the 2012 Passat interior is its sound system. Volkswagen teamed up with Fender to create a nine-speaker audio system that pushes 400 watts of power. We aren't certified audiophiles, but to our ears, the stereo is capable of besting anything else in the segment. While an integrated subwoofer is part of the kit, the bass is never overbearing. Instead, deeper tones are nearly seamlessly integrated into the music.

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After a listen in all three cars, we agree that Budiono has excellent reason for confidence – we haven't heard a basic system this good at this price point.

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I spent a few minutes in a Jetta listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the 400 watt system is impressive [...] No matter the volume, it is soft on the ears, never getting tinny, and maintaining a detailed midrange, and rich but not overwhelming bass.

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We have to say, [the Fender Premium Audio system] is one of the best OEM systems out there. [It] is harmonically complex, [...] revealing original instrumentation timbre and harmonic richness, bringing the raw emotion of live music to the driving experience [...] This system is worth upgrading to and sounds really fantastic.

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It's loud, proud, but never muddy. Want to hear the hum from Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar amp in "Little Wing?" It's there. Female vocals were breathily believable despite ear-splitting dance-oriented thumps [...] Vocals and instrumental work come from a stage at ear level. Your legs feel air pushed from the door's speakers. Those in back get a stage-like sound field with subwoofer-induced back massage.

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In a three-year collaboration with car-audio masters Panasonic, Fender lent their trained ears and driver (not that kind of driver) building expertise to a collaboration bent on recreating the live concert experience inside an automobile — minus the fog machines, strobes and ersatz psychedelics, of course. The resultant system was so impressive, none other than Volkswagen decided to feature it in select models from their 2012 line.