Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before your first drive.
Which cars does it work in?
Any car with a web browser that can play audio and share location, which includes Tesla's in-car browser. It also works on a phone connected to the car by Bluetooth or a cable: open the site on the phone, and the sound plays through the car's speakers.
Do I need to install anything?
No. CarsSound is a website. Open carssound.app, bookmark it, and it is one tap away next time. There is no account to create.
Why does it need my location?
Location is how the browser knows your speed, and speed is what drives the engine. Your location is used only inside your browser to calculate speed; it is never sent to us or stored. Without it, use Test drive mode with the on-screen pedals.
The sound reacts a little late. Why?
The engine can only react as fast as the browser reports new speed readings. Most car browsers deliver several per second, which gives a response within a fraction of a second. Some phones only report once per second, which adds about a second of delay. The GPS card in the app shows the update rate (for example "10 Hz") so you can see what your device provides. A clear view of the sky helps; tunnels and parking garages interrupt GPS.
Does it use a lot of data or battery?
Very little data: the engine sound is calculated on the device, not streamed, so after the page has loaded there is almost nothing to download. Processing the audio uses a small amount of power, comparable to playing music.
Is it safe and legal?
The sound plays inside the cabin through your media speakers, like music. It is not an external sound system. Set up the app while parked, keep the volume at a level where you can hear traffic, emergency vehicles and your car's own warnings, and never interact with the screen while driving in a way that distracts you. The small ad under the car list is hidden automatically while the car is moving.
What do Crackle and Volume do?
Volume sets the engine level within CarsSound; your car's media volume still controls the overall loudness. Crackle sets how much the exhaust pops and bangs when you lift off the throttle or hit the rev limiter. Turn it to zero for a clean-burning engine.
Can I switch cars while driving?
Yes. The new engine picks up at your current speed and selects a sensible gear, so the sound changes smoothly without a restart. For safety, we recommend choosing your car before you set off.
Why are the cars not real brands?
Every car in the garage is an original concept, and every engine is a model of a type of engine rather than a recording of a specific car. That lets us build each sound from scratch and describe it honestly.
Something isn't working
- No sound: press START again, check that the car's media volume is up and that no other app is playing audio.
- Engine doesn't follow speed: make sure location is allowed for the site and that you are in GPS mode, not Test drive.
- Page looks wrong after an update: reload the page once.