A vehicle sound system provides an audio signal to a speaker system. The vehicle sound system comprises a first input unit that receives a first priority value indicative of a first scope of authority that the first input unit has been assigned over the vehicle sound system. A second input unit receives a second priority value indicative of a second scope of authority the second input unit has been assigned over the vehicle sound system. A plurality of sound system generating components are capable of communicating with the first and second input units over a system bus and being selectively controlled by the first and second input units via the system bus. The first input unit comprises an input interface that allows a user to specify the first priority value.