Quality of Standard Sound System

[Aletank]

I've been to one car audio shop today and he's said that the back shelf speakers are actually Subs - Sub Woofers I think he means. He's suggested 2 ways to improve the sound quality

1- Clarion 4 channel amp - £200
   Kenwood 6" Subs      -  £75 pair
   4 Kenwood Speakers -   £25 - £95 pair
   Amp kit                  -   £20

Them prices are all fitted or he's suggested one of these -

2- Disconnect the Subs on the back shelf and install this in the boot              
 Kenwood Sub Woofer and leave the current speakers in and see how they go , Thats £245 installed.
That Sub woofer is quite big but you can unplug it and remove if you need boot space, only 3 leads.

The first option seems best to me really but I'm goin to see Auto Audio Services on Monday to see what he suggests , thats where I bought my stereo from originally. I'll keep you all posted how I get on

 

[jimmy]

Mine came with a top of the range Blaupunkt head unit, jam packed with features and excellent sound quality, but...........it is only a cassete player!
I soon added a 10 disc changer, being as mine is an estate I did not want to mount it in the boot, cos of the dogs! Found it fits nicely in the passenger footwell, under the dash. It is out of the way and easy to connect the leads to the head unit.
My estate only has a six speaker system, two in the dash, and one in each door, have been thinking about fitting either a powered subwoofer in a box in the boot or a pair of subs in the tailgate.

The existing set-up seems pretty good until you really crank up the volume, then you do get some distortion from the speakers...........and earache from the missus!!!!

From my experience the best way to improve a sound system is to add a subwoofer or 'boom-box' to handle the bass and give some volume and let the existing speakers take care of the mid and higher frequencies. Blaupunkt do a good active subwoofer with a built in amp that comes in a small unobtrusive enclosure.

 

[fuzzer]

From the factory , the cd changer is fitted in the cubby hole in the boot on the o/s .

 

[V12]

I know a little about car stereos... <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

So does geoff...bit of as guru himself.

if any of you want info on car stereos, look to www.talkaudio.com
I have been there a while, and koolvin has been there for a bit.
top forum, and really great help.

Tell em v12 sent ya, they'll look after you. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[V12]

I wrote this on Talkaudio...

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Heres some steps of what i have done in the past, and i must be one of the most experienced mercedes ICE installers in south england at least.

An upgrade in H/U is always the first step,

then depending on the speakers, either, an amp or speakers. In this case the speakers are good enough (better than a lot of people think&#33<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> to stay till you obtain an amp.

Get a 4 channel, run just the fronts from it.

Purchase 2 BOSE subs fro the rear deck, other make do them as well, which some are good, such as JL. Stay away from kenwood, there 6.5&quot; subs are pathetic.

Run the subs on low pass from the remaining 2 channels of the amp.

Get new front speakers, and just do a straight swap.

regarding mercedes speakers :

mercedes use the same speakers for all ranges a-class up to basic s-class, unless you have upgraded stereo, such as bose.

The only difference is in H/U, and here is a big difference.

The real low model, such as the a-class are made by grundig, the middle ranges, such as E, C, CLK, SLK etc are made by blaupunkt and the S, Sl etc are made by becker.

You will notice a huge difference in Sound quality and power from a a-class to a s-class, just from the H/U

Another side note, the sound deadening is another important factor, as there is superior stuff (and more of it) on the s-class compared to a c-class...</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> &nbsp;

Hope that helps some of you. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[GrahamC230K]

Originally posted by Jimmy:
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Mine came with a top of the range Blaupunkt head unit,</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>


Was is a Blaupunkt Paris RCM 169 ?

I had one of those with a CD-Changer in the 230K, prior to my new Kenwood.

Has now found it's way into my wife's fiesta!  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>




Origianlly posted by Fuzzer:
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">From the factory , the cd changer is fitted in the cubby hole in the boot on the o/s .
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Well my Blaupunkt wasn't, and that was fitted from factory as I have both the Blaupunkt Manual and the original Mercedes documentation etc that came with it.

It was mounted underneath the rear shelf. That is where I have have my Kenwood changer now and is where I have always had my changers mounted.

The cubby hole you speak of, is an OK location, but is far more usefull for other stuff. The changer is accessable and better protected under the rear deck, IMO.

 

[Koolvin]

As I was discussing with Graham earlier - MB outsources the audio fittings to local car audio shops.... which is why people have different fitments...

I do think the best place for the CD changer is that little 'Cubby-hole'

Have a look at my pics...... I have since removed the changer as its not needed anymore - the space is quite usefull!!

I have also mounted my SAT NAV computer under the rear deck with BOLTS and NUTS not self tappers <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> I have taken pics of that also....

The SAT NAV under the rear deck because it has a internal gyroscope  (for under tunnels when no GPS signal is present) so it needs to be mounted leval

 

[fuzzer]

OK , ill rephrase what i posted.

When dealing with genuine mercedes benz factory fitted audio  ( with mercedes star on it and not aftermarket dealer sony or blaupunkt installs ) the cd changer will be installed into the cubby hole in the boot.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Well my Blaupunkt wasn't, and that was fitted from factory as I have both the Blaupunkt Manual and the original Mercedes documentation etc that came with it.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Mercedes as far as im aware , have never factory installed any audio systems apart from the oem alpine and becker units at the factory . The cd changer will have been installed by the dealer as all sony and Blaupunkt were and not installed at the factory . This was more than likely due to the £400 charge by the factory for their cheapest cd player and other systems were offered to the point that MB never made their own head units standard in the w202 and were always a cost option 400ish when there was no audio in the car to about 185 when you exchanged the sony/Blaupunkt unit .

maybe im wrong?

 

[Paul]

On subject of up-grades, a friend up graded his o/e radio on his new C200 Komp' (Advantgarde) by a car radio specialist. After he got the car back it would not change gear correctly. He took the car back to Mercedes (not thinking to blame the installation), they had the car for 3 (THREE) weeks trying to fix the rough changes <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'>

Eventually the dealer requested a technician from Germany who finally found out that the radio had been wired into the gear box electrics <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'> .

He had a call from the dealer asking who installed the radio and did they have insurance <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'> .

Radio installer argued that if it was just his fault why did it take so long to find problem <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'> .

Outcome: Radio installer &amp; Mercedes agreed to share cost of new auto box. Obviously, someone (Mercedes) is not telling whole truth.

 

[Aletank]

I've just posted on the Talk audio forum but i'll post here too incase someone here is interested in doin similar
-----------------------------------------------------------
&nbsp;I've been to Auto Audio Services today and he suggests leaving the current set up and adding

QX Series - QXT 275 Amp £130, just powering a
JBL GT3-12 Sub £149 (I'm not that keen on these big boxes in me boot)
and see how it goes and maybe upgrade the front speakers later on.

As I say all I wanted origanlly was a equal/better sound than my Rover, which I thought just upgrading the speakers would do. I'm thinkin I might do the above option then I might just have all Bass and still have the crappy sound in the back ground from the oringal speakers meaning I have to upgrade the speakers then.

I'm thinking of just doing what was suggested by the first Audio Shop I went to which is

Clarion 4 channel amp - £200
Kenwood 6&quot; Subs - £75 pair
4 Kenwood Speakers - £25 - £95 pair
Amp kit - £20

At least that way everythin is done - speakers etc in one go and surely that set up should equal/better my Rover sound .

Any comments/suggestions greatly apprciated &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[V12]

Any sub boxes, in saloon mercs DONT work.

if someone suggests this without a good reason, they dont have a clue about Mercedes ICE.

As geoff knows, and others, the only decent way is to cut your rear shelf and adapt it in some way, usually with free0air subs, or a box bolted to the underside.

Koolvins set-up works in some cases, but is not as effective.

As i said before, stay away from those kenwood subs, and kenwood speakers in general, not worth the money at all.

if you are serious about upgrading your shelf subs, look to BOSE first, or JL, there are other brands, such as DD, whcih are far superior, but do reflect this in the price. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[Mark300SL]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (V12 @ Aug. 12 2002,19:38)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Any sub boxes, in saloon mercs DONT work.

if someone suggests this without a good reason, they dont have a clue about Mercedes ICE.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
What about us poor SL owners,

I've got no rear speakers at all and no rear shelf to put any into!
I cant add speakers in the rear occasional seat area as its already too small if I have the kids with me.

This leaves me with upgrading the front speakers and adding a sub in the boot to give a slight hint of depth.

Mark

 

[V12]

In an SL you can do it, if you can find a clever box designer such as EFMAX, you can use a bandpass box, and port into the cabin. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[fuzzer]

When the R129 SL was ordered with the Bose sound system , the rear seat was deleted ......

Depends on whether or not you know midgets to sit in em. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[Mark300SL]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (fuzzer @ Aug. 12 2002,22:48)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">When the R129 SL was ordered with the Bose sound system , the rear seat was deleted ......

Depends on whether or not you know midgets to sit in em.  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Yep

1 son and 1 daughter,  
Daughter (4ft nothing and skinny) thinks the car is cool and likes being dropped off at school in it (roof down obviously)!

Son (5'4 and built like me ) - loves the car - but only from the passengers seat!, reckons he gets a cricked neck from the soft top or hardtop, and has no room for his legs

But then thats why I have a company car and a Rover cabriolet - both have 4 real seats

Mark
Guess I'll just have to sort the speakers out !

 

[Aletank]

All this choice is mind bendin &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> It's even worse than tryin to choose a digital camera !!LOL, This is what I'm finally going for, I know I've been told to stay away from Kenwood, but it's whats available to me from the localish Audio shops that will supply &amp; fit, I was goin to go for all Kenwood speakers but i've moved to Clarions now.
Here's my final choice after visiting a third Audio shop today.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Kenwood 4 Channel 500 watt Amp(KAC-749S) - £200

Kenwood 170mm 260 watt Subwoofers,rear shelf, (KFC-W1705)-£95

Clarion 165mm 150 watt Speakers,front,(SRR1733)-£79

Clarion 130mm 120 watt Speakers,rear,(SRR1333)-£59

Total of £433 all inclusive of fittings etc and all installed
----------------------------------------------------------
I'm goin to have the Amp driving the front door speakers and rear subs, with the head unit powering the rear door speakers, Not forgetting i also have the dash Tweeters in place to.

I've arranged for all this to be fitted next Thur(22nd), so I'll let you all know the out come &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[GrahamC230K]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I know I've been told to stay away from Kenwood, but it's whats available to me from the localish Audio shops that will supply &amp; fit, I was goin to go for all Kenwood speakers but i've moved to Clarions now.
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Kenwood speakers I don't know, there may be close competition for the money, but I am a long time fan of Kenwood. I believe their Headunit and Amps etc to be very good.

I think V12 was just warning you of Kenwood speakers, not their kit in general. If I am wrong, I am suprissed at such an opinion.

 

[pnsji]

I would not suggest you cutting rear deck to install any speakers or subs. The Rear deck is part of the rear accident crumple and by cutting/trimming the rear deck, the strength is lessen. Not to mention all those rattling noise introduced by this method.

Another thing that takes into part in installing subs on the rear shelf, is you have to completely seal the cabin room and the trunk room. This could be achived by sealing all the holes, build a custom wooden panel where the sub can be mounted safely and without any rattling. Not to mention you have to install all those sound dampening materials in your trunk because your trunk act as a big enclosure for the sub.
Is it easy? NOPE! It is very hard to do and nowadays, not many manufactures want to do this setup(called free baffle) because you cannot control the linearity(movement) of the sub since the volume in the trunk is very big.
The chance you will be succesfull is less than 50%.

Koolvin setup in the other way is very different. The box does not fill behind the seat so the soundwave/bass does not travel to the cabin 100%. And the box is ported.

In my case:
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/cgi-bin....=8;t=24
The sub is facing backwards, but 100% of the sound will travel to the back of the car, and then reflected back to the cabin. The box is a sealed box and the trunk act as a very big enclosure with the ports on the rear shelf. The sound? It is Very good. I have plenty of bass yet very tight.

 

[Aletank]

I've been told by 3 Car Audio shops that the current speakers in the rear shelf are actually rear subs and 2 of those 3 have suggested fitting these Kenwood 170mm Subwoofers as direct replacement for the current factory fit ones thats in there now.
So there's no cutting etc to be done.

I've been told that these should be affective as the rear shelf has the steel under to it, so it's all enclosed in.

I'm not that well up on this area so i'm just goin by what I've been told, But theres no cutting of the rear shelf required.

 

[Koolvin]

yep, but to change speakers on your rear shelf you must..

1. take out lower rear seat
2. take out upper rear seat
3. remove ledt C pillar trim
4. remove right c pillar trim
5. remove left headrest
6. remove right headrest
7. take out clips from rear shelf and remove it.

this job should be done yourself as it is time consuming but not really that - the fact that it will take them lots of time in labour and they might F*ck it up.