SL350 - R230 2007 Speaker Upgrade

[Pitts Pilot]

I have the Harman Kardon Logic 7 audio system with ‘Bose’ written on the 2 door speaker grills. I listen in Stereo, rather than Surround, as it sounds marginally better to me that way. Hence the 2 door speakers are absolutely crucial.

(I apologise if I’m about to ask something that has already been answered, but I’ve had a good look around and cannot find everything I need), so here goes:

How do you remove the door speaker grills?

What size replacement speakers do I need to buy, for a straight swap, ie. ‘Out with the old, and in with the new’?

Do I have to fit slim speakers, or is there enough room for ‘regular’ ones? I was thinking of a pair of Focals, say £250 to £300 price bracket. They do some ‘regular’ size units (say K2’s) as well as ‘Slim’ ones like the VRS range.

Finally, are there any ‘gotchers’ that I need to be aware of, given it’s the Logic 7? I remember reading something about the head unit amp having built in crossovers, so presumably one would throw the Focal crossover boxes away?

Thanks for your advice

 

[Pitts Pilot]

I have the Harman Kardon Logic 7 audio system with ‘Bose’ written on the 2 door speaker grills.

How do you remove the door speaker grills?

Thanks for your advice

Well at the very least, if someone knows how to remove the speaker grills, (I'm loathed to try and prise them off for fear of causing some damage), I could probably figure out the rest myself!

Thanks!

 

[redbaron]

be careful with MB audio systems... they dont always run at the same impedance as you expect.. in a 129 you need to rewire the whole bloody lot to change the speakers from factory... (bugger) not sure on the HK stuff as that is amplified - am a little bemused that you need to upgrade it. The last 230 I drove with HK sounded wonderful.

I would take it to an audio specialist that knows mercs.

 

[richard]

Ok, you do not have HK Logic 7, you have BOSE. HK only came in in Model Year 2009 with the change to 'Hard Disk based COMAND'.

The HK system sounds significantly better than the Bose in my opinion.

The speaker grilles do not come off, they are part of the whole door panel so you need to take it off.

Your issues, at least, are that (a) I think the amp sends a limited set of frequencies to the speaker. (b) don;t forgt the tweeter in the triangle. (c) Consider the subwoofer under the passengers feet (under the metal plate). (d) You need to check the impedance (ohms) of the speakers.

The speaker is in a very odd shaped enclosure under there. I'd be removing the door panel and having a look - you'll have to make up a MDF collar to fit it.

You can't use the wrong crossovers, they are tuned to the speakers and not the amplifier, and if you feed low frequencies to a tweeter they'll blow up, so be very careful assuming the amp has any crossovers in

Cheers

Richard

 

[Pitts Pilot]

Ok, you do not have HK Logic 7, you have BOSE. HK only came in in Model Year 2009 with the change to 'Hard Disk based COMAND'.

The HK system sounds significantly better than the Bose in my opinion.

The speaker grilles do not come off, they are part of the whole door panel so you need to take it off.

Your issues, at least, are that (a) I think the amp sends a limited set of frequencies to the speaker. (b) don;t forgt the tweeter in the triangle. (c) Consider the subwoofer under the passengers feet (under the metal plate). (d) You need to check the impedance (ohms) of the speakers.

The speaker is in a very odd shaped enclosure under there. I'd be removing the door panel and having a look - you'll have to make up a MDF collar to fit it.

You can't use the wrong crossovers, they are tuned to the speakers and not the amplifier, and if you feed low frequencies to a tweeter they'll blow up, so be very careful assuming the amp has any crossovers in

Cheers

Richard

Thanks Richard for clarifying my audio set up. Guess the dealer didn't know what he was selling (His blurb said “Logic 7”), AND I didn't know what I was buying!

I'm booked this Thursday 26th in Lightwater Surrey with Mark who is fitting a mCar, for Bluetooth hands free, and I've agreed to a pair of Morel Maximo components in the doors.

I also queried the subwoofer, as I'm unimpressed with the 'boomy' existing sub, and ideally want something with tightness and a controlled 'punch'.

Is this possible with an under-seat unit? I have my doubts! But Mark said we could try a few things.

My problem with the sub, apart for a lack of space, is that because my wife can't know about the audio upgrade costs , I’m going to have to look at the under-seat subwoofer options, as they are stealthy, and possibly swap in and out?

Without wishing to go behind Mark’s back, do you have any suggestions for a sub upgrade (of the under-seat type) that would make a noticeable difference acoustically? I’m loathed to keep my boomy subwoofer

By the way, you might be amused to hear that when I bought the car recently from Reading MB, the salesman, Mark Dormer, jumped with I mentioned a retrofit Bluetooth. He said "Richard", I said "Mark", and we both said Comandonline.co.uk! So your professional reputation impresses even main MB dealers!

Thanks, and any thoughts on the subwoofer would be appreciated.

 

[Pitts Pilot]

be careful with MB audio systems... they dont always run at the same impedance as you expect.. in a 129 you need to rewire the whole bloody lot to change the speakers from factory... (bugger) not sure on the HK stuff as that is amplified - am a little bemused that you need to upgrade it. The last 230 I drove with HK sounded wonderful.

I would take it to an audio specialist that knows mercs.

Thanks for the advice

I'm seeing Mark of Comandonline.co.uk this week, who with his business partner Richard, seem to be THE authority on Mercedes audios (amongst other things).

Thanks

 

[richard]

Robert, excellent that you are seeing Mark

Mark did a great set of Morels and a 10" sub under the parcel shelf in a CL with BOSE the other day, which sounded wonderful..

The problem in the SL is space. The boot is not the best place for a sub (it is really well insulated from the cabin by the fuel tank) and theres really no space under the seats. May be able to get away with something in one of the rear bins or instead of the sub.
Of course the speaker system was designed using late 1990's technology (as SL first came out in 2002) and being a production car to a strict budget.

But Mark (and Rob) will do a great job

Cheers

Richard

 

[C43AMG]

Hi Richard, was that a W215 CL that Mark did and was it an upgrade as i have BOSE in the CL. I'm just curious, are Morels a better system ?

Many thanks.

 

[Pitts Pilot]

I had Mark and Rob of ComandOnline/Unique fit an mCar Bluetooth hands free unit to my car today. The mCar fully integrates with the vehicle’s Command System (after a swift download from a Star diagnostic laptop), and ‘Zap’ you have full functionality with on screen phone-book, steering wheel controls, etc. Totally brilliant and very ‘factory’, all for the modest sum of £599 inc VAT, fitted!

Now you might be wondering at this point why I’m not talking about the OP? Well, after handing over the car and being pointed towards an excellent coffee shop to wait, etc. 30 minutes passed and Rob came in to the coffee shop holding a pair of my Bose door speaker components.

The upshot of this is that he and Mark did not think that the intended fitting of a set of Morel component speakers would make any real-life difference to the existing sound quality that my Bose audio already provides. I was told “Save your money and spend it on something else for the car”. So I promptly agreed and the Morel ‘upgrade’ speakers where left in their boxes!

What other car sound and security company is going to say THAT to you?

These guys are so straightforward and honest they actually care whether the customer gets the improvement he/she pays for. And if it’s not going to happen, then they will tell you so and save you the expense!

Frankly, I am amazed and dumbfounded with this honest attitude.

So, if you are within a day’s drive of them, (West of London, Junction 1, M3), book your next upgrade with them, because you will get what I did today: excellent kit, professionally installed, that works seamlessly with the car, and an honest opinion that might SAVE you money, not rob you like most other audio shops.

“Thank you” to Mark and Rob for doing a great job today, and also to co-owner Richard who has given me plenty of valuable advice on this forum. Unbeatable!

 

[richard]

Hi Richard, was that a W215 CL that Mark did and was it an upgrade as i have BOSE in the CL. I'm just curious, are Morels a better system ?

Many thanks.

Yes - but is yours D2B or MOST? (i.e is the nav disk in the head unit or in the boot). I haven't talked to Rob after Pitts Pilot check, it seems the speakers in the SL are much better than those in the CL, and I would imagine that the NTG1 (MOST) Bose Amp is better than the D2B amp too.

- i'd give Mark a call (01276 474900, but they are quite busy)

R

 

[C43AMG]

Thanks Richard. The Nav Disc is in the head unit. Glad to hear they are busy.